4-year-old shot and killed in front of parents over road rage incident, California police say license reader led to suspects

A California family is distraught after their 4-year-old boy was shot and killed in front of them during a road rage incident, according to police.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said the incident unfolded as a result of an altercation the family had while they drove on the Sierra Highway through the city of Lancaster on Friday at about 7:30 p.m.

"During the incident, the suspect driver cut them off and then began following them through several surface streets," read a statement from the sheriff's department. "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."

A bullet struck the child who was sitting in the backseat of the car.

"His father and mother, who were in the vehicle, immediately transported him to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased," the statement continued.

A spokesperson for the family said eight shots were fired into the car, and three of those struck their child. The parents were not injured.

Police were able to identify the car allegedly involved in the shooting through the use of Flock Safety automated license plate recognition technology that detects stolen or wanted vehicles.

"We know where they've been, we know where they're going, so when a crime is committed, we can go back in time and find out where they are," said Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris.

Police said they arrested Byron Buckhart, a 29-year-old man, and Alexandria Gentile, a 27-year-old woman, and booked them into the Los Angeles County Jail on suspicion of murder.

A GoFundMe account set up for the family identified the child as Gor Adamyan. It has raised nearly $10,000 to help the family with funeral costs.

"It's unimaginable. This could have been any of our families. It could have been any of us," said Parris.

Here's a local news report about the incident:

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!