Father Of 2-Year-Old Killed In Drive-By Speaks Out

Five days after 2-year-old Elijah Banuelos was shot and killed in a drive-by in Coachella. his father is speaking out.

The father shared his favorite memory of his young son.

“Just when he used to call my name, he used to call me Papi,” said the father, who did not want to be identified.

The father was spending time with his son Wednesday night on the 84-000 block of Redondo Sur in Coachella.

Young Elijah was shot in the head and later died at the hospital, a devastating blow to his father.

“He was the smartest two-year-old, he was very happy all the time, loved to share, very into God, he meant the world to me, but God had to take him back.”

The father was also shot multiple times in the legs, but suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

A gunman, or gunmen, remains at large for the crime.

Despite the pain, the father prays for the community to forgive them.

“I just pray for them, pray that they get a chance, because God is great,” he said.

As the family prepares for services to bury Elijah, the community showed their support at a car wash fundraiser over the weekend. “Friends that I don’t even know, they came out and supported, supported me and my son and my family.”

The funeral is scheduled for Wednesday, and they will bury Elijah on Thursday.

“It’s going to be hard, come Wednesday and Thursday to see him in his little box, and you know, tell him his farewells, but a proper burial would be very beautiful.”

His father knows exactly how he wants to say goodbye.

“That I love him a lot, he means everything to me, and to be strong, I will see him again,” he said.

The family is still in need of some assistance to pay for the funeral services, those wishing to help can go to any Wells Fargo bank, and ask to donate to the Elijah Banuelos account, or number 7065194651.