A candlelight vigil in Watts turned deadly overnight after gunfire erupted, leaving one person dead and another injured, authorities said. The gathering had been held in honor of a mother of four who was previously killed in a separate incident involving her boyfriend.
The shooting occurred around 2:00 a.m. Sunday in the area of East 104th Street and Wilmington Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Officers responded to reports of shots fired and arrived to find a large crowd still gathered at the scene.
Police confirmed that a woman identified by family members as Milk Marie was pronounced dead at the location. Another victim was transported to a nearby hospital in stable condition. No arrests have been made, and investigators said a suspect description has not yet been released.
The vigil was held in memory of 32-year-old Albertshay Russell.
Family members say Russell was shot Monday on Santa Ana Street by her boyfriend. They said the couple lived in a home with his mother. The boyfriend’s mother reportedly called 911 and initially claimed Russell’s death was a suicide, but relatives dispute that account, saying evidence at the scene suggests otherwise. The Los Angeles Police Department has since confirmed that a homicide investigation is underway.
