Road rage driver Byron Burkhart appears in court after killing a four-year-old boy by firing eight shots into his family's car

The distraught parents of a four-year-old boy shot dead in their car have demanded why the gunman was left free to kill after two recent arrests.

Byron Burkhart appeared in court in Los Angeles on Tuesday charged with the murder of Gor Adamyan, who was killed in a hail of bullets during a road rage incident on Friday.

The little boy had begged his parents to take him to the grocery store before they crossed paths with Burkhart, 29, and his girlfriend Alexandria Gentile, 27, on Sierra Highway in Lancaster.

His parents say they saw Gentile hand Burkhart the gun before he shot their car eight times, fatally wounding Gor in the backseat.

But Gentile has been released without charge and LA's district attorney is facing questions amid claims that Burkhart was released from jail a day earlier under the state's “zero-bail” policy.

Byron Burkhart appeared in court in Los Angeles on Tuesday charged with the murder

“This particular suspect was in custody a week ago for a gun-related crime and they had to let him go because of the new bail laws,” Lancaster Mayor Rex Parris told KTLA 5.

'What did we expect? Did we really think that our children would not suffer from this? Because they are.'

Police say the family was suddenly cut off by Burkhart, who then chased them through the streets before finally pulling up next to their car and shooting inside.

During the incident, the suspect driver cut them off and then followed them down several streets,” the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department said.

“While being pursued by the suspects, the victim's driver slowed his vehicle, at which time the suspect driver pulled up to the passenger side of the victim's car and began shooting.”

Family spokesman Miguel Coronado said mother Meri Adamyan and father Levon Tantushyan were unharmed, but a bullet struck Gor in the torso as he sat in the backseat.

“Mom, I'm hurt,” he told her.

“They turned around and saw that his organs had exploded,” Coronado added.

Those working in nearby businesses heard a shot ring out and rushed to help, but unfortunately the youngster died from his injuries on Friday evening.

“His father and mother, who were in the vehicle, immediately transported him to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased,” the sheriff's office said.

“On that fateful day, as Gor's parents were on their way to run errands, an encounter with a suspicious driver escalated into an unthinkable tragedy,” he said. GoFundMe page read.

“Gor Adamyan succumbed to his injuries on Friday evening, just ten days before Christmas, leaving his family devastated,” the report said.

'Gor was just a happy, ordinary boy. He loved trucks, hugs, just a very happy kid who loved his mom and dad, loved his family,” said Miguel Coronado, a family spokesman.

Coronado said Burkhart had been arrested repeatedly by the Lancaster Sheriff's Department and should not have been on the streets.

“He's a historic criminal, he's a domestic terrorist, that's what he is,” the spokesperson added.

“It was the woman who handed him the gun, the mother told me directly.”

LA DA George Gascon's office has denied that Burkhart was released without bail following a weapons incident, but has yet to explain the reasons for his arrests in February and November last year.

Lancaster Mayor Rex Parris has claimed Burkhart was free to kill because of zero-bail laws

The shooting occurred when the family's driver was suddenly cut off on the Sierra Highway near East Avenue J in Lancaster

“We are aware of false reports circulating that Byron Burkhart was recently arrested on suspicion of a gun-related incident and released under the Los Angeles County Superior Court's zero bail policy,” a spokesperson said.

“This report is false.”

Gentile was released Tuesday afternoon and Burkhart will be arraigned on Jan. 22 on a $5.075 million bond.

Dailymail.com has reached out to the district attorney's office for more information.