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LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a $20,000 reward today for information leading to the gunman who fired a stray bullet into a Pasadena home -- killing a 13-year-old boy playing a video game.
Supervisor Kathryn Barger recommended the reward in the case of Iran Moreno, which will be added to an earlier $10,000 reward from the city of Pasadena, for a total of $30,000.
``The senseless murder of Iran has left a painful void in the hearts of his family, friends, teachers and the community at large,'' Barger said in a statement. ``I'm hopeful that this monetary reward will help move us closer to finding whoever is responsible and holding them accountable. Justice for Iran must be served.''
The eighth-grader was wounded at 6:12 p.m. Nov. 20 in the 900 block of North Raymond Avenue and died later at a hospital, according to the Pasadena Police Department.
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.
Iran was a well-liked straight-A student at Blair Middle School and had no gang affiliations, Barger said.
Mayor Victor Gordo called for increased police presence during a news conference held two days after the shooting.
``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 at the time. ``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.''
On Tuesday, Gordo said Iran's family deserves closure and expressed the city's gratitude to Barger and the board.
``I am hopeful these rewards will encourage witnesses to come forward with any information they may have,'' the mayor said.
A GoFundMe page for the family had raised $16,168 as of Tuesday morning. It may be accessed at www.gofundme.com/f/funeral-expenses-for-iran-moreno?qid=3c95b4f6ce747883a31a8a0b31d9d9b6.
Anyone with additional information about this shooting can call Pasadena Police at 626-744-4241 or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at crimestoppers.org.