$20,000 reward offered in case of 15-year girl fatally shot in head in Covina

COVINA, Calif. (KABC) -- Sheriff's detectives on Thursday announced a $20,000 reward in the case of a 15-year-old girl who was fatally shot in the head in January in Covina.

Karla Villa was walking with friends in the 4500 block of Heathdale Avenue about 9:45 p.m. on Jan. 6 when the apparently random shooting took place in the Charter Oak neighborhood, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

The group was monitoring their cellphone and waiting for a social media event to start when a dark-colored SUV drove slowly past them, investigators said.

"She was just waiting for a party like any normal teenager," sheriff's Detective Adan Torres said at a press conference. Gunfire erupted and Karla was struck in the head.

"We believe that whoever did shoot shot from the group that was nearby or standing with Karla, close to her," Torres said, flanked by fellow investigators and the girl's distraught mother.

The Baldwin Park High School sophomore was transported to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead the next afternoon.

Addressing the media in Spanish on Thursday, the victim's mother struggled to maintain her composure as she pleaded for witnesses to come forward.

A description of the shooter was not available. The motive for the shooting remains unknown.

The $20,000 reward, approved by the county Board of Supervisors, is being offered for information leading to the arrested and conviction of the assailant.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the sheriff's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.