By Daily Press staff
A teenager is in stable condition after he was shot in the head Monday while walking in a troubled Santa Monica east side neighborhood.
At 7:11 p.m., the boy was shot by unidentified suspects in the 2500 block of Virginia Avenue, near the Edison Elementary School in the Pico neighborhood, police said.
Police were unable to interview the boy because of his medical condition and could not confirm a motive. A small, black compact vehicle was seen leaving the area immediately after the shooting, police said.
The incident has left many area residents fearing for their lives and their family’s safety. The neighborhood has been engulfed in a turf war between gangs for years.
“Safety is definitely a concern for me,” said one resident who wished to remain anonymous. “During the day I don’t worry as much, but I wouldn’t let them walk around at night. All you can do is hope that you take all the precautions you can take and everything will turn out all right.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 14, 2002. Read the original PDF.