Family members have identified the child as Demetrius Stevenson.
At least one man allegedly got out of a car and fire shots into the home in the 1500 block of Homan Avenue, police said.
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The boy was struck in the head, killing him, police said.
"They shot and killed an 8-year-old that could not defend himself and probably did not even see it coming," said community activist Andrew Holmes.
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Officials said it is a gang-related shooting and the boy's 18-year-old brother was the intended target.
He tried to save his little brother and carried him out to police.
The 18-year-old, who has not been named, is in custody on a separate warrant and is being questioned about the shooting, according to police.