Two arrested in road rage killing of California 4-year-old 10 days before Christmas
LANCASTER, Calif. - Authorities have identified the 4-year-old boy tragically killed 10 days before Christmas in a deadly road rage incident.
On Friday, Dec. 15, the Adamyan family faced a nightmare as a road rage incident in Lancaster ended in the tragic loss of their vibrant four-year-old son, Gor Adamyan.
Just before 7:30 p.m., LA County sheriff's officials said a mother and father were on their way to purchase groceries, with their four-year-old son in the backseat, when another driver cut them off and then started chasing them.
When the family slowed down on Sierra Highway near East Avenue J, the other driver pulled up alongside their car and started shooting, hitting and killing the four-year-old boy.
Gor Adamyan. (GoFundMe)
Witnesses from nearby businesses rushed to help after gunshots rang out, but tragically, the four-year-old died from his injuries Friday night, just ten days before Christmas.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: California 4-year-old dies in apparent road-rage shooting
"There is absolutely no excuse for this. It is just domestic terrorism at its worst," said Lancaster Mayor Rex Parris.
Parris said the city's new high-tech crime-fighting system quickly led authorities to the driver and shooter.
"There was a dash cam that picked up part of the plate, and once we had part of the plate, we could track it, and we tracked it to a hotel."
Two people were arrested on suspicion of murder in the deadly incident. They were identified as 29-year-old Byron Burkhurt and 27-year-old Alexandria Gentile.
"I wish they had shot them at the apprehension. Let's be clear about that. You cannot go into cities and shoot four-year-old children and expect anything resembling due process, and the fact that they got it was unfortunate. I'm not a big proponent of the death penalty. But there are some crimes that require something more than what they're giving people because it's getting worse," said Parris.
Parris emphasized that crimes like these will not be tolerated.
"We're going to make Lancaster a place where you are absolutely out of your mind to come here and commit a crime because we will catch you," said Parris. "We're putting the technology together to do that. And I recognize it grieves me that that is going to result in a loss of privacy that people should have a right to expect. I think they would rather give up their privacy than their lives, certainly the lives of their children."
"This young boy’s death is shocking. A family is now inexplicably left without a child that meant everything to them. Our roadways are no place for this type of random and unacceptable violence. I want the suspects apprehended for this heinous murder to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law… we cannot tolerate acts of violence like this one," said Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger.
A GoFundMe was created to help the family with funeral expenses. If you'd like to donate, click here.
On Monday night, a vigil was held to honor Adamyan. The family's spokesperson, Miguel Coronado, said the 4-year-old's grieving parents are not only devastated by the incident but are "dead in spirit."
"They're here, but they're almost dead in spirit, dead in soul," Coronado said Monday. "Dead in life."
The deadly shooting remains under investigation. Anyone with information on the suspects and the deadly incident is asked to call 323-890-5500. Those wanting to give tips anonymously can also call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS, or 8477.