Community leaders and the family of the woman killed in the drive-by shooting have questioned why there was such a slow police response to the tragedy.
Leijonette Morgan, 22, was shot and killed Tuesday in the West Athens neighborhood of South Los Angeles. She was found critically wounded inside her bullet-riddled Mercedes-Benz, parked on the sidewalk at the Vermont Avenue exit of the westbound 105 Freeway.
Dion Leslie, who was livestreaming on Facebook shortly after the shooting, saw Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies standing just feet away from the Mercedes where Morgan remained wounded inside.
“When I found the vehicle, the driver was just on the phone saying there’d been a fatality and was checking to see if anyone else was out,” Leslie recalled at a press conference held by Morgan’s family.
Leslie’s footage shows her approaching the car and realizing Morgan is still alive.
“I looked at her, our eyes met and I knew in that moment she needed me,” Leslie said.
Leslie pleaded with the officers, informing them that Morgan was still breathing and urging them to assist the injured victim, but the officers remained near the patrol car while calling for help, so Leslie took it upon herself to try and save Morgan’s life.
Leslie used her boot to break the passenger side window and did everything she could to save Morgan.
“I was there for her. I wasn’t going to let her down, and if I had to go to jail for it, then so be it,” Leslie said.
When reinforcements arrived, several officers pulled Morgan from the car and she was taken to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, where she later died from her injuries.
“That was my only baby, my daughter,” said a heartbroken Anginette Morgan, the victim’s mother.
At a press conference on Friday, she called for an investigation into the deputy’s inaction in rescuing her daughter. On Saturday, the Los Angeles Police Department announced it had opened a “serious incident investigation” to look into the matter.
“We are deeply concerned about this incident and our detectives are working diligently to solve this heinous murder and bring justice to the family,” the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement. “Our deepest condolences go out to the family of Rayjohnette Morgan during this tragic time.”
“We would like to thank the concerned local residents who attended the scene and offered assistance,” the force said.
LASD did not release the name of the deputy under investigation.
Details of what led to the shooting were not immediately clear. The gunman in Lagionet’s death remains at large and no description of the gunman has been released.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the LAPD Homicide Division at 323-890-5500 or to make an anonymous tip, contact Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS.