In a series of events that have drawn attention and criticism, the family of 22-year-old Raejonette Morgan, who was fatally shot inside her vehicle, is calling for justice and answers. During a candlelight vigil held in her memory, the family, along with attorney Ben Crump, expressed their demands for accountability, especially directed at the actions of a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputy present at the scene. According to KTLA, the family claims to have footage showing the deputy's lack of immediate intervention as bystanders attempted to aid Morgan.
Morgan's death, which occurred following a shooting near the Vermont Avenue exit of the 105 Freeway, has been described as possibly gang-related, with investigators diligently working on the case. However, the lack of a suspect description and arrests so far has left the family and community to desperately yearn for closure. Civil rights activist Najee Ali, who is representing the family along with Crump, likened the deputy's alleged inaction to the controversial response of law enforcement during the Uvalde, Texas school shooting. Ali insisted on not only a full investigation but also requested a meeting with Los Angeles Sheriff Robert Luna to discuss department protocols, as recounted in a statement obtained by CBS News Los Angeles.
The LASD has pledged to conduct a "critical incident review" of the deputy's response amid allegations that the deputy failed to immediately act to provide potentially life-saving aid. The department extended its "sincere condolences to the family of Raejonette Morgan during this tragic time," emphasizing its ongoing efforts to solve Morgan's murder. This was echoed in a statement released by the department and quoted by ABC7.
At the center of controversy is footage captured by witness Dionne M. Leslie, who also spoke out at a press conference. Leslie vividly described trying to alert the deputy on the scene to render first aid, only to observe him reporting the incident instead of actively intervening. "He was sitting there on the phone, he was saying 'We've got a fatality. We're going to probably need a helicopter,'" Leslie told ABC7. She stressed that the delay in providing aid might have cost Morgan her life, stating, "That officer, he should go to jail for doing what he did: nothing!"
The vigil for Morgan was scheduled at the South Park Recreation Center, with the public invited to pay respects and support the family in their demand for answers. With the investigation ongoing, the sheriff's department is asking anyone with information to contact the LASD's Homicide Bureau or to provide anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers, as detailed in statements from law enforcement.
