Errant Gunfire Kills Woman Buying Food for Her Church

A 57-year-old woman on her way to buy groceries for a church fish-fry was killed on Wednesday evening when alleged gang gunfire erupted down the street from her home of 36 years, authorities said.

Betty Jean Rothchild was fatally shot as she got into her van in the 1300 block of East 99th Street near South Los Angeles, authorities said. The gunfire was about 500 feet from Rothchild and also critically wounded a man, who was not identified, said Capt. Frank Merriman of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Investigators were pursuing suspects, Merriman said on Thursday. So far this year, there have been 30 homicides in unincorporated Los Angeles County, sheriff’s officials said.

The retired nurse, who had three sons and 13 grandchildren, was preparing for an event at Heavenly Rest Missionary Baptist Church in Compton on Friday, Rothchild’s church for at least 25 years, family members said. The fund-raiser was canceled.

Chrystal Rothchild, 17, a granddaughter who lived with her, was on the phone when she heard gunshots shortly before 7:30 p.m. “I waited five minutes and went to the door and called for her,” she said as she wiped tears from her eyes. “I went to the gate and called her again.”

Rothchild died at Martin Luther King/Drew Medical Center.

At her home on Thursday, her oldest son, Michael Rothchild, said he did not know how to explain the death to his father, who has been in a convalescent home since having a stroke in 1982.

“I don’t want to inform him because I don’t think he’ll understand,” the son said. “One thing is for sure, he sure loved Betty.”

The day after the shooting, friends and family recalled the holiday feasts and family meals prepared by Rothchild. She was known for her collard greens, macaroni and cheese and prime ribs, Pastor Otis C. Saffold said.

“She said everyone has a role in the church, and she said, ‘My thing is the kitchen,’ ” Saffold recalled. “For any event, Betty was in the kitchen, and she was in charge.

“I wish we had more people with the type of spirit and love of God that Betty had,” Saffold said. “I’m going to miss her.”

Staff writer Richard Winton contributed to this report.