4-year-old boy killed during road rage shooting in Lancaster identified

A four-year-old boy who was killed during a road rage shooting in Lancaster on Friday was identified as Gor Adamyan.

Adamyan died after he was hit with a stray bullet while sitting in the back seat of a car. 

Deputies were first dispatched to the 44600 block of Sierra Highway near E. Avenue J at around 7:30 p.m. after learning of a gunshot victim in the area, according to a statement from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. 

While investigating, they learned that the victims, who were driving along Sierra Highway and East Avenue J, were targeted in a road rage incident. 

"During the incident, the suspect driver cut them off and then began following them through several surface streets," the statement said. "While being pursued by the suspects, the victim driver slowed his vehicle, at which time the suspect driver pulled up along the passenger side of the victim's car and began shooting."

His parents, who were in the car, drove him to a nearby hospital where he was later pronounced dead. 

"I know that they attend church regularly, I talked with members of the church they go to," said Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris. "The entire congregation is just devastated."

Investigators were able to locate the suspect vehicle in the "immediate area" of the shooting, where they arrested two suspects, Byron Burkhurt, age 29, and Alexandria Gentile, age 27.

Mayor Parris says that a recently-installed safety net of cameras throughout the city, paired with the victim's dashcam, allowed them to quickly find the suspect. 

"It's multi-faceted ... we've got cameras everywhere. We've got these 'flock' cameras, and we pretty much know at this point anybody in the city's license plate, and so we're able to track it," Parris said. "The message we hope gets out there is: If you're a criminal you probably shouldn't come to Lancaster."

Both suspects, whom Mayor Parris says have gang affiliations, have been booked for murder. 

No other injuries were reported in the incident. 

On Monday, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger issued a statement on the tragedy. 

"This young boy's death is shocking. A family is now inexplicably left without a child that meant everything to them. Our roadways are no place for this type of random and unacceptable violence. I want the suspects apprehended for this heinous murder to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," the statement said, in part. 

Barger says that the county is working to help the family access the Victim Assistance Fund, and to aid them in bringing family from out of the United States to their son's funeral. 

Community members gathered to hold a vigil in honor of Adamyan. The parents did not plan to be in attendance as they still grieve the loss of their son. 

Mayor Parris plans to cover the expenses of the funeral that may not be covered by a GoFundMe created to help the family. 

Anyone with further information is urged to contact LASD's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.