SAN DIEGO -- Authorities hope a $50,000 reward announced Friday will flush out whoever gunned down two women outside a Lincoln Park market following a New Year's Eve church service in 2003.

During a briefing outside downtown San Diego police headquarters, Police Chief William Lansdowne announced the new state-funded reward and vowed to shield any informants from harm.

"We will provide protection to anyone who comes forward," the chief told reporters, adding that his department would relocate witnesses from neighborhoods where they might risk retribution.

Homicide Lt. Mike Hurley, head of a special task force investigating the murders, echoed the chief's assurances.

"We're offering (witnesses) safety," he said. "We're offering them safe haven."

At the request of San Diego officials, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger recently approved the new reward for information about the slayings of Valencia Park resident Carol Waites, 45, and Sharon Burton, 32, of Temecula.

An 8-year-old boy was critically wounded in the attack and a man -- possibly the target of the attack -- suffered less severe injuries, according to police.

The victims were standing with fellow churchgoers in a parking lot in the 5000 block of Logan Avenue about 1 a.m. when the attackers drove up in several vehicles and unleashed a fusillade of as many as 50 shots.

Emergency crews found an unscathed toddler in a child safety seat in a car riddled with bullets.

At the news conference, the police chief said detectives were "very close" to arresting suspects in the shooting, but still needed a few pieces of critical information.

"We think we know who did it," Lansdowne added.

The homicide lieutenant said "more than two" assailants took part in the crime.

The man wounded in the assault was a suspected gang member who may have been the intended murder victim, Hurley told news crews.

Over the last 35 months, detectives have interviewed hundreds of people about the case and served dozens of search warrants, Hurley said.

Officials urged anyone with information in the case to call San Diego County Crime Stoppers' anonymous tip line at (888) 580-8477.