Drive-By’s Toll Biggest in County History : Crime: Seven of the 12 victims in Valinda were children. While other attacks have been deadlier, this one had the largest number of wounded. Experts say it signals a bloody turn in street violence.

Clutching his teddy bear and bouncing merrily, the happy-faced toddler was dancing to his favorite rap song, “Ice, Ice Baby,” when all the gunfire began.

By the time the shotgun and pistol fire ended Friday night in Valinda, 21-month-old David Leonard Lopez and 11 others lay wounded in what authorities say is the bloodiest drive-by shooting in Los Angeles County history.

Seven children were among those injured in the 8:45 p.m. attack on the house in the 1100 block of Evanwood Avenue near the West Covina city limits. Authorities said all but three of the victims received minor injuries.

While the length of the victims list was unusual, one aspect of the attack was all too familiar: Authorities were labeling it as a gang-related shooting while family members were staunchly denying it.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Scott Coleman said the incident has been turned over to a sheriff’s gang investigation unit. He described the assailants as two men and a woman, all Latinos. The description of their getaway car ranged from a brown Chevrolet Suburban wagon to a late-model shiny white Chevrolet Blazer or pickup truck with a camper shell.

But 60-year-old Tony Lopez, patriarch of the family attacked and owner of the home where the shooting occurred, disputed the gang connection.

“My boys are not gang members. They work every day. This was uncalled for. We never hurt anybody,” said Lopez, a diesel mechanic who moved with his wife and nine children to the San Gabriel Valley community 10 years ago.

Family members said the shooting occurred at the end of a chop suey dinner honoring the return of 32-year-old Danny Lopez, who just spent two years in prison “for warrants” in Northern California.

The reunion was especially poignant, family members said, because it was the first since another of Lopez’s sons, 21-year-old Leonard, was shot to death July 13 in Valinda. David Leonard Lopez is the son of Leonard. That slaying is unsolved, Tony Lopez said.

When Friday’s shots rang out, family members threw children to the ground and ducked behind a large plywood sign facing the street. The sign was scrawled with the words, “In Memory of Uncle Leonard--RIP.”

The victims were taken to several area hospitals. Most were treated and released, although James Sainz, 21 months, was hospitalized after being shot in the eye. David Lopez was in fair condition with several shotgun pellet wounds and Maryann Lopez, 26, was also in fair condition with hip and leg wounds.

Others injured, according to sheriff’s investigators and family members were: Maryann Lopez, 63; Jerry Lopez, 29; Anthony Lopez, 17; Laura Santos, 31; Ronnie Silva, 13; George Silva, 15; James Sainz Sr., 30; Vincent Sainz, 4, and Monica Morales, 32.

Gang crime experts indicated the shooting signals a bloody turn in street crime.

Steven Valdivia, executive director of countywide Community Youth Gang Services, said Saturday that Latino gangs in the past have “maintained some level of respect for families. They didn’t shoot children.

“It’s another sign that the escalation is not only getting bloodier and more indiscriminate, but it’s getting into areas that have not had to worry about this kind of thing happening.”

Although other drive-by shootings have been deadlier, neither Valdivia nor Sheriff’s Department officials said they could recall any other incident with a larger number of people wounded in a single drive-by shooting.

The attack left residents of the 33-year-old working-class neighborhood reeling.

John Ruelas, who lives across the street from the shooting scene, said he “ducked down and started praying” when one of the fleeing assailants fired a shot at him.

The bullet blew out the window of one of his family cars as Ruelas dived behind it.

“As of today, I definitely want to move my family out. . . . I have to think of my children and grandchildren,” said Ruelas, a 50-year-old Mt. San Antonio College language instructor who has lived in his house 23 years.

A few houses away, William Venti said gang activity in the area has been slowly increasing during the last seven years.

“Sure, I’m concerned,” said Venti, 45, a postal worker whose four daughters range in age from 5 to 19. “I used to let my kids play out after dark. But I get them in the house at dusk now.

“My younger kids play with those kids. Who’s to know that my kids wouldn’t have been shot if they were out there.”

Venti said he has been told by sheriff’s investigators that neighborhoods go through cycles.

“I’m hoping it gets better again,” he said. “If I move, where am I going to move to? Another neighborhood that turns out to be worse than this?”