3-year-old saved by ‘heavy blanket’ in shooting is back home in Palmdale

A 3-year-old who was saved from a bullet by a heavy blanket is back home in Palmdale.

The boy is bruised but otherwise fine, his parents told KTLA. He was struck by gunfire late Sunday night while sleeping in his crib. A second bullet hit his parents’ mattress.

“Fortunately ... he was wrapped in a heavy blanket. The impact of the bullet only caused a large bruise and small burn on the victim but did not penetrate his body,” the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement.

“We’re kind of stunned,” the boy’s father told KTLA. “This is kind of mindblowing to all of us.”

The boy was sleeping in his crib in the house in the 38000 block of 65th Street East before 10 p.m. Sunday when at least one person opened fire on the house from outside, the Sheriff’s Department said. Residents reported hearing three to five shots.

One bullet hit the homeowner’s mattress and another hit the child in the back, authorities said.

The shooter or shooters ran away and have not been arrested, authorities said, adding that no description was available. Investigators said they were working on a motive for the attack. The family that lives in the home has no known gang affiliations, they said.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Sheriff’s Department’s Palmdale station at (661) 272-2400.

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