The shooting happened at about 11 p.m. Wednesday in the 11900 block of South Wilmington Avenue. A man walked up to a 15-year-old girl standing in the stairwell of an apartment building and shot her in the upper torso with a handgun, a witness told investigators.
The victim, identified as Joanna Espinoza Cuervo, was visiting a friend at the apartment complex. Cuervo was transported to a hospital, where she died, deputies said.
Investigators say the suspect is a male Hispanic in his early to mid-20s, with a shaved head and a heavy build. He was seen walking calmly away from the scene, wearing a gray sweatshirt and denim shorts. Authorities say he might be a known gang member. They say the victim did not have any gang involvement.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.
