According to the District Attorney’s Office, Byron Burkhart was charged on Tuesday, Dec. 19, with murder, two counts of attempted murder, one count of shooting at an occupied vehicle and five counts of possession of a firearm by a felon. The charges include an allegation that he personally used a handgun in commission of the crime. Burkhart was scheduled to be arraigned Jan. 22 at the Antelope Valley Courthouse. According to county jail records, he was being held in lieu of $2 million bail, although prosecutors were asking that his bail be increased to more than $5 million. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
A second suspect who was arrested in connection with the shooting, 27- year-old Alexandria Gentile, was not charged. Jail records show she was released from custody Tuesday afternoon. Prosecutors identified her as Burkhart’s girlfriend.
Burkhart is charged in connection with the shooting that occurred around 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15, in the area of Sierra Highway and East Avenue J, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Investigators said a driver cut off a vehicle that contained the boy, identified as Gor Adamyan, along with his father and his mother. The driver of the suspect vehicle then began following the family on local streets, eventually pulling alongside the passenger side of the victims’ vehicle and opening fire, officials said. Prosecutors said eight shots were fired. The boy was sitting in the back seat and was struck by gunfire in the upper body. The parents rushed him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
According to the District Attorney’s Office, a camera in the victims’ vehicle captured images of the suspect vehicle’s license plate. Sheriff’s officials said investigators located the suspects’ vehicle in the immediate area of the shooting and arrested the man and woman on suspicion of murder. Anyone with information about the case was asked to call homicide detectives at 323-890-5500 or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.
A GoFundMe page established on behalf of the boy’s family had raised nearly $70,000 as of Wednesday, Dec. 20. According to the page, the family was heading to a store to purchase groceries when the shooting unfolded. Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents the Lancaster area, condemned the boy’s killing.
“This young boy’s death is shocking,” she said in a statement on Monday, Dec. 18. “A family is now inexplicably left without a child that meant everything to them. Our roadways are no place for this type of random and unacceptable violence. I want the suspects apprehended for this heinous murder to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
“I also want to thank the law enforcement professionals who acted quickly, arrested the suspects, and took them off the community’s streets. We cannot tolerate acts of violence like this one,” Barger said.
The District Attorney’s Office denied reports that Burkhart had been recently booked on suspicion of a weapons violation but released under the county’s zero-bail policy. “This report is false,” according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Previous related stories:
Suspects ID’d in alleged road-rage killing of 4-year-old in Lancaster
Boy killed in Lancaster road-rage shooting, man and woman arrested
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For the good says
Mom and Dad not hit, only the 4 year old boy in the back seat? Rather odd, almost as if he was aiming for a spot in the car that he thought didn’t have passengers. He thought wrong. Why on earth would he think that this kind of violence would solve anything? And his gf not involved? Did she call 911? Did she make an attempt to stop her bf from unloading 8 rounds into another vehicle? If the answer is no then she should get charged also.
Kiki says
Good thing they took him off our streets we don’t need trash like him in this city .
His mother should be proud of the trash she raised.
Tar Zanjung says
not for long, plus one criminal goes in and 100 are kicked out.
Darleen says
This killer’s photo should not be shown in the same photo as this baby. My condolences to the family. May justice be served. RIP Little Angel.
Tim Scott says
Father should have known better.
Cynic says
Now we are victim blaming? I wouldn’t care if the victim’s family used a bullhorn to yell “F*ck you” to the killer after their misunderstanding on the streets. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. Toughen up and move on with your day. If someone’s ego is so fragile that any perceived disrespect sets them off, then they were not worthy of respect in the first place.
Tim Scott says
In case you haven’t recognized it, you aren’t arguing with anyone. This was some clown using my screen name to post the dumbest thing they could think of, so not much point in correcting them.
Tim Scott says
You should try saying things that I might actually say.
reading comprehension says
It’s not obvious that the boy’s father could have done anything to prevent being cut off by the murderer/road rager subsequently followed and attacked.
Charged says
“He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison…”
Three meals a day, a complimentary gym membership, and a gated community…
Al G says
I was also shot that day. Anyone know what kind of car or truck he was driving?
Malcolm says
This shows what happens when u just do not think and let your emotions get the best of you. Now a child has lost his life and a family will be grieving for a life time. All because this guy named Byron wanted to act a fool. Looks like he wanted to kill everyone in the car . Animals do not even do that stuff. Byron, Big Willie and the Twins will be seeing you soon.
Naturalist says
your attempt to anthropomorphize animals is confounded by one basic fact.
there are herbivores that are savagely hunted down and killed by carnivores for nourishment and propagation of the carnivore’s interests
Byron was wrong, no doubt…but refrain from illogical comparisons. it decreases the value of your idea.
Bill says
Animals do it for a purpose..ghetto trash has no purpose. Try not make illogical comparations w lengthy explanations as they make you sound publicly educated
Cynic says
Male chimpanzees are capable of extraordinary violence against members of the out-group, or if they’re jockeying for position within their band. Humans are like a more domesticated version of chimpanzees, with more gracile physical features, and a larger pre-frontal cortex that allows us to better cooperate by having more impulse control. Unfortunately, there are some genetic anomalies that slip through the cracks, such as Byron.
Tar Zanjung says
oh, how dare thee compare that poor monster to animals, that is so insulting. Give me a freaking break, take your head out of your derier and stop humanizing criminals actions.
Tom says
Guess you never seen a dog in a chicken pen. Kills every chicken in sight for fun. Use a better example next time.
John says
Humans have the ability to think for themselves. Dogs don’t. The intent of a human is different than a dog in a chicken’s pen. He used a fine example. Dogs in a chicken’s pen is a horrible one.
Tim Scott says
While I agree with you in a general sense, your example isn’t really very good. Yes, that is what happens, but the situation is produced by man. Intervention in the breeding of the dog, and the penning of the chickens into an unnatural state of confinement leaves this particular violence on the doorstep of man, not nature.
Let him rot says
Lock him up and throw away the key. Burn Byron Burn!
Tar Zanjung says
The california model baby. he’ll be out before he enters prison.
Galvin's an Idiot says
SB 2 will work wonders on criminals like Byron.
G. "Nuisance" Nuisome says
Yes. “Galvin” sure has some problems. Probably watches too much Fox news and reads too much newsmax.
“Galvin” should read from a wider variety of ideas.
dweeb says
try and catch up chumbucket,NO ONE watches either of those two, and you should cease and desisit the pull of xtube you’ll get hairy palms…chod;)
unintelligible says