A second person was wounded as detectives investigated whether the shooting was connected to an earlier homicide.
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — A woman was killed and another person was wounded early Sunday when gunfire erupted near a candlelight vigil in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, turning a memorial for a slain mother of four into a second active homicide investigation.
The shooting occurred as relatives, friends and community members gathered to remember Albertshay Russell, whose death days earlier is also being investigated as a homicide. Authorities responded to reports of gunfire shortly after 2 a.m. near East 104th Street and Wilmington Avenue, where a large crowd had assembled. Investigators had not announced any arrests by Sunday evening and had not said whether the two cases were connected.
Mourners had gathered at the South Los Angeles intersection to honor Russell, whom family members identified as a 32-year-old mother of four. The vigil followed her death Monday on Santa Ana Street, where relatives said she was fatally shot. According to police, officers were called to the vigil area after reports of gunfire and arrived to find a large crowd still gathered near the scene. Witnesses described confusion and panic as attendees tried to determine what had happened. One woman who attended the gathering said people had come only to support Russell’s family. “All we are doing is coming to show our support,” she said. “We really don’t know what took place. It’s crazy.” Authorities secured the area and began interviewing witnesses while emergency crews treated victims and searched for evidence.
Police said one woman died following the shooting and another victim was transported to a hospital in stable condition. Officials did not immediately release the identities of either victim. Accounts differed on whether the woman who died was pronounced dead at the scene or later died at a hospital. Detectives also withheld details about the weapon involved and did not provide a suspect description. Investigators spent Sunday working to establish what led to the gunfire and whether the shooter targeted anyone in particular. Authorities did not announce a motive and offered few public details about evidence collected from the scene. The lack of information left family members and community residents searching for answers as detectives continued their work. By late Sunday, police had confirmed only that no suspect was in custody and that the investigation remained active.
The violence came during an already painful week for Russell’s relatives. Family members told local media that Russell was killed by her boyfriend at a residence where the couple lived with the boyfriend’s mother. They said at least one of Russell’s children witnessed the shooting. Relatives also disputed an account they said was initially provided to emergency dispatchers, claiming evidence at the scene suggested Russell had not taken her own life. Police have not publicly confirmed those allegations and have released few details about the circumstances surrounding Russell’s death. The Los Angeles Police Department has stated only that the case is being investigated as a homicide. Russell’s death drew widespread attention among family and friends, who organized the vigil as a public expression of grief and remembrance. The gathering was intended to honor her life and support her children during a period of profound loss.
As investigators examined both incidents, authorities emphasized that the cases remained separate inquiries. Detectives assigned to the vigil shooting were focused on identifying the person responsible for the gunfire and determining whether any dispute preceded the attack. At the same time, homicide investigators continued reviewing evidence related to Russell’s death earlier in the week. Police had not announced charges in either case and had not disclosed whether the same individuals, witnesses or evidence appeared in both investigations. Any determination regarding a connection between the shootings will depend on witness interviews, forensic analysis and other evidence gathered by detectives. Officials have not announced a timeline for completing either investigation, though further updates are expected as information becomes available and evidence is reviewed.
Hours after the shooting, candles and memorial items remained at the Watts intersection where mourners had gathered overnight. Some family friends returned to the area to pay tribute to Russell and reflect on the violence that interrupted the memorial. One close family friend described Russell as a deeply loved member of the community whose loss had affected many people. “She was a real person. She was a humble person. She was somebody who was loved,” the friend said. Russell’s sister, Antoinette Byrd, also remembered her as someone whose energy and personality could brighten difficult moments. In a fundraising statement, Byrd said Russell had a smile, laugh and sense of joy that helped lift those around her. The comments reflected a community struggling to mourn one death while confronting another act of violence just days later.
As of Sunday night, investigators had announced no arrests and had not identified a suspect in either case. Authorities are expected to release additional information as detectives continue reviewing evidence, identifying victims and determining whether the two shootings share any connection.
Author note: Last updated June 3, 2026.