This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Excited to show off his Spiderman costume to his grandpa and uncle, toddler Aaron Shannon Jr. ran into his backyard Sunday afternoon before heading out to trick-or-treat. At the same time, police said one of two young men in their 20s walking in the alley opened fire on the group, hitting Shannon in the head, his 56-year-old grandpa in wrist and his 27-year-old uncle in the leg. Shannon, 5, was left in critical condition and later died on Monday night, according to the LA Times. The shooting occurred on the 1000 block of East 84th Street (map) in South L.A.'s Green Meadows area, which, as the Times notes, is claimed by the Swans Bloods gang with the rival Kitchen Crip gang nearby. Shannon's family, however, has no gang ties, police said.
Jan Perry, the L.A. City Councilmember who represents the area, is asking for a $75,000 reward to help capture the suspects. Anyone with information about this homicide is urged to call the 77th Division Criminal Gang/Homicide Detectives at (213) 485-1383.
