Girl, 10, Who Was Wounded In Boyle Heights Drive-By Shooting Said To Be Recovering
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com/AP) — Police say a 10-year-old girl was wounded in a drive-by shooting in Boyle Heights Friday.
The girl, who was identified by family Saturday as Alene Casillas, was struck in the back of the head and was taken to County USC Medical Center for treatment.
She was taken into surgery overnight and making a strong recovery, family members said.
"I just came from the hospital. She is doing good," the victim's cousin, Carlos Rangel said.
Remarkably, Casillas remembers the event.
She was walking to the store with her sister to get a soda when she saw four men in a car, some of whom started shooting.
Police said the gunman was aiming for a man on a bike and missed. Instead, Casillas was shot.
Joseph Pereyra was across the street at the Chicago Meat Market when he heard the shots. He ran outside and saw Casillas on the ground.
"When I saw the little girl, she was still conscious," he said. "She was speaking."
Pereyra stayed with the girl until paramedics arrived. Witnesses said the intended target of the shooting also stayed at the scene to help care for Casillas.
"There were a lot of witnesses that saw the cars," a said Pereyra, "They sped down Rodgers and took off."
Police had not made any arrests in connection with the shooting as of Saturday afternoon.
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