South L.A. mother charged with murder, attempted murder in shooting of her two sons

A 26-year-old South Los Angeles woman who allegedly shot her two sons -- killing her 5-year-old and critically wounding her 16-month-old -- was charged today with murder and attempted murder.

Latonya Ann Dixon shouted "I've wasted my life" from her balcony after calling a 911 operator Saturday morning to report that she had killed her children, police said.

Dixon was charged with one count of murder, one count of assault on a child causing death and one count of attempted, premeditated murder, the Los Angeles County district attorney's office said. If convicted, she faces multiple life sentences.

Police found the body of the 5-year-old inside Dixon's apartment in the 7200 block of South Gramercy Place. The 16-month-old was on life support Tuesday, the district attorney said.

As officers arrived at Dixon's beige stucco apartment, the mother told police to shoot her, police said. She repeatedly walked onto her second-floor balcony with a handgun, refusing commands to drop the weapon and at one point climbed onto the balcony rail, acting as if about to jump, police said.

Dixon is scheduled to be arraigned Monday at the criminal courthouse downtown. Bail has been recommended at $3 million.

-- Robert J. Lopez

Comments

[Warning signs]

Some neighbors said she was known to talk to herself and that she would argue with herself, so why did no one report this weird behavior to D.P.S.S. for the surveilance of the home by social workers. This is so tragic. If your in a tight spot, think of the welfare of the kids. Give them up don't kill them. That being said, she probably did not have the mental stability to do so. May he rest in peace.

[Tom]

latonya, lashonda, laqueesha, Murine vising....

[Rene Enriquez]

It's obvious that this woman is disturbed and was in need of help. I happen to live in South Central myself. Poverty can make people snap and give up on life. She belongs in a Psyche Ward not a Prison. Our current economy is hurting the poor even more now.

[arthur]

so much for all that hope and change she must have felt voting for Obama. Given she is from LA, and a woman, and a single mon, and her name is Latonya (African American name), she is a black woman, meaning, the odds are over 90% that she adores and voted for Obama.

[rj]

Arthur, what does Obama have to do with this tragic private situation?

[I fall under what category?]

A big ewww to Tom and Arthur. There isn't enough hate in the world, you gotta go out and spread some more? Now if we're categorizing, as both of you seem to think you do so well, I'd like to give it a try too! I say, saltines? Have a nice day.

[Concerned]

Why can't we just putthe blame where the blame is due?? SHE picked up that gun. SHE shot her children. SOMEONE impregnated an unstable woman. SHE did not use birth control when SHE did not have the means to support her children.

[Ann]

Arthur, you sound so stupid, you are "assuming" just because she's Black she voted for Obama, how do you know she even voted, this is 2009 stop sterotyping (sp?) people. This is not about Obama, its about a troubled young lady and a tragedy.

[Family values]

Where is the father in all of this? Why isn't he (or they) quoted in the article?

Concerned has many valid points, but will probably be viewed by the liberal left as racist.

[Vera]

"Now if we're categorizing, as both of you seem to think you do so well, I'd like to give it a try too! I say, saltines? Have a nice day. "

A metaphor, everybody!

[BJ]

I think most of you are missing the point. who cares if shes black, white, chinese or mexican... two babies are seriously injured 1 dead.. ya she should of gave them up for adoption but its obviously to late now... I have to agree with Rene what is prison gonna do for her? She needs mental help..intensive impatient care never to be returned to society. It just goes to show that this kind of stuff is happening all over the world some places we dont even hear of.. I pray to god the 16 month old makes it without suffering and hopes to find a loving home. Where are her parents? Bless the 5 year old may he rest in peace : (

[RON]

D>P>S>S>??????? they let children die as long as they collect their paychecks.

[MdW]

Arthur, once again what does Obama have to do with this?

[MdW]

Concerned is not alone family values, you fit right in there with concerned. Hum, could this be coincidence?

[TheBigPicture]

This is a good death penalty case...she killed a child and seriously injured another...she'll probably get off for being a whack job and I for one don't want to pay for her doctor assisted monitoring for the next 60 years...

Her family and neighbors failed her...they had to know she was incompetent, but they did nothing...The easy thing is to do nothing, which is what they did, and this is what happened...

She needs to be written off...spend that money on productive members of society and smart kids...invest in the future of this country...

[leigh lane]

i think that it utterly disgusting some of the comments that i have read in re to this young trouble woman who thought the only way to end whatever pain she was in was by shooting her sons. What i have gleaned from this tragedy is how can we as a community help the other young women out there who are feeling the exact same way this young mother was feeling? I personally want to extend my hand and the resources that i have to start a community action group to come to the aid of any one who feels that the only way to solve their problems is by taking the life of their child. How many more tragic incidents must we see on the news before we take action and not only save the lives of innocent babies but the mothers who are in need of saving as well.

[B.O.N.D]

Oh my God I can not believe what I am reading, no wonder why this world is so corrupted and in bondage. It is obvious that this young lady has a mental problem, in which I could sense from just reading the story. Then I see a couple of post stating that “Latonya would often talk to herself”, and you all are just making assumptions about her “being mad at the babies daddy” the reason for her snapping. Come on society, lets have a heart of compassion, of course I feel deeply saddened by the lost of her five year old and I pray to God that her one year old would not have to suffer. However according to post of those that knew her this young lady was crying out for help. We as a society have failed her along with others that are suffering or have suffered from mental stability. I do not want to point the finger at anyone but if she was on medication where were the therapist and social workers at to continue to give her therapy and assure that her children are doing fine. I hate to say this but our system is failing us let us not fail each other. Let us post comments on what we can do as a community to help those that are in this type of situation. I am interested in any type of actions (rallies, organizations, etc.) that can stop this from happing again.