Maria Hicks, 58

Maria Hicks, 58, a Latina woman, was shot near the intersection of Woodford Street and San Gabriel River Parkway about 9:55 p.m. Friday, Aug. 10, and died of her injuries at a hospital three days later, Monday, Aug. 13.

Hicks was driving home and saw a Latino man or youth spray-painting graffiti, said Lt. Larry Lincoln of the Sheriff's Department homicide bureau. She honked her horn and flashed her lights and began to follow the fleeing tagger. Two Latino men or youths in a silver compact car pulled up and shot at her. She was struck in the upper torso. Three people were later arrested.

Los Angeles Times story

This post is the last in the weekly list of Los Angeles County victims based on coroner's records and police reports.

Comments

[PARENT IN PICO]

Our deepest Sympathy to the Hicks Family & Friends. Once again the Pico Rivera Community lost someone who actually cared for their community. I have lived here all my life also and I have done the right thing in the past by calling the police, but I was always afraid. In your Mothers Memory I will stay involved in the community of Pico Rivera and will continue to call the police when things happen. SHE WILL NOT HAVE PASSED IN VAIN. Once again our deepest Sympathy. To the Mayor of Pico Rivera offer a reward so their lil friends will drop a dime on them.

Also when we do call the Police can you have them actually go out on the call instead of hanging out on Loch Lomond west of Paramount Bl..

[O'Dawg]

3 arrests were made on August 15. Two 19 year olds, and a 16 year old have been arrested. Two others are being sought. I hope this gets solved!

[Rick Ware]

Miss Hicks was a brave women. If more people pursued life the way she did the world would be a better place. I know she should have waited for the police, but they would not have come in time, and the criminalswould have gotten away. She made a critical choice. She decided that she just wouldn't take it anymore. A lot of people seen to blame latinos for a large part of the graffiti in LA. She's proof that Latinos are equally concerned. She was a leader. The Latinos community needs people like her to be a superhero. I equate her with Rosa Parks. She gave her life for righteousness

[tom]

Desensitized? Look at these monsters society has created. Shooting someone is like going to the grocery store. No big deal. Give this situation a couple of years and Miss Hicks (bless her soul) will be totally forgotten about and pushed to the side forever. While at the same time many hearts will bleed for these "teens" who commited this inhuman, barbaric act.. A lethal injection is in order here!

[ruben]

WOW great comment Rick I agree with you 100%...i am a latino man born and raised in East L.A and i think stories of this ladies courage, bravery, and sacrifice should be broadcast throughout L.A., but instead the top story is Lindsey Lohan or Paris Hilton or even Mike Vick...we need to focus on our community and kids and stop wasting our time watching useless junk.

[Bob]

Why cant we put a stop to most taggers that begin underage? Simply pass a law that when underage, the taggers parents will have to pay damages and spend every weekend, Sat and Sun, for the next 2-3 years doing community service.
They will then ensure their kids do not do this....

[kesha harris]

my condolences and deepest sympathy to maria's family.... i know she will be truly missed! i was a co-worker of hers and she was the b-e-s-t! she did not deserve this and i pray that justice is rendered in this case . maria u were truly a brave woman and will be missed dearly! and will always hold a special place in my heart!

[pico rivera resident]

I am so glad they cought those KIDS, for the murder of Maria Hicks. My heart goes out to the Hicks family and that God blesses you all. I cannot image life with out a loved one. It must be so hard. I could only tell you to be strong and pray and remember that jesus loves you and that is with you aways. The trail is going to be the hardest of all. Pray pray pray. I just dont understand how young teens grow up living a violent life, Where are the paarents have they raised MONSTERS!!!!! The parents are the ones to BLAME!!! thoses parent of these young teens should be ashamed of themselfs!!!! They should be walking around with there heads down. What went wrong in there lives for them to shot a woman like Maria Hicks. How would they feel if that was there mother. I just dont understand!!!!! How could these parent defend there young as if MYCHILD DIDNT DO THIS!!!! Face reality your young teens KILLED SOMEONE!!!! Dont they care!!!! To all parents get involved in your childs life. Why are they romming the streets at night, Where are you the parents??? Put your foot down be a PARENT!!!!! God Blees all those families who have lost loved ones in VIOLEINCE!!!! We all must take a stand !!!!! Get involved in your community and let these youg puncks that we are no longer kicking back!!! Call the police and make them work and understand that these type of crimes are going to STOP in our city!!!!!

[jose]

first of all i would like to say that this was a horrible event
but theres something that people should know that me as a kid
growing up in los angeles period is well aware of. the shooters were
not simple taggers but gang members. there is a great difference between the two . usually and i stress the word usually because i dont like to generaize the tagger or graffiti artist just wants his name up being for self esteem issues or for the beauty of self expression. he doesnt want to hurt anyone and is in a constant struggle with gang members because the gang members dont like seeing that in their territories. somewhere along the line probably because gangs use graffiti to mark their territories the two got mixed up. i understand that that it must be difficult to try and maintain a decent home while others write on it. but if allowed the artist WITH TALENT will show. its a difficult thing to grow up in LA

[Pico Rivera Resident]

Well its christmas and this family doesnt have their sister or mother with them and the kids they cought have the nerve to PLEE NOT GUILTY!!!!!!!! Thats just plan CRAZY!!!!!!!!! How could someone who killed another say that there GUILTY!!!!!! And the others that didnt actually pull the trigger say the same. Hey if you were involved your just as well be guilty . These young teens are not STUPID they know what there doing, but since they got caught oh it wasnt me!!!!! They taken a life of someone who had a family and turned there lives upside down and change every ones lives. Maria Hicks is GONE!!!! I hope that those young teens get whats coming to them and that they are a exsample for other teens that this is not RIGHT!!!! And that our court system will realize this and do the right thing. And that the teens family and I do mean everyone of those teens family realize that there child is in the wrong and yes if that was my child I would probably do what I can to help, but for something like this they need to be punished!!!!! And for all those parents that read this keep in mind that where is your children and who are they hanging around with and keep track of where and when your child is coming home and who they are with. And Ive seen adults that have been what you called reformed gang member and there old now, but there children are just like them all ghetto out and sometimes when theres a family like that all we can do is PRAY for them becuase they grow up only what they have seen and belive that its alright and they grew up with no direction in there life and thats so very SAD!!!! So actually we cannot blame them THE PARENT ARE THE ONES TO BLAME!!!!!! You parents just let your kids run the street and there all outside until 10 or 11 at night when they should be HOME!!!! That the way things are now a days the parent dont care they been at work all day and there tired and theres no family time half these parents dont even take the time to cook a decent meal its all about take out the faster the better. Isnt that right. But who our we hurting? Our children suffer and the only ones to blame are you. And me im doing what I need to do when I seen these young teens hiding in the river bed trying to ditch school there I go calling the school police and we as a comunity have to take care of these teens because there not by there own parents. Im doing all that I can and keeping my eyes and ears open and thats what evey one needs to do. I hope that the Hick family stays STRONG!!! And FIGHT to make sure that these teens dont slip threw the system and get away with what they have done!!!!!