A one-year-old girl is dead and a nine-year-old boy injured after a pair of shootings in New Orleans.

"One left a little girl dead who was 4 days shy of her second birthday," Officer Frank Robertson said in a news release.  "The other involved a 9-year-old boy hit by a bullet when he got caught in crossfire."

He says around 4:30pm Sunday officers were called to the 3300-block of Erato Street in Central City. 

"Upon arrival, officers located a 19-year-old male lying in the courtyard suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to the body. Just feet away, they found a 23-month-old girl suffering from a gunshot wound to the head.   Both victims were transported to a hospital where the toddler was pronounced dead and the 19-year-old man was taken to surgery,"  Robertson said.

Investigators say that the 19-year-old man was apperently walking in the neighborhood when gunmen in two vehicles started shooting at him. The detectives say the man managed to run into a crowded courtyard full of kids as the gunmen continued to fire at him.  

"This is when the girl toddler was shot in the head, and the 19-year-old was critically wounded," Robertson said.

An hour earlier officers were called to the 6900 block of Salem Drive, where police say a nine-year-old boy was found suffering from a gunshot wound to his back.

"He was transported to a nearby hospital where he is currently listed in stable condition," according to Robertson.  "A preliminary investigation indicates the victim was playing in the neighborhood when an unknown black man dressed in all dark clothing standing alongside an abandoned house in the area began shooting at a passing gold-colored Pontiac, occupied by 2 black men. The passenger in the Pontiac returned fire, and the 9-year-old boy was caught in the cross fire."

The chief of police is sounding off.

"This crime was contemptible.  A child who was playing in his neighborhood on a Sunday afternoon becomes a shooting victim between gunmen who apparently knew each other and tried to settle some score," said Chief Ronal Serpas in the release.  "No one should be afraid to let their kids go outside for some fresh air.  This was tragic for this young victim, his family- and for that matter- the people of New Orleans."