A fatal shooting occurred on Tuesday evening, April 1, resulting in the deaths of a mother and daughter while they were seated in their vehicle at a traffic light near an elementary school in Compton, California, authorities report.
The victims have been identified as 45-year-old La’von Hall and her 22-year-old daughter Ma’Laysia Martin. They were shot multiple times while waiting at a red light close to Caldwell Street Elementary School.
Deputies from the Compton Sheriff’s Station responded to a shooting report shortly after 7 p.m. at the intersection of Caldwell Street and Central Avenue. Upon arrival, they discovered the two women with multiple gunshot wounds. One was found in the street, while the other was inside their Toyota sedan, which had crashed onto the sidewalk near a traffic pole.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department stated, “Investigators learned the victims were in their vehicle on Caldwell Street, stopped at the signal light, when a vehicle pulled alongside. Investigators believe an occupant in the other vehicle [opened] fire on the victims.”
The suspect’s vehicle fled the scene heading southbound on Central Avenue. Donte Lamont Brown, 41, has been identified as the suspect, according to authorities. Brown is the estranged boyfriend of La’von Hall. Authorities are seeking public assistance to locate Brown, who remains at large and is considered armed and dangerous. Brown is known to frequent Compton and Long Beach, California.
Local news coverage showed crowds gathering at the scene, where the victims’ car was covered with a white sheet over the windshield area. The incident has affected the local community, with residents expressing their shock and grief.
Neighbor Debbie Shaw spoke with NBC Los Angeles after talking to Ma’Laysia Martin’s boyfriend. “She did just pick up her mother from work,” Shaw told the news station. “To come out here to see a mother and a daughter, that’s really heartbreaking.”
Another local resident, Diedra Culpepper, conveyed the community’s devastation. “It’s devastation. Compton is heartbroken right now,” she said.
The shooting took place near an elementary school, raising concerns about public safety in the neighborhood. Although the shooting occurred after school hours, the proximity to the educational facility has heightened community anxiety.
Community members have been creating a memorial at the site of the shooting, placing flowers and candles near the scene in honor of the victims.
Local officials have expressed condolences to the families of the victims and assured residents that efforts are being made to identify and apprehend those responsible for this violent act.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau is actively investigating the case and has urged anyone with information about the shooting to come forward.
Law enforcement is canvassing the neighborhood for potential witnesses and reviewing available surveillance footage that could assist in identifying the suspect vehicle or its occupants.
As the investigation continues, the Compton community mourns the loss of two residents whose lives were abruptly ended by violence, leaving family members, friends, and neighbors grappling with grief and searching for answers.
This fatal shooting is another violent incident in Compton, where city officials and community leaders have been working to reduce crime rates and improve public safety in recent years.