Pasadena offering $10,000 reward in search for killer of 13-year-old boy hit by stray bullet

PASADENA, Calif. (CNS) -- Authorities are offering a $10,000 reward for information that helps find the killer of a 13-year-old Pasadena boy who police say was hit by a stray bullet fired through his bedroom window as he played video games.

Iran Moreno-Balvaneda was wounded at 6:12 p.m. Saturday in the 900 block of North Raymond Avenue and died later at a hospital, according to the Pasadena Police Department.

The reward was offered by the city of Pasadena for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the suspect or suspects responsible for his death.

The target of the shooting was unknown, but it did not appear to be the boy, police said. Multiple shots were fired, but police did not know whether the shooter fired from a vehicle or was on foot.

As a Pasadena family deals with the loss of a 13-year-old boy who was killed by a stray bullet, a search is underway for the shooter.

Mayor Victor Gordo called for increased police presence in the wake of the shooting in a Monday afternoon news conference.

"We can't continue to take the same approach to public safety in this city or in the region and expect different results," Gordo said. "It's not too long ago that we called on more resources for the police department, that we said to the police department, 'we need more enforcement, we need more

officers on the street.' And I'm here to renew those calls, to say that we should and we must do things differently."

City Councilman John Kennedy implored the shooter to come forward.

"To the person who thought so little of all of us to fire a gun in our neighborhood and take this young life: The consequence of your thoughtless action is grief and suffering beyond words," Kennedy said. "Turn yourself in."

A community vigil is planned for Monday to honor Iran Moreno-Balvaneda, a 13-year-old Pasadena boy killed by a stray bullet.

Kennedy also urged anyone who was with or who knows the shooter to turn the person in.

A GoFundMe page for the family had raised more than $10,700 as of Thursday morning.

Anyone with information about the case was urged to call Pasadena police at 626-744-4241, or Lt. Keith Gomez of the Violent Crimes Section at 626-744-4517. Information may also be provided anonymously by contacting Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477) or http://lacrimestoppers.org. People can also provide tips with a smart phone by downloading the P3 Tips mobile app.