Seven-year-old Evan Leigh Foster of Inglewood, California, was killed on December 8, 1997, after gunfire erupted at Darby Park as his family was leaving following registration for a basketball program. Gang members seeking retaliation for earlier killings that day opened fire with an assault rifle aimed at an Inglewood man who was not involved in gangs. A stray bullet struck Evan in the head while he sat in the back of his mother’s car wearing his Batman suit. His 10-month-old brother, Alec, was wounded by shrapnel in the eye.

Authorities charged three alleged gang members with murder and attempted murder: Charles Baker, 21; Kevin Bookman, 20; and Ollie Wilkins, 18. Wilkins and Bookman were arrested along with a 17-year-old; Baker, identified as the suspected triggerman, was reported at large. The shooting was described as a mistaken retaliation against rival gang members.

The community reacted to the loss of a young child and the injury of an infant at what had been a family outing. If anyone has information about that attack or remembers the scene at Darby Park that day, please share what you know.