A woman beloved in her South Los Angeles community was found killed in her home with her hands tied on the Fourth of July holiday, investigators said Monday.
Dozens of people turned out for a vigil Monday evening to remember Fatima Johnson. Those present said the kind and generous mother of six was adored in the Manchester Square neighborhood.
Johnson’s daughters say they grew concerned after she failed to show up for work Sunday morning and wasn’t responding to text messages. When they showed up at her apartment, they found a terrible scene.
“What happened to my mother is something that no child should ever see of their parent,” Johnson’s daughter Tyesa Harvey said. “I’m hurt, I’m angry and I’m questioning God right now.”
Officers responded shortly after midnight Sunday to the 7600 block of South Western Avenue in the Manchester Square neighborhood, said L.A. police spokesperson Officer William Cooper.
Johnson was discovered bound and unconscious. She was pronounced dead at the scene, Cooper said.
LAPD had earlier described as being 50, but later said she was 53.
Cooper could not provide further details on the circumstances or nature of the victim’s injuries.
Harvey said in addition to her hands being tied, Johnson’s body was wrapped in a blanket.
Neighbors say they saw the perpetrator running away from the crime scene.
LAPD described the suspect only as a Black man. Investigators say they’re following all leads but do not have a suspect in custody.
Family members suspect the killer was Johnson’s boyfriend, who they say was just released from prison after serving time for murder.
Whoever killed Johnson stole her silver Lexus, her jewelry and her cellphone, relatives said.
A motive in the killing was unclear, but the incident is not gang related, according to Cooper.
No further details were available.