Suspect Arrested in December Killing

A man suspected of randomly spraying a South Los Angeles neighborhood with gunfire, fatally wounding an 11-year-old boy, has been arrested on suspicion of murder, authorities said Tuesday.

Peter Lawrence Collins, 19, of Los Angeles was accused in the death of David Pollon, who was killed Dec. 11 while listening to music with friends in his family’s living room, Sheriff’s Deputy Pat Hunter said.

Investigators said eight or nine shots were fired in a drive-by shooting near 118th Place and Compton Avenue, a block from the boy’s home in the 11800 block of Alabama Avenue. The fatal bullet crashed through a window next to the family’s newly decorated Christmas tree.

David was struck in the back and was pronounced dead 20 minutes later at Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center, Hunter said. The dead boy did not belong to a gang, she said. No other injuries were reported.

Witnesses told police three gunmen in a large vehicle opened fire, randomly spraying the neighborhood with bullets.