By 2UrbanGirls
Contributing Writer
INGLEWOOD — The Inglewood City Council could decide at its Feb. 1 meeting whether to offer a reward to find those responsible for a deadly shooting that left four dead, and one hospitalized following a shooting at a house party in the early morning of Jan. 23.
Mayor James Butts is considering offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killers.
“It was an ambush, planned, and targeted,” Mayor James Butts said Jan. 25. “I am considering asking that the city put forth a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in this.”
Butts then spoke directly to the suspects who he describes as “sociopathic killers.”
“I want to say directly to those involved, surrender yourselves because we will find you and you will not be allowed to do things like this in Inglewood.”
Breahna Stine was celebrating her 20th birthday at a short-term rental house in the 1300 block of Park Avenue when an unknown number of suspects descended upon the house shooting at it from the street.
“The targeted nature of this crime, the weapons used, and statements uttered before the shooting by the suspects indicate this crime was indeed gang-related,” Butts said.
Shell casings indicate one of the weapons used was an assault rifle, and that one or more handguns also were used.
The party took place in an unregulated short-term rental listed on the Airbnb platform that the mayor says the council also will address.
Reports from neighbors describe the home as well-known as an Airbnb rental and a “constant source” of problems.
“The council, as early as next week, will be reviewing ordinances to regulate short-term rentals in the city,” Butts said.
Witnesses to the shooting said tourists were renting the house at the time of the shooting. Property records show the owners applied for permits in June 2020 to add a one-bedroom adult dwelling unit to the garage.
In addition to Stine, her sister Marneysha Hamilton, 25, was also killed in the shooting.
“I was sitting on my couch and heard what sounded like 50-100 shots,” said a neighbor who didn’t want to be identified. “It sounded like a shootout.”
Video footage of the aftermath of the scene showed bullet holes over the exterior of the home and shell casings throughout the yard.
The medical examiner’s office identified the other two victims as Jayden Griffin, 21, and Teron Whittiker Jr., 21.
The fifth victim, has not been identified, and remains in critical condition, said Lt. Brett Birkbeck of the Inglewood Police Department.
According to the mayor, the surviving victim indicated he is “gang-affiliated,” and he has an extensive criminal history.
The shooters were still at large as of press time, and descriptions of the suspects have not been made public.
Butts said the entire Inglewood Police Department homicide division is working the case, and he asked the suspects to “turn themselves in.”
“We have the entire homicide unit of the Inglewood Police Department working this case and we expect that we will have those people placed into custody, and they will be held to account for what they have done.”
Funeral arrangements for the victims have yet to be made public.
2 Urban Girls is a freelance reporter for Wave Newspapers who covers the Compton and Inglewood areas. She can be reached at 2urbangirls@gmail.com.
