SOUTH SACRAMENTO (KTXL/KRON) — A young child was shot in South Sacramento Tuesday night around 9:30 p.m. in what the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department believes may have been a drive-by shooting.

The 3-year-old was hit by gunfire on Della Circle near Power Inn Road.

The child shot has been identified as Azalya.

According to the sheriff’s department, the child has been hospitalized and is in critical condition.

Authorities believe the child was inside a home when shots were fired from outside near the street.

While the child did not appear to be the intended target of the shooting, deputies do not know what the motive behind the shooting was.

Neighbor Patricia McGee said she heard the sound of squealing tires in the area before someone approached her about the shooting.

“She said, ‘Did anybody come to your door?'” McGee recalled. “I said, ‘No. Well, what happened?’ She said, ‘A little girl got shot.'”

No arrests have been made and no suspect descriptions have been reported.

Here is the full statement from the sheriff:

On September 11, 2018, at 9:33 P.M. the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department Communication Center received a 911 call regarding a child being shot in the 7400 block of Della Circle in south Sacramento County.  The child was later identified as 3-year old Azalya.

As Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene, they learned the victim was transported from the scene to an area hospital.  Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the victim’s home and located the scene.  Homicide detectives responded along with crime scene investigators and began their investigation.

It is believed the victim was inside the home at the time of the shooting and the shots were fired from outside near the street.  Homicide detectives are working with the victim’s family and interviewing witnesses to gather evidence in an attempt to develop a clear understanding of what took place.  Witnesses reported hearing a vehicle leaving the scene at a high rate of speed.  

The victim has undergone treatment and remains in critical condition but is unresponsive.   Detectives are continuing to investigate this senseless drive-by shooting which left an innocent child with life-threatening injuries. 

It has been a challenge obtaining information related to who is responsible for the shooting.  Detectives are asking anyone with information relating to this incident, to please contact the Sheriff’s Department at (916) 874-5115 or Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at (916) 443-HELP.  Tip information may be left anonymously at www.sacsheriff.com or by calling (916) 874-TIPS (8477).

Sergeant Shaun Hampton

Sheriff’s Spokesman

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