Reward for Baby Killing Arrest

Van Nuys (myFOXla.com) - A $50,000 is expected to be offered by the Los Angeles City Council Tuesday for information leading to the arrests of two gang members wanted for a shooting in Van Nuys that killed a 4-month-old boy and wounded his babysitter.

Anna Contreras, 28, was sitting in a car and feeding 4-month-old Andrew Garcia, the son of a friend, in the 14300 block of Kittridge Street about 1 a.m. Sunday, said Los Angeles police Officer Norma Eisenman.

Eric Ramirez, 18, and some other friends, including the infant's parents, were standing outside, she said. The group got into an argument with two men walking across the street, and one of them opened fire. Six shots were fired, striking Contreras and baby Andrew in the head, and also hitting Ramirez, Eisenman said.

Firefighters airlifted the infant to UCLA Medical Center, where he later died. Contreras, whom Eisenman said is pregnant, was also taken to a hospital and was expected to survive. Ramirez, who walked to Valley Presbyterian Hospital, was treated and released.

Police asked for the public's help in finding Andrew's killers and have circulated a photo of the baby.

Councilman Tony Cardenas said he would ask his colleagues on Tuesday to approve a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspects.

"The family deserves it, the community deserves it and it is our obligation to make sure we do what we can to bring an end to this senseless killing and to also bring justice to the individuals who have taken this young life," Cardenas said.

"I think it's important for us to understand, and I'll say it again, what happened early Sunday morning was a tragedy, but we can't allow our feelings to bring us to anger in this moment," he said. "We can't allow our feelings to bring ourselves to tears in this tragic moment. We need to make sure to bring ourselves to action and to do what we can as citizens, to do what we can as elected officials, to do what we can as officers of this city to make sure that little Andrew hopefully, and we pray, is the last innocent victim."

One of the suspects was described as 18-22 years old, about 5 feet 9 inches tall, with a shaved head. The other suspect was described as about 5 feet 5 inches tall and 200 pounds.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa also reached out to the public for help capturing the suspects, and also said the case points to the need for the city to continue bolstering the Police Department and attacking gang violence.

"As we mourn the loss of innocent life here, we must reaffirm our steadfast commitment to fighting gang crime and gun violence, with more resilience, with more determination and with even greater resources," the mayor said. "Today we must honor the life of baby Andrew by seeking justice for his murder, by not allowing the bullets unleashed yesterday to go without consequences. I'm asking all Angelenos to join us and to not sit back and remain helpless victims in the face of tragic gang violence. We need your help. We need the community of Van Nuys to engage and partner with us in seeking justice for this senseless murder."

Anyone with information about the suspects was asked to call Van Nuys Area Homicide detectives James Nuttall or Marc Martinez at (818) 756-8343.