MADERA – The Madera Police Department is reaching out to the community for information that will lead to the arrest of the individuals involved in a drive by shooting that claimed the life of a nine year old boy and put his father in a local hospital with nonlife-threatening wounds.
Nine year old Leonardo Morales was in a car with his father on Tozar Avenue near Olive Avenue in Madera Sunday night when an unidentified vehicle pulled alongside them and opened fire. Multiple rounds were fired into the victim’s car by the suspect striking the father and son several times.
According to Madera Police Detective Mark Trukki, “Leonardo was struck several times and succumbed to his injuries at Madera Community Hospital. “
Madera that police believe is gang-related and that the young man’s brother and father have gang affiliations and may have been the actually target of the shooting. At this time the family is not sharing any information with the police that might lead to an arrest. Madera Police have not released the name of the victim’s father.
At a news conference Monday, a teary-eyed Madera Police Chief Dino Lawson spoke out to the unknown suspects begging them to turn themselves in before his men find them and bring them to justice. "This is very hard, I have children of my own, my officers are taking this very hard, this is a very personal case," Lawson said.
Lawson says the young boy had just left a nearby Laundromat with his father. The two were traveling south on Tozar Street when the suspects pulled up and fired several rounds into the car. Police say the dad then drove to the little boy's mom house and had his older son drive them to hospital. After arriving at Madera Community Hospital, Leonardo died.
Leonardo was a 4th grade student at Chavez Elementary in Madera. A spokesmen for the Madera Unified School Distrcit stated in a press release issue Monday "As a united district, we mourn the tragic death of our student and offer our sympathy, prayers and comfort to Leonardo’s family, friends, classmates, teachers and everyone who loved him and shared in his life. We will have our counselors and psychologists available to all students, staff and community members who may need support in this difficult time."
Madera Police are actively investigating this senseless act of violence. Please, anyone with information regarding this incident or the identity of those responsible, call Detective Sauceda at (559) 675-4244 or Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-STOP. As in all cases you can remain anonymous.
