A mother and her daughter were killed by gunfire on the evening of April 1 while waiting in their vehicle at a stoplight near an elementary school in Compton, California, authorities reported.
The victims, 45-year-old La’von Hall and her 22-year-old daughter Ma’Laysia Martin, were shot multiple times as they sat 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 Caldwell Street and Central Avenue intersection. Upon arrival, law enforcement found both women with multiple gunshot wounds. One woman was discovered lying in the street, while the other remained in their Toyota sedan, which had collided with a sidewalk traffic pole.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department stated in a press release, “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 southbound on Central Avenue. Authorities have identified Donte Lamont Brown, 41, as the suspect. Brown, the estranged boyfriend of La’von Hall, still remains at large and is considered armed and dangerous. He is known to frequent areas in Compton and Long Beach, California.
Local news footage showed crowds gathering at the scene, where the victims’ car was covered with a white sheet over the windshield area. The incident has impacted the local community, with residents expressing their shock.
Neighbor Debbie Shaw spoke with NBC Los Angeles after speaking 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 despair. “It’s devastation. Compton is heartbroken right now,” she said.
The shooting took place in a residential area near an elementary school, raising public safety concerns. Although the incident occurred in the evening after school hours, its proximity to the school has increased community anxiety.
Community members created a memorial at the site, placing flowers and candles near the scene to honor the victims.
Local officials expressed condolences to the victims’ families and assured residents of their commitment to identifying and apprehending those responsible for the violence.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau is still actively investigating the case and encourages anyone with information to come forward.
Law enforcement officials have canvassed the neighborhood for potential witnesses and are reviewing any available surveillance footage that might help identify the suspect vehicle or its occupants.
As the investigation continues, the Compton community mourns the loss of two residents whose lives ended in violence, leaving family members, friends, and neighbors seeking answers.
The 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.
