Downtown: Sonya Tauanuu, 26 [Updated]

Sonya Tauanuu, a 26-year-old Samoan woman, died after she was hit by a limousine Thursday, Dec. 3, and dragged nearly a mile from the  750 block of Ceres Avenue in Downtown, authorities said.

[Update: A previous version of this post listed Tauanuu's race as Filipina.]

The driver of the limousine intentionally ran over Tauanuu, who was pronounced dead about 1 a.m. at the scene, the Los Angeles Police Department said.

The incident, which police are investigating as a homicide, began shortly before 1 a.m. when two women began arguing in the 700 block of Ceres Avenue, the LAPD said.

The driver, Nancy Lekon, 43, got into the limousine and allegedly struck Tauanuu, then began driving northeast through skid row, police said.

The limousine, with the body wedged underneath, stopped near 5th and Los Angeles streets. Police said they arrested Lekon on suspicion of homicide.

It was unclear what sparked the argument, police said.

— Robert J. Lopez

Follow The Homicide Report on Twitter @latimeshomicide.

Map: The location where Sonya Tauanuu was struck. Click for the Downtown Mapping L.A. page to learn more about the demographics of the neighborhood.

Comments

[Rick]

This was a brutal way to die. This sick and disgusting murder is drug related.

[syscom3]

What a brutal way to die. The driver if found guilty deserves to get the death penalty.

[Planner]

Are you kidding me? The driver had to know he had hit someone!

[christian]

yes, it is drug related. Good...another drug addict off the streets. If they convict the driver, that will be another drug addict off the streets. Unfortunately she will be sitting in jail or prison using tax dollars.

[scheng1]

Hope the killer gets death. It's a waste of resources to sentence her to life, and sucks the government dry.

[BeeeH]

Dang yo that was my aunt y0 and ii love her n miss her a lot even th0 i only met her a couple of time she was still fam