At least 284 children have lost their lives to gun violence this year, according to Gun Violence Archive. The alarming statistics were once again highlighted on Friday night in Los Angeles County, as a 4-year-old boy tragically lost his life in a road rage incident.

The Southern California authorities described the incident as "unimaginable," involving two suspects who chased down the victim's family and unleashed a hail of gunfire on their vehicle. The fatal shooting took place in Lancaster after the assailants cut off the family's car on a highway.

Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris, deeply shaken by the incident, expressed his disbelief, stating, "It's unimaginable. This could have been any of our families. It could have been any of us."

Following relentless efforts, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department arrested a 29-year-old man and a 27-year-old woman. The suspects, whose names have not been disclosed, were booked at the Los Angeles County Jail on suspicion of murder.

The violence unfolded around 7:30 p.m., when the victim's family encountered the suspects in traffic on Sierra Highway in Lancaster. The suspects then began pursuing the family through several surface streets. The situation escalated when the suspect driver approached the victim's car and opened fire, striking the child in the backseat.

Despite his parents' immediate efforts to rush him to a local hospital, the child succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased. The child's name is being withheld until an autopsy is conducted by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.

The swift identification and location of the suspects were aided by crime-fighting technology installed in Lancaster earlier this year. The city's Flock Safety automated license plate recognition technology played a crucial role in tracking down the suspects, providing valuable information and aiding the investigation.

Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris highlighted the effectiveness of the technology, stating, "We know where they've been, we know where they're going, so when a crime is committed, we can go back in time and find out where they are."

As the investigation continues, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward and contact their homicide bureau.

This marks the second tragic incident in just two days, where a child fell victim to gun violence in the United States. On Saturday, in Memphis, Tennessee, an infant lost its life after being fatally shot in a home. The circumstances surrounding this incident remain under investigation, with no further information provided by the Memphis Police Department.

The Gun Violence Archive has reported that, to date, at least 284 children aged 11 or below have lost their lives to gun violence this year. These alarming figures underscore the urgent need for society to address the pervasive issue of gun violence to protect the lives of innocent children.