Man to Be Charged With Murder in Toddler’s Death

The district attorney’s office said Tuesday that it plans to file murder charges against Arturo Ramirez, 21, of Signal Hill in the death of 2-year-old Erick Jimenez, who was gunned down in Inglewood late Friday.

Ramirez, who is being held without bail, is scheduled to be arraigned in Inglewood Municipal Court on July 31 on one count of murder and one count of firing at an occupied vehicle.

The district attorney’s office also plans to file murder charges against a 16-year-old being held in connection with the killing, said district attorney’s spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons.

The teenager is scheduled to be arraigned in Inglewood Juvenile Court today on one count of murder and four counts of attempted murder on allegations of firing at four people inside a car. Prosecutors will request that the juvenile be tried as an adult, Gibbons said.

Rodolfo Jimenez and Odalio Porcayo were walking home along Prairie Avenue with their son Erick and their 1-year-old daughter when a volley of shots erupted from gunmen on foot firing at a passing vehicle. Erick was hit in the face by a stray bullet and died shortly after being taken to a nearby hospital, authorities said.