19-year-old nursing student, 37-year-old HACLA worker killed in Compton July 4th shooting
COMPTON, Calif. (KABC) -- A vigil held on Monday honored the lives of two people who were killed at a Fourth of July party in Compton over the weekend.
Meah Bordenave-Jenkins, 19, was a nursing student, and Eric Washington, 37, was a current Housing Authority employee and a former aide to California State Assemblymember Mike Gipson.
Loved ones and community members gathered for a vigil and rally against gun violence at Compton City Hall on Monday.
Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies were called to an apartment complex in the 700 block of West Laurel Street around 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, where deputies estimate 250-300 people were attending a July 4th party.
ORIGINAL REPORT: 2 late-night shootings in Compton leave at least 3 people dead
At the scene, deputies found multiple gunshot wounds. Three people were rushed to hospitals for treatment.
Bordenave-Jenkins was identified by family members as the woman who died at the scene. Washington later died from his injuries at the hospital.
"My daughter was going to UNLV to be a nurse. She had a dream to be a travel nurse for neonatal. She was full of life, very compassionate, in the church, very giving," said Ebone Jenkins, Bordenave-Jenkins' mother.
"He would get on the phone and call whoever he knew... call Mike Gipson, call Tim, anybody he knew to help the residents and the community get whatever they needed to get done," said Tina Johnson, Washington's mother.
In addition to being a former aide to Gipson, Washington served as the community engagement manager for the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA).
In a statement, HACLA said Washington joined the organization in 2019 as an intern, and later returned in 2022 as a community relations specialist. From there, he advanced to his role as community engagement manager.
"Eric exemplified the values that define HACLA," said HACLA President and CEO Lourdes Castro Ramírez. "He led with kindness, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to serving others. His ability to build trust and bring people together made a profound difference in our organization and in the lives of so many residents. We are heartbroken by this tragic loss, and our thoughts remain with Eric's family, friends, and everyone who loved him."
According to HACLA, Washington recently coordinated the distribution of protective masks and air purifiers in Boyle Heights amid a massive warehouse fire.
In honor of Washington's impact, Build Hope Inc., HACLA's nonprofit affiliate, will establish the Eric Washington Community Impact Award beginning this year.
"Presented annually during Build Hope's scholarship celebration for HACLA youth, the award will honor a young person whose leadership, service, and commitment to community reflect the values Eric embodied every day," the organization wrote in a press release.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued the following statement:
"Los Angeles mourns the loss of Eric Washington, a devoted public servant who dedicated his talent and passion to serving the neighborhoods he loved. Rather than seeking recognition, Eric chose a life of humble service, investing in young people and families across our city.
Eric was committed to expanding opportunities for residents of Los Angeles' public housing communities. Whether helping families recover from the tragedy in Boyle Heights by connecting them to critical resources or bringing youth from across the city together through HACLA's World Cup Youth Tournament, he believed every Angeleno deserves to live in a safe community and every young person deserves the opportunity to thrive.
His generosity of spirit and unwavering commitment to others will leave a lasting mark on Los Angeles. This is a heartbreaking loss, and my thoughts are with Eric's family, friends, colleagues, and all those whose lives he touched."
Investigators are still searching for the suspected shooter. At last check, no arrests had been announced.
Another deadly Compton shooting on July 4th
Just a few blocks away, a separate 4th of July holiday celebration was interrupted by gunfire in another part of Compton.
Sheriff's deputies responded to a homicide investigation near Grandee Avenue and 132nd Street around 12:10 a.m. Sunday. One man was pronounced dead at the scene, while another was sent to the hospital for treatment.
Video from the scene showed paramedics rushing one person into an ambulance while another person remained on the pavement.
Authorities had not announced any arrests in the second shooting.
Police said there is no evidence that the second shooting and the incident on West Laurel Street are related.
