A 23-year-old mother was shot and killed in Long Beach Thursday morning on her son's third birthday, police said.
Jazzmine Wash, of Long Beach, had stepped outside of her apartment to grab her 3-year-old's diaper bag when she was shot multiple times in the torso, police said. She died at the scene.
The shooting happened at an apartment complex on Walnut Avenue near 5th Street about 6:20 a.m., detectives said.
Neighbors said Wash had been planning a birthday party for her son when she was killed.
"They were going to take them to Chuck E. Cheese," Shawn Mallory said. "We're all pretty upset. This is a tight-knit community here, so the neighbors all know eachother."
Wash's landlord described the victim as a polite young woman who had no enemies. She had just started a new job.
Wash's son was inside the home at the time of the shooting and did not witness his mother's killing, police said.
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Detectives said they don't have a description of the shooter and a motive was unclear. They were searching for witnesses and whoever is responsible for slaying the young mother.
"Just a tragic incident all around -- for him to lose a mother, for her to lose her life, and a family and friends to lose a loved one or friend," said Sgt. Aaron Eaton, with Long Beach Police Department.
"The Long Beach Police Department takes this crime very seriously -- all crimes very seriously -- we are going to do everything we can to apprehend suspects as quickly as possible."
Though little information was known late Thursday, police said the fatal shooting does not appear to be random.
Anyone with information is urged to call the Long Beach Police Department.
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