Southwest
New Gerber baby is named for 2024: Meet adorable 'Sonny' from Arizona
The newest Gerber baby has been crowned.
Akil “Sonny” McLeod from Arizona has been named the winner of Gerber’s 14th annual Photo Search contest.
Sonny caught the attention of the selection committee, which for the first time ever was made up of parents of previous Gerber babies, according to a press release from the company.
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The winning photo captured the essence of Sonny’s name, as it shows him dressed in a bright yellow outfit with a toy sun hanging in the background.
As this year’s winner, Sonny will be featured on Gerber’s social media channels and marketing campaigns throughout the year.
The McLeod family was awarded $25,000 in cash, free Gerber products for a year and a new wardrobe for Sonny. (The McLeod family)
The McLeod family was awarded $25,000 in cash, free Gerber products for a year, a new wardrobe provided by Gerber Childrenswear and prizes from other early childhood brands, according to the company.
“Sonny immediately captured our hearts with his joyful smile and his family’s heartwarming demonstration of what it means to grow with love.”
Gerber announced that it will also match Sonny’s cash prize with a donation to support March of Dimes’ maternal and infant health program.
“After 14 incredible years of Photo Search, this year, we are grateful our former Gerber Baby families could join us in selecting Sonny as our 2024 Gerber Baby,” Chandra Kumar, president of Nestlé Nutrition (the owner of Gerber) in Virginia, said in a statement.
“I can tell that his smile, his attitude, has really made a positive impact,” said Sonny’s father Akil McLeod. (The McLeod family)
“Sonny immediately captured our hearts with his joyful smile and his family’s heartwarming demonstration of what it means to grow with love,” she added.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, the McLeod family reacted to their son being named the new Gerber baby.
“It’s crazy,” said Sonny’s father, Akil McLeod Sr. “He’s a little celebrity … He’s always getting stuff sent to the house.”
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“It’s just amazing,” he went on. “It’s a blessing. And he’s just so happy … I love this stage for him.”
Sonny’s mother, Dominique McLeod, agreed that her son’s win has brought about an “abundance of things,” from prizes to charitable donations.
Sonny was given his nickname to avoid confusing him with his father, Akil McLeod Sr., pictured here. (The McLeod family)
This includes Gerber’s additional donation of $5,000 to M.A.N.C.A.V.E., a fatherhood program created in a collaboration between the Greater Phoenix Urban League, the City of Phoenix and My Brother’s Keeper in honor of the McLeod family.
“All of that because we have a cute baby,” Dominique McLeod said, laughing.
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Sonny McLeod, who turned 1 year old on June 20, “loves to eat” and is always happy, his parents said.
The family gave the baby his nickname to avoid confusing him with his father, Akil McLeod, Sr.
Dominique McLeod, left, is pictured with Sonny McLeod, center, and Sonny’s 2-year-old sister, Sage McLeod. (The McLeod family)
“One day we were lying in bed and the sun just peeked through the window right on my belly so perfectly, and I was like, ‘Oh, Sonny,’” his mother said. “We went with that ever since.”
Dominique McLeod said she’d received multiple comments about how Sonny “looks like the Gerber baby” — which prompted her to enter her son in the contest.
While Sonny has already clinched the “Gerber baby” title, his parents agreed that he’s free to pursue “whatever he wants” as he grows up.
“I pray it’s something impactful for the world.”
“I just want him and our daughter to know this world is whatever they want to make of it,” his mother said.
“I pray it’s something positive. I pray it’s something impactful for the world. But I don’t ever want to put a restriction on what they can or can’t do.”
Big sister Sage McLeod kisses baby Sonny McLeod on the head. (The McLeod family)
“If he told me, ‘Mom, I want to be an astronaut,’ I’d contact NASA and figure out how we can try to make that dream a reality.”
Akil McLeod emphasized the importance of supporting each child’s dreams.
“I know what it’s like when you have family or friends who don’t support a dream or a goal,” he said. “And I just never want him to feel that way.”
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WARNING: Video footage contains graphic violence
A 62-year-old street vendor is recovering after a brutally violent attack by another woman in broad daylight as bystanders in downtown Los Angeles looked on.
The attack happened around 4 p.m. on June 15 in the 700 block of Figueroa Street, where Arabelia Martinez has sold hot dogs for years to support herself and her family.
Video of the incident, which has since circulated widely online, appears to show a woman confronting Martinez at her stand before spraying sauce across the vendor’s cart. Martinez responds by throwing what appears to be Tajín seasoning in the woman’s direction, and the confrontation quickly escalates.
The difficult-to-watch footage shows Martinez being shoved to the ground and struck multiple times as people look on. Some can be seen attempting to intervene, but the assault continues for roughly a minute before coming to an end.
“I was speechless,” Martinez’s son, Constantino Garcia, said after watching the video. “I couldn’t even see the whole thing.”
According to Garcia, the suspect approached his mother before the attack and attempted to intimidate her into giving her money.
“The lady came up to my mom trying to intimidate her and extort her for money, telling her she needed a permit to sell, which my mom does have,” Garcia told KTLA’s Carlos Saucedo.
When Martinez refused, Garcia claims the woman became verbally abusive.
“After she didn’t get her way and tried to extort my mom, she said, ‘Go back to Mexico,’ and made some racist remarks,” he said. “She said some disgusting things to my mom.”
Garcia said his mother continues to suffer lingering effects from the attack.
“She keeps complaining about her head,” he said. “We need to go see a head specialist because her head doesn’t stop hurting. As you could see in the video, she got slammed to the ground.”
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A 62-year-old L.A. street vendor was violently beaten by another woman downtown as bystanders watched the broad daylight attack on June 15, 2026. (Constantino Garcia) -
A 62-year-old L.A. street vendor was violently beaten by another woman downtown as bystanders watched the broad daylight attack on June 15, 2026. (Constantino Garcia) -
A 62-year-old L.A. street vendor was violently beaten by another woman downtown as bystanders watched the broad daylight attack on June 15, 2026. (Constantino Garcia) -
A 62-year-old L.A. street vendor was violently beaten by another woman downtown as bystanders watched the broad daylight attack on June 15, 2026. (Constantino Garcia) -
A 62-year-old L.A. street vendor was violently beaten by another woman downtown as bystanders watched the broad daylight attack on June 15, 2026. (Constantino Garcia) -
A 62-year-old L.A. street vendor was violently beaten by another woman downtown as bystanders watched the broad daylight attack on June 15, 2026. (Constantino Garcia) -
A 62-year-old L.A. street vendor was violently beaten by another woman downtown as bystanders watched the broad daylight attack on June 15, 2026. (Constantino Garcia) -
A 62-year-old L.A. street vendor was violently beaten by another woman downtown as bystanders watched the broad daylight attack on June 15, 2026. (Constantino Garcia) -
A 62-year-old L.A. street vendor was violently beaten by another woman downtown as bystanders watched the broad daylight attack on June 15, 2026. (Constantino Garcia) -
A 62-year-old L.A. street vendor was violently beaten by another woman downtown as bystanders watched the broad daylight attack on June 15, 2026. (Constantino Garcia) -
A 62-year-old L.A. street vendor was violently beaten by another woman downtown as bystanders watched the broad daylight attack on June 15, 2026. (Constantino Garcia)
The video has also sparked outrage over the response from some witnesses who were nearby during the assault.
“What’s going on with our society?” Garcia said. “Are we getting desensitized to an elderly woman being beaten in broad daylight and being surrounded by people doing the bare minimum to help her? That was horrible for me to watch.”
Witness Sebastian Gutierrez said he arrived moments after the confrontation and saw Garcia’s attacker causing additional chaos in the area.
“The lady began to flip over the tables of vendors,” Gutierrez said, describing the woman as possibly unstable. “It definitely seemed like there were mental health issues or drugs involved, like we see with a lot of things here in downtown L.A.,” he said.
The Los Angeles Police Department has launched a battery investigation into the incident KTLA confirmed, though no suspect information or news of a potential arrest has been released.
Meanwhile, Martinez’s family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help with her recovery and raise awareness about the dangers street vendors face daily.
“I hope that my mom gets justice for what happened to her,” Garcia said. He added that he’s been encouraged by the public response to the video.
“I’m grateful people are sympathizing with my mom,” he said. “People are giving it the attention it deserves.”
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