Two suspects have been arrested in the killing of a 5-year-old boy shot in the head while in the backyard of a South Los Angeles home as he prepared for Halloween, Los Angeles police said.

One suspect was taken into custody Thursday night, the other Friday morning, authorities said. The suspects are gang members. Police have scheduled a 3 p.m. news conference to discuss details of the arrests.

Aaron Shannon Jr. ran into the backyard to show off his Spider-Man costume Sunday to family members when two men armed with handguns opened fire in the alley behind the home. At least one of the rounds struck Aaron in the back of his head; his uncle was hit in the leg and his grandfather on the wrist.

"This is absolutely horrific. This is 2 p.m. on Halloween," said Los Angeles Police Deputy Chief Pat Gannon, who oversees South Los Angeles' policing. "This little boy was getting ready to go trick-or-treating.

"There is no reason for this shooting," he said. "This family has no gang ties. The shooters ... they are nothing but cowards."

Investigators believe the gunmen had mistaken the location for the one they had intended to fire on.

Aaron, who attended elementary school in Compton, was going to a Halloween party in Inglewood, the grandfather said. "I saw one of the men move to position himself to get a clear shot off and he pointed a weapon and pulled the trigger," he said. "I turned around and I got shot in the left wrist and he continued to fire as we were running."

-- Richard Winton

Photo: An undated family photo of Aaron Shannon Jr., who was shot while showing off his Halloween costume in his backyard on Oct. 31. Credit: Los Angeles Police Department



