The Los Angeles Kings contributed half of the $100,000 reward being offered Wednesday for information leading to the capture of the person who shot dead a 1-year-old boy amid apparent gang warfare in the city.
Kings governor Tim Leiweke, who confirmed the $50,000 contribution, said even the hysteria of Wednesday night's Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final would not distract the team from civic duty amid the tragedy.
"During such an exciting time such as this we can't lose sight of the importance and responsibility we all share in keeping our community safe," Leiweke said in a statement.
Baby Angel Mauro Cortez-Nava was cradled in his father Mauro Cortez's arms in Watts when an attacker on a bicycle fired on the group Monday evening.
The bullet pierced the boy in the back, before hitting Cortez in the upper body. While the father survived, his son died in the hospital later that night despite emergency surgery.
The shooting was believed to have been provoked by another man within the group wearing purple, a color associated with a local street gang.
"Our players and staff feel a tremendous obligation to do everything we can to help find who committed this terrible act of irresponsibility," Leiweke said in announcing the launch of a charitable initiative called 2,000 Acts of Hope.
"Hopefully (the $50,000) can contribute to the effort to acquire the information necessary to find who did this and make sure everyone knows this is unacceptable in our city," he added.
