A 13-year-old teen died in hospital after a stray bullet hit him while he was sitting at home playing video games in a part of California that has become so violent that many residents are considering moving out.
The young teen, Iran Moreno-Balvaneda, died in hospital after being hit by a stray bullet at his home on 900 block of N. Raymond Avenue in Pasadena, California at 6.12 pm on Saturday, 20th November, according to a statement from the Pasadena Police Department.
Pasadena Lt Bill Grisafe said that the teen was on the ground floor facing a window that looks out onto Raymond Street while playing video games, reports PSN.
He added, three to five bullets were fired on the street and at least one of them hit the 13-year-old.
After being hit, Iran, walked out of the room and wandered into the living room where he collapsed in front of his siblings.
Iran’s siblings screamed for their parents and the 13-year-old’s dad walked in and hugged his bleeding son.
Emergency services were called to the scene and they arrived to find the boy in a critical condition.
Pasadena Fire Department paramedics transferred the boy to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
John Perez, Pasadena Police Chief, told PSN: “It’s an absolute tragedy for our community. This 13-year-old was innocent. He was doing what 13-year-olds do, playing video games in his house.”
Jovita Gonzalez, 62, a neighbour, said that after the shooting she walked outside and saw the boy’s mother crying while his father appeared to be in a state of shock.
According to PSN, the boy was very intelligent, excelled at school and loved to play football.
Gonzalez said that the neighbourhood is plagued by violence and everyone is fed up with being scared to leave their own homes even just to go to the shop.
She added: “I can’t even go out of my front with my dog anymore because I’m afraid I’m going to get shot.”
The shooting came just after the death of 24-year-old Jamal Lewis who was fatally shot in October this year near Hammond and Summit in Pasadena on his way to his mum’s house to watch an American football game.
Lisa Lewis, Jamal’s mum, said: “My heart is really breaking for this woman whose 13-year-old boy was just killed.”
Between 1st January 2019 and 30th June 2021, Pasadena police have responded to 300 “shots fired” reports and around 400 calls for gun crimes. Nine people have been fatally shot and 30 wounded in this period.
John Kennedy, Pasadena City Councilman, noted that the community has witnessed an “undue amount of criminal activity” and many citizens are now questioning whether they want to continue living in the area.
The police are currently reviewing security camera footage from the streets near the family’s home, which they hope will lead them to the shooter.
