Newborn killed by stray bullet

A 23-day-old baby in a stroller was killed when his mother walked unsuspectingly into gunfire in the MacArthur Park area of Los Angeles.

The infant was hit by a stray bullet about 9:30 p.m. Sunday, when three Latino men fired at an outdoor vendor near the corner of 6th and Burlington streets, police said.

The vendor, who police did not identify, was hit in the chest by a bullet. He was taken to a hospital, where he was listed in stable condition.

The infant, Luis Angel Garcia, was pronounced dead just after 10 p.m., said Los Angeles County Coroner Capt. Ed Winter.

Authorities said they were investigating the shooting and were unsure of the shooters’ motives.

The area around 6th and Burlington brims with small markets and mostly Latino vendors.

Christina Cruz, owner of Descuentos Chris, a small general store across the street from where the man and child were shot, said the area always has lots of families but is still dangerous.

She described a normal day as busy and hectic, with the sidewalks full of shoppers and people talking to neighbors and friends. But she said trouble was often right around the corner.

“It’s a famous neighborhood, but for bad reasons,” Cruz said.