Los Angeles County Sheriff Homicide Investigators continue their investigation into the shooting death of a woman in Carson.
Today, January 17, 2020, at 12:18 PM, deputies from Carson Sheriff’s Station responded to a home in the 18800 block of Crocker Avenue in the city of Carson regarding a call of a gunshot victim.
Upon arriving, deputies made entry into a home and discovered a woman inside suffering what appeared to be gunshot wounds. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
The victim is described as a woman of unknown race believed to be in her mid twenties.
There is no suspect description and the murder weapon is outstanding.
There is no further information at this time.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. If you wish to remain anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), using your smartphone by downloading the “P3 MOBILE APP” on Google play or the App Store, or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org
Forwarded by: Deputy James Nagao Sheriff’s Information Bureau – Newsroom Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Hall of Justice – First floor 211 W. Temple St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Suspects Sought in Murder of Two Young Women Sitting In A Vehicle In Carson; Family Asks For Public To Help Find Killers;Detectives to Announce $30K Reward
Detectives are
searching for the suspects involved in the shooting deaths of 19 year-old Erin
Lavender and 17-year-old Dalelaja Hearn that occurred on Sunday, December 15,
2019, in Carson.
That evening, at
approximately 8:50 p.m., Erin and Dalelaja, along with three other individuals,
were sitting in a vehicle that was parked outside of a residence at the 20300
block of Alvo Avenue, in the city of Carson.
As Erin and Dalelaja
were seated in the front of the vehicle, two suspects who wore hooded
sweatshirts, were seen on video surveillance walk towards their vehicle. One of
the suspects directly approached the front driver side of the vehicle, and
fired several shots aimlessly into the vehicle.
Immediately after the
shooting, both of the suspects ran southbound on Alvo Avenue, towards Del Amo
Boulevard and out of view. While the suspects were running away from the scene,
a light colored sports utility vehicle is captured on video surveillance driving
in the same direction passed the suspects. Detectives are asking the occupants
of that vehicle to contact investigators with any information that they may
have seen or can provide, to help shed light on the circumstances of this heinous
incident.
Right after the
shooting occurred, one of the individuals in the vehicle with Erin and Dalelaja,
saw that they had both been struck by gunfire, and drove them to a local
hospital. Both Erin and Dalelaja were struck in the upper torso, and
unfortunately succumbed to their injuries a short time later.
Today, Wednesday,
January 15, 2020, Sheriff Villanueva and Homicide Bureau Detectives announced a
combined $30,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest and
conviction of those responsible for Erin and Dalelaja’s murders.
During the press
conference, Sheriff Villanueva asked the public for their assistance in helping
to locate those responsible, and said, “It is always tragic when a life is
loss, but when two young ladies lose their lives, it is extremely
heartbreaking. These ladies were just beginning their lives, and we need the
public’s help to locate those responsible.”
Mayor Albert Robles,
from the City of Carson, also pleaded to the public for their help with any
information about this case, stating “It touches every single human being to think,
what happened here? This senseless killing. I know there is someone out there
that knows something about this. We are begging you to do the right thing. Come
forward. Share what information you know.”
A reward of $10,000 has
been sponsored by Supervisor Mark Ridley- Thomas, Los Angeles County Board of
Supervisors, Second District. Along with a second reward of $20,000 from the
City of Carson and approved by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, has
been graciously offered in exchange for information leading to the arrest and
conviction of those responsible for the shooting death of both victims.
Incidentally, Erin and
Dalelaja were in the area attending a vigil for a mutual friend of theirs, who
had just passed away.
At the time of her
death, Erin Lavender was only 19 years-old. She was just beginning her life and
was a student attending a local college and an avid softball.
Dalelaja Hearn was only
17 years-old at the time of her death. She was a high school student in Central
California, and was also an avid softball player.
Both Erin and Dalelaja
grew up surrounded by their loving family members, and will be missed dearly.
Anyone with information about the murders of
Erin Lavender and Dalelaja Hearn are encouraged to call Sheriff’s Homicide
Bureau at 323-890-5500. If you prefer to remain anonymous, you may call
“L.A. Crime Stoppers” at 800-222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by
downloading the “P3 MOBILE APP” on Google Play or the App Store, or use the
website http://lacrimestoppers.org.