Diana Tomas, 14

Diana Tomas, 14, a Latina girl, was shot in the head and left lying on a pathway next to a sound wall blocking the 101 Freeway in LAPD's Rampart Division at about 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2. She was taken from 417 N. Lafayette Park Place near Benton Way to County-USC Medical Center, where she survived for four more days.

Diana's death on Thursday, Dec. 6, is just now being reported on the Homicide Report because she did not die immediately, and because investigators did not know who she was. Thinking she was about 20 years old, Diana was listed as "Jane Doe" at the hospital.

Meanwhile, the same afternoon Diana was shot, her mother had gone to the Rampart station to report her missing. Diana was a Virgil Middle School student who sometimes ran away from home. Officers took the report, not realizing she was the same person then lingering on a respirator at County-USC. Diana had never been arrested, so when she was fingerprinted at the hospital, police could find no match and were unable to identify her.

It took a few more days to put it together. Diana's mother heard a rumor that a young woman had been shot and returned to the station to ask if this might be her daughter. Det. J. Kessner of Rampart drove the mother to the hospital, where she saw her daughter, still alive on life support. Diana's head was so swollen from the gunshot wound that her mother had to walk around both sides of the bed to identify her in what Kessner described as a painful scene. "It was shocking to us when we found out she was 14," said Det. Fred Faustino, Rampart homicide supervisor. Diana died at 9:18 a.m. Dec. 6.

There was new tagging on the sound wall near where she fell. She may have been walking by and been caught in crossfire, Faustino said. Detectives are seeking information on the case. They are at (213) 207-2060.

Comments

[Mark]

Jazmine, do you know the circumstances of what was occuring on the time of day the police responded to her body?

All you have is conjecture on what you observed between two totally unrelated incidents on two totally different days.

Perhaps you can go down to the police station(s) and sift through their records to find the status of every single patrol unit in that area and that time.

Then you can make an informed decision to whether the police were slow to respond or not.

[jazmine]

it takes 30 minutes for the police to come for a latina girl,but my homeboy(a black 15 year old) supposably had a gun and their there in 2 seconds w/ a helicopter too

[Marie]

This is a story I did first hear about in the LA Times, and it was heartbreaking to read. It is a terrible event for anyone to be shot and left to die alone. A 14 year old -- unspeakably tragic. The second victim is Diana's mother. Unspeakable. Unimaginable.

Thank you HR for documenting this story with the detail that the newspaper missed, clearly describing an event that should never have happened.

I am left wondering how we all live in a city that produces this level of brazen violence. Where does it come from? How does it survive?

[nola]

Im from Fla and I have read every comment here I have been looking at this webb site for a couple of months and I can't believe all the talk about race weather she was in the news or on the tv god help me so many children are dying in L A everyone should be putting up suggetions on how this can be stopped your children are dying reguardless of color. there has to be something that can be done I would be willing to do anything in my power to help. God bless you sweet heart and your family

[Mark]

Homicide Blog Reader....

What was the date of the killing of your friend? I'm going to go to the library and look up the LA Times from that week and see if what you say is true regarding the purse snatching being reported and not the homicide.

[mike]

The first person said they can't trust the police to do their jobs. I don't trust the gangbangers. People wake up it is your community. Raise your kids, stop blaming people, and take responsibility. People don't want the police to stop gangmembers because they have rights. I believe people don't gangmembers stopped because it is their family member. Give the police the power to stop some of these gangmembers before they commit the crime.

[Homicide Blog Reader]

The Los Angeles Times has a tradition of regarding some lives as more important than others in reporting homicides. I've complained about it in letters to the editor, none of wich were published and the last of which I wrote in 1993, when a young black woman I knew was murdered in the Pico-LaBrea area. The Times ignored her killing while at the same time reporting on a purse-snatching a few miles west near the mall at Pico and Westwood.

That media indifference to some lives both reflects and reinforces attitudes in the community at large, and the law enforcement agencies that police that community are not immune to those attitudes. Scarce law enforcement resources are much more likely to be spent preventing, detecting and solving crimes on which the public's attention is focused. The media thus plays an important role in influencing where law enforcement resources are spent.

That many people regard the police as the last people on earth they want to call when there is trouble is entirely understandable.

For one thing, you can count on the police running a check on you yourself if you report a crime. Crime victims and bystanders who bother to report crimes or provide information about them sometimes end up in jail themselves. Jail one person who reports a crime, and he, his family and his friends won't make that mistake again. Multiply that a few hundred times and what you get is a general reluctance to report crime or provide information about crime.

For another, the police record in dealing with people who are emotionally troubled or under the influence of drugs or alcohol is atrocious. To call the police to deal with such a person is to put that person's life in jeopardy. Crazy little old ladies waving a pair of scissors get shot down. Apparently the police regard the mere possibility of a threat of slight injury to their pinky finger as justification for using lethal force. People pay attention to these incidents when they are reported. Such incidents lead to a general feeling among the people that the police are your enemies, not your friends, and not to be trusted to do the right thing. That translates into a general reluctance to call on them.

For yet another, people know the police are incompetent and lazy. They solve so few crimes that really matter, those that are usually accompanied by violence or the threat of violence--homicides, robberies, burglaries. They're much better at hassling suspected prostitutes and drug users. My upstairs neighbor once hailed a passing LAPD patrol car to report that a couple of strangers were in the process of walking out of my apartment with my VCR. The police watched without doing anything as the burglars drove away; they said my neighbor did not know that I had not authorized the removal of my VCR. Such stories are common. The most famous, of course, is Chief Daryl Gates bragging that he had a plan in the event of an urban riot and then the LAPD retreating as thugs took over the Florence and Normandie intersection. The only reason I would ever call the police about a burglary or theft is to provide myself with documentation justifying taking a tax deduction.

For still another, the police have been caught on videotape over and over again using excessive force and lying about it.

Finally, the people know the police lie on the witness stand. They've seen them "testi-lie" in well-publicized trials on the television. The police can't tell obvious lies in public and then expect the public to respect them.

Those who question whether the public views the LAPD in the ways I have outlined above should check out the way the public has voted on police bond issues. They regularly get voted down.

There is a general attitude that calling the police will not help and, indeed, may well make things worse. That attitude is not unjustified.

[Beauty4Ashes]

I am just speechless! The only words I have are "rest in Jesus sweet child".
14yrs old!

[experience]

Has anyone made the connection between arms and drug dealers and this murder?
How do these items enter this country?
Why are they not controlled more effectively?
Does anyone see a future without violent crime?
We are not a starving people...what are people killing for? The feeling of power it brings? The tradition? The need to be a predator instead of a victim? I think sometimes in neighborhoods where a violent few (or organized many) intimidate the residents, some kids just tire of being scared, or hate their parents (like every adolescent) and find this incredibly risky group of friends who will "protect" and "befriend" them. Every adolescent is immortal, right?

As for the inane prattle called news peddled by conglomerate-controlled self-promoting Networks...reporting violent crime lowers property values.
I live in a semi-affluent area, no crimes are ever reported in the papers...except the community's self-published paper. It is bad business to bad mouth your own real estate. We all want safety and security.

Maybe gangs are the opposite of the news outlets, they let the risks of the real estate be honestly known, and since you're already a resident in the district, it seems an honest bargain...friends, parties, an e-z life, a life not like your parents (or sometimes just like it), a perfect opportunity to be cool, look cool....

Diana was a child.
The woman she could have become will be missed in this world.

[daledo]

Ruben- Very good points. Well said.

[World full of cowards]

I use to live in Paramount and now I live in East by Soto & Chavez. I just cant believe people nowadays. The world is full of cowards who kill people and cowards who DO NOT REPORT it.
Yes I said it....
It is not the white man's fault but only YOUR FAULT.
I have walked to the union station and seen people beat woman and people just stand there and do nothing.
I am one of the few people who do something.
I am one of the few people and will call the police and provided them with the information needed.
I have seen crimes and reported and provided details of how they looked.
All a person has to do if they do not want to be known is not provided any of their information to the cops.
I am one of those people who do not fear someone dumb gangmembers coming to my home because I am the means to protect my family with my legal gun.

Again, I will say it, the world of full of cowards.

[bruiser80]

if the feds would hire someone like me i would go city to city and build cases and throw all highly active members away , with the technology and right recources ,money can end all this just hire x- gangmembers send them to new citys and assign them high risk areas and give good incentives . the game is dirty gangsters snitch also , so why not make money doing it . A Camera and some 007 tactics ill expose it all i dont care mexican gangs are way eaiser , weed out the bad and have the goodones with heads on there shoulders guide the young ones . gangs or groups will always be around its giving them a positive outlook and positive goals which takes positive surroundings , Vote Obama

[ruben]

James

What fantasy world are you living in? I am born and raised in East L.A and we dont have a dont snitch policy we have a "dont get our A%#! killed" policy which is we are scared of retaliation from the offender so by you saying the community is giving free reign you are just ignorant, the lawmakers and police need to come up with better community and informant protection and better anonymous tipping without going to trial or things of that nature if you want it to change. So dont go blaming these poor hard working people of the ghettos that are just trying to live their lives and not bother anyone of giving these thugs a "free pass". We hate them just as much as you do and this is NO MOVIE there is no Charles Bronson or Stallone to save us at night when all the police leave the neighborhoods.

AB

Obviously you are a priveledge Latino living in a nice part of Paramount, but when you do call the cops who's HOME do they go to when, by the time they get to the neighborhood the crime is over, THAT'S RIGHT the person who called. And you dont think the neighborhood talks? If someone "Rats" people know the gang and criminals know. Look I'm not saying be scared and let them do what they want, but you guys dont have to live with these criminals after the police leave it's alot easier to talk a good game but how many of you actually LIVED in da hood or projects?

Like i said before if we find a way in our justice system to have these informants report things WITHOUT going to court or WITHOUT police showing up to their doorsteps i know more people will come forward.

Stop blaming these 80% of hardworking people who do not believe this stupid "Dont Snitch" policy, which is just a stupid term that hip hop rappers like The Game and 50 came up with and let's figure a real way out to stop the violence ....like first EDUCATION.

[AB]

In response to East L.A. Resident.

Scarred of the police? You can report stuff anonymously, why don't you?

I'm latino, and live in Paramount. James' argument is kind of true. Why would you not report a crime? 911 calls aren't traced by criminals, and the police don't say, "you're under arrest, oh and by the way, the people who reported you live over there." It's like people that' don't vote, but then complain about politicians and such. And I'm guilty of it too probably, but lations don't complain. It goes even to petty things, like customer service at the local Huntington Park Home Depot, IT SUCKS. Customer Service in Marina Del Rey, and Downey is great though. Why?, cause Latinos don't complain about it. This is just a petty complaint, when put against homicide, but its true all around.

[Shadow]

Diana was my best friend since we were 3 years old.Iwas surprised that she died.Iwas so devastated that she died.Ijust got through seeing her too.It was so ridiculus that it took 30mins for an ambulance to come.I mean,who would shoot a 14 year old.She didn't deserve it. R.I.P Diana my best friend since forever.They put the death of white girls on T.V,but not Latinas.Nothing but racism.

[daledo]

My prayers go out to Diana' family and friends. This young woman did not deserve what happened to her, and I hope somebody comes forward.

JAMES & TONY- I used to think like you do, and I understand where you are coming from. While I agree that the "No Snitching" policy is wrong, you have to understand what the situation is. Not YOUR situation, but THEIR situation on the streets where most of these crimes occur.

For those of you who live in low (or no) crime areas, it seems crazy to not work with the police. Why would you not want to get these people off the streets? On all the TV shows and movies, the cops provide protection for witnesses, place them in the witness protection program, etc,etc. It looks so simple. The bad guy goes down and we all live happily ever after. This is not reality.

The reality is that in most high-crime areas, the police can't/won't provide that kind of protection ($), and when they do, they cannot guard somebody for life. Witnesses are in a very tough situation. The system uses up the witnesses until their day in court (if they make it that long) and after that they are on their own. The streets have a long memory. Even if the guilty party goes to prison, then their homeboys get revenge. Even if they get revenge on a family memeber.

Of course, you want these people off the streets, but if you were a hard-working man with a wife and kids, would you put them at a VERY real risk in order to snitch/testify against somebody? And this person has 25/100 people who would get revenge for him so they can move up the ranks? And you see these people every time you drive around your neighborhood?

And you have very, very few options other than to keep living in the same area? Or if you move, you have to cease contact with all family members/friends in the area in the hope that this will keep you safe? Even moving probably will not help if they want you bad enough.

The people who do step forward are real heroes. I think it would be helpful if we put more emphasis on crediting these men and women who step forward in light of these circumstances. Maybe we can also start by trying to see these situations with a little more understanding.

In areas that are controlled by the cops, it is not as big a deal to come forward and be a witness. If I only see the bad guy once in court, then get to go about my life, yeah- it does seem like a no-brainer.

In other areas (look at the homicide blog map), it is a huge deal to step forward and literally risk everything you have in the hope that A) the system will do the right thing B) You will be protected. Would you be so quick to step forward if you knew the guys you were testifying against always had guns and they spend most of their time out in the street across from your house, or at the corner of your block, or how about at your gym or place of work? It’s not as simple as your comments suggest.

God bless all the heroes that do come forward with information-you will be rewarded.

[Ghetto Mentality]

O.kay, it looks like everyone has said their peace and has moved on.
LAST ENTRY: REST IN PEACE LITTLE ANGEL. YOU HAVE RETURNED HOME TO YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR MOTHER WILL ALWAYS SAY HER PRAYERS TO YOU. AMEN.

[ononymous]

We must anialate corruption inside prison walls, then we can talk about fixing the streets; prisons control the outside!!!

[ononymous]

Don't we all see that rival gangs need to be put in a battle field, where they can fight and end their wars once and for all?

[Tony]

I must agree with James, the "no snitching" rule is the dumbest thing I have ever heard of. One can't blame the police, the media or white people for the problems in "the hood" if people who witness a crime choose not to help the police get drug dealers and gang bangers off the streets. The violence is like an untreated cancer.

[frank]

This story was now covered in the L.A. Times, ABC News, NBC News and Los Angeles blogs. Was it covered after people here expressed their outrage? Maybe Jill Leovy will tell us when the L.A. Times decided to run this story, on it's main section.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-diana12dec12,1,6341963.story
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local&id=5831848
http://video.knbc.com/player/?id=194379
http://blogging.la/archives/2007/12/14_year_old_girl_killed_ignore.phtml

[Lafayette]

One more thing...
Despite repeated attempts to call 911 and the police station (less than 1 block away!!!) the ambulance and the police took 30 minutes to show up. I hope her mom knows someone stayed by Diana's side the whole time and talked to her while they waited for the ambulance to come.

[Lafayette]

She was not caught in crossfire, there was only one shot. She was shot point blank. I know because my uncle was the person who found her.
(By the way, this pathway may seem seedy but it isn't. It was once quite nice, until CalTrans built the ugly soundwall.)
This girl's life deserves more respect and recognition than what she has been given. The police automatically called her a "gangmember" without any proof or evidence, simply because she was Latina. I imagine it's this kind of thinking that makes it easier for the people of Los Angeles to continue living their lives in apathy and ignorance. This young girl, no matter how much trouble she might have been in or what childish mistakes she might have made, did not deserve to be murdered.

[reposado]

Are people calling racism not reading this forum at all??

All this black-on-black or brown-on-brown crime and you people still find some way to blame white people?

Its not whitey killing your people. Its the lack of education, lack of good parenting, lack of the father staying around, lack of helping the police, and just the general lack of helping your own community and/or making yourself a useful member of society that is killing your people.

fyi im asian myself and from a bystander's point of view this finger pointing and all talk/no action from the black/brown communities is why these murders are sadly not going to end anytime soon.

[East LA Resident]

To James the High Teacher who generalized the Snitchin Philosophy

When I see a murder or a robbery in East L.A. I dont follow the so called "no snitchin rule" I follow the " I want to live and make sure no one comes after me or my family" philosophy.

Its fear! Think about it. Rappers & hip hop may glorify it, but you never hear a old lady or a parent of three say " I aint no snitch" they think of the fatal ramifications of "snitchin".

James, you honestly think the no snitchin philosphy is whats holding communites and minoritesfrom progress.

People dont trust cops because of images of Rodney King...Rampart Divsion scandal (The department that has jurisdiction of this murder)

Latinos who fear speaking to the police in fear of deportation. The issue is complex. James I encourage you to look at all factors before comming to your conclusion.