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Mom, 4-Year-Old Shot in Santa Ana : Violence: A second son is unhurt as the three walk home after getting haircuts. The boy awaits reconstructive facial surgery.

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TIMES STAFF WRITER

A woman was shot in the stomach and her 4-year-old son was shot in the cheek as they walked home from a hair salon Friday evening.

Police did not know if the shots came from a car or from someone on foot, Lt. Jose Garcia said.

Martha Ruvalcava, 28, and her two sons, 4-year-old Jesse and 10-year-old Armando, were waiting to cross the street at a traffic light near Flower Street and McFadden Avenue about 6 p.m. when Ruvalcava and Jesse were shot.

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Accompanied by a woman at the salon where the three had been for haircuts, Armando ran a few blocks home to tell his father.

Police arrived to find the wounded mother and son on the sidewalk. They were taken to Western Medical Center-Santa Ana, where physicians plan to do reconstructive surgery on the boy today, his father, Jesus Laris, said.

“I don’t know what had happened,” said Laris, 35. “All I know is that my wife is in a lot of pain and my son’s face is bad. The bullet had gone into his face through his cheek and out near his ear.”

Ruvalcava underwent surgery Friday night and was in stable condition.

Police don’t know whether the same bullet hit both of them or whether several shots were fired, Garcia said.

“According to witnesses, there might have been a shooting down the street somewhere,” he said. The gang unit is investigating.

Police ask anyone with information about the shooting to call (714) 647-5165.

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