The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has identified a 20-year-old mother who died after being shot through her bedroom window while she was sleeping in South Los Angeles early Sunday.
The incident happened in the 400 block of West 103rd Street in the Vermont Vista neighborhood at around 3:30 p.m., according to the Los Angeles Police Department. When officers arrived, they found Maria Barrios Ventura had been shot in her bedroom.
Investigators say shots were fired, and they ended up going through the window, striking and killing the young woman. It’s unclear how many shooters were involved.
She died at the scene, police said.
Her boyfriend, Omar Misael, told NBC Los Angeles she leaves behind a 1-year-old baby. He said the family was sleeping together in the same bed when the shooting took place.
“A stray bullet passed through here and struck my partner, and another seven shots were fired and hit around here. She died about 10 minutes later,” Misael said.
The grieving father said he’s in disbelief that his other half would die being struck by a bullet in bed. He said he ran outside to ask for help and tried rendering aid to Ventura before medical personnel arrived. Police said the victim was struck in the head.
Jose Chavez said the bullets struck his property, as well.
“It hit my car, it hit the window, it hit a friend,” he said. “And unfortunately, she died.”
Ventura is remembered as being a loving and devoted mother.
The investigation is ongoing. A description of the gunman or gunmen was not immediately available.