EAST LOS ANGELES : Gang Shooting Leaves Girl Critically Wounded

Police are investigating a shooting that left a 7-year-old girl critically wounded after she was hit in the abdomen and arm Wednesday night while playing with friends in an East Los Angeles parking lot.

Wendy Espinoza was wounded about 8:45 p.m. when shots hit her and Florencio Arias, 20. Both were taken to County-USC Medical Center.

Wendy underwent surgery Thursday morning and was in critical but stable condition, said hospital spokesman Harvey Kern. Arias was in stable condition with a gunshot wound to the chest.

“There’s some confusion as to whether this is a drive-by shooting or whether someone walked up and fired down on the parking lot,” said Sheriff’s Lt. Chuck Bradley.

Investigators believe that Arias, who was standing with a group of men near his home on South Mednick Avenue, was the intended target of the gang-related shooting. Police are not sure how many shots were fired, but said the girl’s father found a bullet that may have wounded her.