4 Arrested in Holiday Shooting That Paralyzed Toddler

Four suspected gang members have been arrested in connection with a 4th of July drive-by shooting that left a toddler paralyzed from the chest down, authorities said.

Jose Baires, 21, and Gustavo Fajardo, 24, both of Los Angeles, were arrested Saturday--Baires at a Wilshire-area motel and Fajardo at his home. A third suspect, Ruther Brown, 21, also of Los Angeles, surrendered to police Tuesday morning, Los Angeles Deputy Police Chief William Rathburn said at a news conference. Police did not release information on the weekend arrests until Tuesday.

A fourth suspect, Paul Langford, 21, also of Los Angeles, turned himself in to police at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. One other suspect was being sought.

Police also said Tuesday that they have found the car believed used in the attack--a late-model burgundy Ford Tempo with tinted windows. The car had been impounded after it was discovered, abandoned and set afire, Monday night. It was being examined for fingerprints and other evidence. The car had been reported stolen in the Wilshire area on July 4, Rathburn said.

Witnesses said 2-year-old Brandon Lott was sitting next to his mother on the trunk of a car watching fireworks at a family gathering in the 2300 block of Gramercy Place when four shots rang out from a car that had parked nearby, Rathburn said.

“This was a gang-related drive-by shooting and Brandon was certainly not the intended target,” Rathburn said. “We believe it was in retaliation for a shooting that occurred in another neighborhood” weeks ago, Rathburn said. He said the gunmen may have been aiming at a woman who was seated on the car with Brandon.

One of the bullets tore through Brandon’s shoulder, collapsing a lung, injuring his spinal chord and lodging against a rib next to his heart, doctors said.

Brandon, who was listed in critical but stable condition at Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center in Downey, had regained control of his bladder on Tuesday. “But he will probably be paralyzed the rest of his life,” Rathburn said.

“This is a tragic occurrence, one that has, unfortunately, become too much of a pattern in South-Central Los Angeles,” Rathburn said. “I hope, if nothing else comes out of this tragedy, that the community really becomes outraged and we end up effecting some change in the pattern of violence that has tormented this community for year and years.”

The arrests culminated an around-the-clock investigation that was aided by statements from witnesses and numerous anonymous tips, said Detective Maurice Landrum of the department’s drive-by team.

“We took a personal interest in this case,” Landrum said. “I have a 1 1/2-year-old son and I wouldn’t want to carry such a burden.”

Fajardo and Baires pleaded not guilty to five counts each of attempted murder at an arraignment hearing Tuesday. Brown and Langford were scheduled to be arraigned later this week. All four were being held without bail.

About half a dozen friends and relatives of the suspects showed up for the arraignment hearing and told reporters that the suspects were miles away--with them--on the evening of the shooting.

“My poor son is not a murderer,” said Rosalina Baires, mother of Jose Baires. “I know he likes to be in the streets, but he’s not a bandit.”

But police said statements by witnesses and other evidence point to the suspects.

Witnesses identified Fajardo as the driver of the burgundy car that parked near the family gathering Wednesday night shortly before shots were fired, police said.