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Victim’s friends, family believe she was killed by ex-boyfriend in South LA shooting

By and Kelli Johnson
Updated  October 21, 2021 5:34am PDT
South Los Angeles
FOX 11

Manhunt underway following deadly shooting in South LA.

Police were looking for the person who shot and killed someone following a car crash in South Los Angeles Oct. 20.

LOS ANGELES - A manhunt is underway after police say someone fired shots, killing a woman who was involved in a multi-vehicle collision in South Los Angeles Wednesday.

The Los Angeles Police Department responded to the area of East 21st Street and South Central Avenue around 11:30 a.m. after they received a call from someone who said they heard between seven to eight gunshots in the area and that they heard people running.

A short time later, officers were notified about a car crash that occurred blocks away near the intersection of Jefferson Boulevard and San Pedro St.

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According to witnesses, one of the men involved in the crash exited his car, walked over to a maroon-colored vehicle and opened fire. The gunfire struck the driver and passenger and police pronounced a woman dead at the scene. 

A witness said he attempted to help the second person in the vehicle before he was taken to the hospital. 

Woman killed in South LA, police searching for suspect

A woman was shot to death following a multi-vehicle collision in South LA. The victim's family and friends blame her ex-boyfriend for the deadly shooting.

Family and friends identified the woman killed as Cynthia Hairston.

"She was just a really good person; I watched five of her babies grow up," said her childhood friend, Barbara Taylor. 

Family and friends say Hairston had a restraining order against her ex-boyfriend, who is believed to be the shooter. 

"Yes, there was a restraining order. When he got out she put a restraining order because he kept stalking her," stated family friend Joyce Williams.

LAPD officials have not yet confirmed if the shooting and car crash was a result of domestic violence. However, authorities believe the suspect is connected to both incidents.

The suspect was described as a Black male, 5 feet 9 inches tall, 240 pounds and around 58 years old.

He was driving a 2001 Toyota that has a missing front bumper and is believed to be armed with a handgun.

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