An investigation is underway after 22-year-old Raejonette Morgan was found shot to death inside a bullet-riddled Mercedes Benz in South Los Angeles, California on July 2, 2024. The incident occurred near the Vermont Avenue exit of the 105 Freeway at approximately 7:30 p.m., according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD).
Authorities responded to reports of a shooting and discovered Morgan inside the car, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. She was transported to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, where she died from her injuries on July 4.
Devastated by the loss, Morgan’s family has raised serious concerns regarding the response of the first deputy on the scene. They allege that the deputy, a member of the Parks Bureau, remained in his patrol car and did not offer immediate aid to Morgan. Eyewitness Dione Leslie recalled that the deputy was on the phone and “doing nothing” while Morgan remained critically injured in the vehicle. Leslie then took matters into her own hands, breaking the passenger-side window to try to save Morgan’s life as the deputy stood by and called for backup.
Video footage from the scene has gone viral on social media, drawing widespread attention and criticism of the deputy’s actions. The footage shows bystanders attempting to break the car windows to render aid to Morgan, contrasting sharply with the perceived inaction of the responding officer.
Civil rights activist Najee Ali, representing the family alongside attorney Ben Crump, highlighted this inaction in a public statement. “This deputy’s inaction captured on video is reminiscent of the Sheriff’s deputy in the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, who stood by as children were being shot to death and he refused to offer any aid to school children who were begging for help and died,” Ali stated.
“This tragic incident highlights the urgent need for transparency and reform within our law enforcement agencies,” Crump said in a press conference. “We owe it to Raejonette and her family to ensure that such a failure in response never happens again.”
A candlelight vigil was held in Morgan’s honor on Saturday, July 6 at the South Park Recreation Center. Family members and community supporters gathered to pay their respects and demand accountability for the response to the shooting. “We want this deputy’s name released and want to see if he has a history of complaints concerning not helping African American crime victims,” Ali added.
The LASD has initiated a Critical Incident Review to evaluate the deputy’s actions, training, equipment, and adherence to department policies during the incident. “We are deeply concerned about this incident and detectives are diligently working to solve this heinous murder and bring justice to the family,” read a statement from the department. They also extended condolences to Morgan’s family, emphasizing their commitment to protecting community members and saving lives in emergencies.
The victim’s family has expressed their belief that Morgan was a victim of mistaken identity in a gang-related shooting. No arrests have been made, and no suspect descriptions have been released. The investigation is ongoing, and the LASD Homicide Bureau urges anyone with information to come forward.
