On January 23, 2022, Marneysha Hamilton, a 25-year-old African American woman from Los Angeles, was fatally shot during a mass shooting at a birthday party in Inglewood, California. The gathering, held at a short-term rental on the 1300 block of North Park Avenue, was organized to celebrate the 20th birthday of her younger sister, Breahna Stines. The event turned tragic when multiple gunmen entered the residence around 1:30 a.m.
and opened fire, resulting in the deaths of four individuals and leaving another critically injured.
The victims were identified as Marneysha Hamilton, 25; her sister, Breahna Stines, 20; Jayden Griffin, 21; and Teron Whittiker Jr., 21. A fifth victim, a man with known gang affiliations, survived but was critically wounded. Authorities believe the attack was a targeted ambush, possibly linked to gang-related motives. Investigators recovered shell casings from both an assault-style rifle and at least one handgun at the scene, indicating the involvement of multiple shooters.
In the aftermath, Inglewood Mayor James Butts condemned the violence, describing the perpetrators as "sociopathic killers" who must be removed from society. He emphasized the severity of the incident, noting it was the deadliest crime scene in a single location in Inglewood since the 1990s.
After an extensive investigation, seven men were indicted by a grand jury in August 2023 for their roles in multiple fatal shootings across Los Angeles County, including the Inglewood incident. Among those indicted were Kendale Taylor, Cory Ervin, Kalil Santos, Kevin Santos, Terrence Adams, Marvin Linnear, and Semaj Brown. According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, Taylor, Ervin, and Santos were directly involved in the Inglewood shooting, allegedly targeting a rival gang member at the party. The charges against the suspects include murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, assault with a weapon, and possession of prohibited firearms.
The tragic loss of Marneysha Hamilton and the other young victims has left a lasting impact on their families and the community. Their mother, Tiffany Stines, expressed her grief and hope for justice, stating, "With my faith in God, I knew this day was going to come."
