SAN DIEGO -- Authorities announced on Monday the indictment of a gang member accused in a New Year's 2003 shooting that killed two women and injured a 7-year-old boy caught in the crossfire in southeast San Diego.

James Carter, 35, is charged with two counts of murder, four counts of attempted murder and one count of conspiracy to commit a crime in connection with the shooting at Dr. J's liquor store.

Carter is also charged with two special circumstance allegations -- multiple murders and that the murder was committed for the benefit of a street gang -- which could lead to the death penalty.

A decision on which punishment Carter might face if convicted will be made by District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis at a later date.

"These innocent victims were caught in a gang revenge shooting that shook the community and left law enforcement with very few leads," Dumanis said. "Over the years, investigators pursued this case with great determination. The shooter who fired the fatal shots will now be held accountable for his crimes."

Over the past 10 months, people in the community began coming forward and talking with authorities about what they knew about the murders of Carol Waites, 45, and Sharen Burton, 32, according to Deputy District Attorney Robert Hickey.

The killings "so grotesquely crossed the line" that, as time passed, people were willing to come forward and tell what they knew, Hickey said.

The victims were caught in gang warfare crossfire in the early morning hours of Jan. 1, 2003, when they stopped by Dr. J's liquor to buy a fire log after attending midnight church services.

Waites' 7-year-old nephew was shot six times as he shielded her 2-year- old granddaughter in the back seat. The toddler was not injured.

Hickey said the gang shooting was in retaliation for a murder 24 hours earlier in Skyline.