Four people were killed and a fifth was injured when multiple gunmen opened fire in what police say was an act of gang-related violence.
Bullet holes and balloons are nearly all that remain of the horrors that unfolded on Park Avenue in Inglewood on Sunday night, when a birthday party became the scene of the city’s worst act of violence in decades. Four people were killed and a fifth was injured when multiple gunmen opened fire into the celebration shortly after 1:30 a.m. in what police say was an act of gang-related violence. The victims of the shooting were identified Monday as Teron Whittiker Jr. and Jayden Griffin, both 21, as well as sisters Marneysha Hamilton,25, and Breahna Stines, according to the Los Angeles County coroner’s office. It was Stines’ 20th birthday. “All she wanted to do was celebrate her birthday, and her sister came to be with her,” a friend, Tesha, told reporters. “Just beautiful ladies. Beautiful young ladies.” Stines, Hamilton and Whittiker were pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. Griffin died on the way to UCLA Ronald Reagan Hospital. The fifth victim, not yet identified, remains in critical condition, according to Lt. Brett Birkbeck of the Inglewood Police Department. The shooters were still at large Monday, and no descriptions of the suspects were available, Birkbeck said. Indeed, much of what transpired inside the blue house on Park Avenue remains unclear. Authorities said none of the victims lived in the house, which they believe was being used as an unregulated short-term rental. Witnesses said a group of Swedish tourists were renting the house at the time of the shooting. The homeowners did not offer comment to The Times. One 18-year-old neighbor who gave his name only as Matthew said he was in his room when the shooting began in the driveway of the house next door.
