Mother arrested after 5-year-old boy is shot dead and his brother injured in South Los Angeles

A 5-year-old boy is dead and a his 1-year-old brother is in extremely critical condition after their mother reportedly shot them in a South Los Angeles apartment this morning, police said.

The 25-year-old woman, who has not yet been identified, called 911 about 8:30 a.m. and told the dispatcher that she had killed her children. When officers arrived at the small apartment complex along the 7200 block of Gramercy Place, the woman was standing on a second floor balcony waving a handgun.

She told police officers to shoot her, according to a law enforcement source. Officers, however, distracted and then disarmed her.

Inside the apartment they found the body of  the 5-year-old. The younger boy had been shot multiple times and was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, police said.

--Andrew Blankstein

Comments

[bob-b]

i don't get it. the lapd shoot dead a homeless deranged lady waving a screwdriver at them, but they don't shoot a woman who shot her kids and is waving a handgun at them? c'mon guys, use better judgment! that's one perp. who deserved to die.

[Tony]

If this had been a man and the man had told the police to shoot him...on 2nd thought, the police would've probably shot him anyway, just for the fact that he was waving a gun.

[Chilled]

Yeah, they should have shot her.

[Sabrina]

So some of you think shooting someone is the answer? Sick.

[Not News]

Same book, different page.

"The Welfare Life"

[Ed]

Wow, another smooth move by a Parks and Perry supporter! Why can't these idiots just drive out to the desert and smoke themselves. Where you at Jesse and Al???? Going to come on out to this one. What a stain, I bet the family will blame Bush for this one too.

[B. Siegman]

I can understand why some think this mother should have been shot by the police. What a heinous act! However, the story says she was "known to talk to herself." This was probably a symptom of schizophrenia. If she had received treatment these children might not have been shot in the first place. We need adequate mental health care and services for children and families. What a tragedy.

[lee mary]

You people are sick. She needs mental help! No person in their right mind will shoot their kids.

[Mufon]

bob-b and Tony, you two are clearly tactical experts with ice water in your veins, who would no doubt make perfect decisions under stress. Why are you wasting your time blogging in the safety of your home, you should be patrolling with the LAPD. Whattya think?

[Motheradvocate]

This is such a tragedy. Perhaps one that could have been avoided. Many signs that something was not quite right were there: she talked to herself often, she suddenly closed herself & children off from the world, she kept everything dark? C'mon, there were some mental health issues including depression. She needed help. If the neighbor who said she was "such a good mother" noticed sudden changes why didn't she go knock on her door & say, "Hey, how are you? What's going on?" Too many young mothers & mothers in general suffer from depression--perhaps post-partum related or not. Many may have mental health issues to begin with (no one is precluded from having a child based on mental health or fitness). These issues are often exacerbated by a lack of support from the women's family & the children's father. I disagree with those who say the LAPD should have shot her. She needs help & to receive punishment for what she did. Dying from a gunshot would not be punishment enough--she needs time to realize the gravity of her mistake. Thank goodness the one year old survived--let's just hope & pray that he recovers & with minimum damage.

[Rick]

This is a tragedy. What could drive a mother to shoot her own children. I hope she was not being investigated for abuse, maybe the kids should have been taken away from her. Was she getting child support or help from the children's dad, was he involved in there lives. Maybe financial problems led to this. Seems like she had a mental breakdown.

[La'tres]

She was a beautiful person, a great mother and fun to be with "No" she never abuse those children things happen. I will always love her no matter what My prayer gos out to the family. You have no ideal what is going on insteady of judge just pray that all is good.GOD would do the rest.