Family’s Joy Turns to Grief When Drive-By Strikes Boy

It was supposed to be a joy-filled day, the celebration of a baby girl called “Precious Destiny,” born just days before.

But on Saturday, a sense of tragedy filled a South-Central neighborhood near downtown Los Angeles.

Eight-year-old Sunny Elijah Peralez--who, like his name, had always been a bundle of energy--was barely clinging to life. He was the victim of what police called a gang-related drive-by shooting at the triplex apartment building where his cousin’s baby shower was to take place.

“We’re just in shock,” said Elizabeth Gonzalez, 17, a cousin who lives at the home the north Long Beach boy had been visiting with his mother.

The boy was in grave condition Saturday evening at County-USC Medical Center.

“We have no suspect description, motive or anything like that at this point,” said Officer Mike Partain, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department.

Sometime after 10 p.m. Friday, as family members were getting ready for bed, Elijah--as family members liked to call him--bounced downstairs to make sure the front door was locked.

Standing outside the cream-colored two-story building in the 2100 block of Adair Street was a group of young men, some of whom were gang members, neighbors said.

A car cruised by slowly and a volley of shots rang out, said one eyewitness, who asked not to be identified. Police estimated that six shots were fired.

As he stood just inside the door, one bullet hit Elijah in the head above his left ear, said Sam Campos, a neighbor who tried to save the bleeding boy by holding a towel against the wound.

Across the street from the apartment where Elijah was shot, stylized white, green and blue gang graffiti letters stand out on a wall.

Elijah, a student at Birney Elementary School, was just weeks away from starting fourth grade.

Like many boys his age, Elijah loved to go fishing, ride bikes and play football and soccer. He was also uncommonly helpful around the house, always doing chores and running errands, because his mother suffers from lupus, said Joe Avina, a cousin who lives with the family. On Friday evening, Elijah had been vacuuming to help prepare for the festivities.

But now, “[doctors] said that 95% of his brain is brain dead,” Avina said, crying. “They have him on life support right now.”

Peter Barnard, a computer teacher who has worked at a community center nearby for several years, was upset over the shooting and said he feared the subsequent media coverage would worsen the community’s image.

“There are lots of hard-working, good people in this neighborhood,” he said. Last week volunteers fixed up dilapidated buildings, and on Saturday afternoon children washed cars, hoping to raise money for a field trip.

But all outsiders will hear about is the shooting, he said, shaking his head.

“It just perpetuates the myth that the only things that happen down here are violent and bad,” Barnard said.

Meanwhile, Elijah’s family stood watch at the hospital.

“We’re waiting for a miracle,” said his uncle, Robert Avina of Baldwin Park.