LOS ANGELES — The California chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, issued the following statement after a four-year-old was shot and killed in a road rage incident in Los Angeles County. According to authorities, two suspects were arrested and booked at the Los Angeles County Jail on suspicion of murder charges.
“Our hearts are with the parents and loved ones of the victim,” said Lisa Henry, a volunteer with the California chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Once again we are reminded that a moment of rage can become deadly when armed with a gun. Our children deserve a world where they can live and thrive without the fear of being gunned down in a moment’s notice. We cannot be silent as gun violence continues to cut the lives of our children short and tear our communities apart. Together we can and we will put an end to this crisis.”
According to Everytown Research, from January to October 2023 there were 14 people killed, including one child, in road rage incidents in California, up from six through October in 2022. In an average year, 3,253 people die and 7,293 are wounded by guns in California. California ranks 45th in both gun death rates and societal cost of gun violence at $1,060 per person each year. Gun deaths and injuries cost California $41.9 billion, of which $1.1 billion is paid by taxpayers. More information about gun violence in California is available here.
