Shots rang out and a 9-year-old boy was killed; now search on for why

A 9-year-old boy was killed in a double shooting Sunday night in Madera that police believe is gang-releated.

At a news conference Monday, Madera police Chief Dino Lawson said the shooting happened about 7:30 p.m. when the boy, Leonardo Demetrio Morales, was riding in the car with his dad, whose name was not provided.

Lawson said a vehicle pulled up to the father and son’s vehicleand someone fired a gun as they were southbound on Tozer Avenue, approaching Olive Avenue in the southeast side of the city. The boy was hit several times by gunfire and the father suffered superficial wounds, Lawson said.

The father then drove to a nearby location and an asked that an older son drive the boy to the hospital, Lawson said. He added that the boy died a short time later. The father was taken to Community Regional Medical Center with nonlife-threatening wounds.

Lawson told reporters that the shooting is believed to be gang-related. He said the department has gathered leads on a possible suspect, but so far there have been no arrests. Lawson did not provide a description of the suspected vehicle.

This story was originally published February 19, 2018 at 2:35 PM with the headline "Shots rang out and a 9-year-old boy was killed; now search on for why."