Two teenagers found shot to death inside a crashed vehicle in the unincorporated Willowbrook area of South Los Angeles Thursday night have been identified by family members.
The incident was first reported as a traffic collision near the intersection of 124th Street and Maple Avenue at about 11 p.m., Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Brandon Dean said.
Responding deputies discovered two male victims suffering from multiple gunshot wounds inside a crashed vehicle.
One of the victims was described as a juvenile. The age of the second victim was unknown, according to a Sheriff’s Department news release.
Family members later identified the two victims as 17-year-old Jamele Hall and 16-year-old Millyon Colquitt.
Krystal Jackson, a relative, said the two boys were cousins and described the shooting as “senseless.”
“Please stop this senseless violence … We have to do better as a community,” Jackson said. “People’s response is ‘Black lives matter’ … if it matters make it matter. Make it matter,” she said fighting back tears.
Investigators believe the two victims were shot in the 12200 block of Maple Avenue a little north of the crash location.
The driver, likely trying to flee the gunfire, then lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a parked car, Dean said.
No information about the suspect, or suspects, was available.
Detectives are interviewing witnesses and searching the area for surveillance video.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Department at 323-890-5500. Those who prefer to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.