A candlelight vigil in Watts turned deadly early Sunday when gunfire tore through a pre-dawn crowd, leaving one woman dead and another wounded, authorities said.
Los Angeles police officers were called to the intersection of East 104th Street and Wilmington Avenue at about 2 a.m., where they found a large gathering and two female victims, according to the Los Angeles Police Department’s Media Relations Division, as reported by MyNewsLA. Paramedics took one woman to a hospital, where she later died. The second woman was taken to a hospital by a private vehicle and was listed in stable condition.
MyNewsLA noted that initial details were limited and that no further information was immediately available from investigators early Sunday.
Vigil Held for Woman Killed Days Earlier
Family members told local television that the vigil was being held for 32-year-old Albertshay Russell. Relatives said Russell was shot last Monday by her boyfriend, Andre Brandley, and that at least one of her children witnessed that earlier attack, according to ABC7 Los Angeles. ABC7 reported that no one was in custody in connection with the vigil shooting.
Investigation Ongoing
MyNewsLA reported that officers arrived to find a large crowd already at the scene and that first responders transported victims to area hospitals. Detectives spent the early morning processing the intersection and interviewing witnesses as they worked to piece together what happened. Officials have not publicly released any suspect description.
Family Raises Questions About Earlier Death
Russell’s family told ABC7 that her mother initially called 911 about the earlier incident and described it as a suicide. Relatives, however, said wounds on Russell’s hands suggested she had not harmed herself. Family members said Russell leaves four children and told the station they are grieving while pushing for answers about both shootings, ABC7 Los Angeles reported.
