$57.5K reward offered in fatal shooting of 9-year-old girl in Anaheim

ANAHEIM, Calif. (KABC) -- A $57,500 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a gunman who shot and killed a 9-year-old girl in Anaheim Wednesday night.

Ximena Meza was playing with a group of children in front of her apartment complex when several shots rang out around 7:15 p.m. on the 2300 block of West Greenacre Avenue, across from Brookhurst Park.

Neighbors tried to help the little girl before paramedics arrived. Witness Marquise Oliver said she started doing CPR and putting pressure on the wound.

"I'm not a nurse, I'm a mother. That's the only thing I can think about is this could have been my baby," said Oliver.

Meza was rushed to UC Irvine Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

The victim's father, William Meza, says his daughter was a sweet girl who did well in school and was a good big sister to her two younger siblings.

"I just love her so much, and I know that she's with God right now because she was an angel," he said. "Somebody who knows something or saw something can talk to the police and help to figure out how the situation is and try to solve this case."

It's unknown if the gunman was in a car or on foot. Police say the shooting may be gang-related.

The Anaheim Police Department held a community meeting at 7 p.m. at the Brookhurst Community Center, 2271 W. Crescent Ave., to discuss Ximena Meza's murder. More than 300 people attended with their concerns.

The reward in the case is being offered by the Anaheim Police Association. A car wash fundraiser for the family is scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday at Brookhurst Street and Catalina Avenue in Anaheim.

An online fundraiser has also been set up to help the family with funeral costs.

Anyone with information was asked to call police at (714) 765-1573.