There are conflicting news reports of 7-year-old Desirae Macias who was shot in head Wednesday night. Earlier published reports state she was taken off life support and passed away last night. County prosecutors are now saying Desirae is brain dead, and on life support.
PALMDALE, Calif. — The 7-year-old girl who was shot in the head in a car-to-car shooting in Palmdale was taken off life support and died late last night, a county coroner’s official said today.
Craig Harvey of the coroner’s office said Desirae Macias died at 11:28 p.m.
Meanwhile, charges were expected to be filed shortly against two of three men who were arrested in connection with the shooting.
The shooting that killed Desirae happened near Sunburst and Stratford drives about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, shortly after two groups exchanged words at a Mobil station at Pearblossom Highway and Fort Tejon Road, according to sheriff’s Lt. Glenn Brandon.
Sheriff’s deputies said one group followed the other away from the Mobil station, and shots were fired at several locations, Brandon said. He said detectives found evidence at three shooting scenes, and shells were found at 57th Street and East Avenue S. Evidence also was collected near Regency Place and Essex Drive, he said.
According to Brandon, a sheriff’s deputy later stopped a vehicle matching one that was involved in the shooting, and three men were arrested, he said. All three were booked on suspicion of attempted murder.
They were identified as 22-year-old Jesus Peralta and his 19-year-old brother, Carlos Peralta, both of Palmdale; and 20-year-old Eduardo Diaz of Littlerock. They were each being held on $1 million bail, according to sheriff’s Sgt. Diane Hecht.
Charges were expected to be filed against the Peralta brothers, although no charges were being immediately filed against Diaz, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Desirae had been on life support at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles since the shooting.
