1-Year-Old Infant Shot in Head During Rap Video Shoot in Oakland, Calif.

On Nov. 29, a 1-year-old infant was left in critical condition after being shot in the head in Oakland, Calif. Authorities believe the incident occurred during the taping of a rap music video. In addition, six others also were shot, including a 24-year-old woman who is also in critical condition. The shootings happened after 6 p.m. happened near Interstate 880 in the city’s West Oakland neighborhood. according to Oakland police spokeswoman Officer Johnna Watson. The child was taken to the city’s Children’s Hospital.

Police say Oakland rapper Kafani was at the scene, but Kafani denies it and says reports that he was shooting a music video at the time are untrue. Surveillance video cameras recorded a hail of gunfire along an Oakland street.

The victims were in the parking lot of a liquor store when a fight broke out and more than one person started shooting. Authorities also state that a van that belonged to the rapper Kafani was riddled with bullet holes. The other five victims, males aged 14 to 26, are in stable condition. After the shooting, Kafani tweeted asking for prayers for his little cousin.

The infant’s father, who also was shot, drove his son to the hospital, where surgeons were trying to relieve swelling on his brain, according to news reports. Oakland Police Lt. Robert Chan told reporters that “We are aware of a 1-year-old boy who was shot — possibly in the head — in critical condition right now.”

–torrance stephens, ph.d.