Samantha Padilla, 19

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Samantha Padilla, 19, a Latina woman, was mortally wounded on the 110 Freeway offramp in South L.A. about 12:15 a.m. Thursday, April 10. According to police, Padilla had exited the northbound Harbor Freeway and was at a stop light when a brown Ford Bronco, 1990 or 1991 model, pulled alongside her car. The occupant of the Bronco fired several rounds at Padilla’s car, hitting her several times. Officers from the LAPD’s Newton Division responded to a radio call of shots fired and found Padilla wounded but alive. She was taken by ambulance to California hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 12:46 p.m. Los Angeles Times story.

Update: Police have arrested Jessica Ortega, 30, a Latina woman, on suspicion of murder. Police said Ortega is a resident from the Ramona Gardens housing project in Boyle Heights. Authorities said Ortega is an alleged gang member with the Playboys street gang. Authorities claimed the motive for the shooting was to further her gang’s activities. Read L.A. Times story for more on Ortega.