15-year-old identified as girl killed in South LA shooting near Watts

SOUTH LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A 15-year-old girl has been identified as the teenager killed in a car shooting outside her South L.A. home near Watts Thursday night.

Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner officials confirmed the victim's name as Miracle McGowen.

Miracle was in the passenger seat of a Mercedes-Benz SUV with her biological mother and another family member when someone opened fire.

Miracle's biological mom, who was wounded in the shooting, drove off with responding Los Angeles police officers trailing behind in pursuit. Authorities didn't know the SUV was carrying the victims until they stopped near Wilmington Avenue and Imperial Highway in Watts, on the way to a hospital.

The victims were shot at approximately 9 p.m. close to the girl's home near East 93rd Street and South Hooper Avenue, according to Los Angeles County sheriff's officials.

Miracle was struck at least one time in the body and pronounced dead at the scene.

Her biological mother, who was the driver in the SUV, was struck at least one time in the body as well and was listed in good condition. The third occupant of the SUV was not struck by gunfire, officials said.

Mary McGowan, Miracle's adopted mom, said the teen's biological mom was still involved in her daughter's life.

"I can't sleep because that was my baby," she said. "I'm thinking they must have thought it was some guys in the car."

Heartbroken, Mary said she simply wants to know why it all happened.

"You took her life for no reason, simply for no reason you've taken her life," she said.

LAPD officers spent hours gathering evidence at the crime scene early Friday but said they had no suspect information to release.

Mary said she thinks someone knows something and hopes they'll speak up to help bring justice to her grieving family.

"If anybody knows anything, come forward and let us know because she didn't deserve to be shot down like an animal," Mary said.

The sheriff's Homicide Bureau took over the investigation due to the location of the shooting. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the bureau at (323) 890-5500.