The 1-year-old victim's father got a shocking call at work -- his child was shot and was going into emergency surgery at Children's Hospital Oakland. He tells us he rushed there immediately and is thankful his baby will be okay.
The Richmond apartment of Rosshan Ali on MacDonald Avenue is dotted with bullet holes. His 1-year-old son Elijah was inside when a gunman sprayed the street with bullets at about 1:15 p.m. Police say the child was hit in the neck.
"This shouldn't happen, my son didn't do nothing to nobody, I didn't do nothing to nobody," Ali said. "I go to work and come home you know. And it's not my fault I live in a certain area."
A man in his 20s who was riding his bicycle near the apartment building was also shot. He was taken by car to a local hospital and is in good condition.
The child was inside being watched by his grandparents when the bullets came crashing through this apartment.
"As far as I know my mom was inside watching him," Ali said. "Like I said, my fiancé came home from work. She was in the shower, and next thing you know, shots fired and my mom grabbed him and ran into the kitchen."
"You have a 1-year-old child who was literally in the arms of the grandparents," Richmond Police Chief Chris Magnus said. "They are feeding him and bullets come into the house."
Richmond police say they are making extra efforts to track down the man who opened fire then ran off, and anyone else who may be connected to this.
"I am really angry about this," Chief Magnus said. "I am sickened, I am appalled. This is completely unacceptable and it is our highest priority to catch those who are involved."
Ali told us he plans on moving out of his neighborhood after this shooting. He's still shocked that his son was an unintended victim of this gun violence.
"I mean, I guess that's just part of society we live in," Ali said. "Ah, they gotta get more stricter gun laws. It's not right how people just get their hands on weapons. It actually sucks."
Little Elijah's family tells us the 1-year-old is out of surgery and is doing very well.
As for Richmond police, they're offering a $25,000 reward in this case.
Investigators do not have a motive for the shooting. Anyone with information is urged to call Richmond police at (510) 232-TIPS. Callers may remain anonymous.
(Bay City News contributed to this story)
