PHOTOS: Man arrested after shooting one-year-old girl dead in her cot

A 23-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of fatally shooting a 1-year-old girl who was struck by gunfire in her crib at a Compton home, authorities said Tuesday.

Ray Howard Patterson was arrested Monday afternoon, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Detective Todd Anderson.

Sheriff’s spokeswoman Nicole Nishida later confirmed the arrest to KTLA, saying a news conference on the arrest would be held Wednesday..

Continue after the cut..........

Patterson is suspected of being the gunman who shot Autumn Johnson about 7 p.m. Feb. 9 at her home in the 300 block of North Holly Avenue. Responding deputies found the child’s father holding her, crying.

Before paramedics arrived, deputies rushed the girl to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Her funeral was Saturday, Feb. 20. She had turned 1 about a week before she was shot.

A sheriff’s lieutenant said it appeared the shooting was gang-related, and that the gunman was targeting someone who lived in the converted garage where Autumn was shot.

Two black men were seen fleeing in a blue Chevrolet Impala.

Inmate records indicated Patterson was being held in downtown Los Angeles without bail and was due in court Wednesday.

A $75,000 reward was offered in the case.