The past holiday weekend ended in tragedy for two families as they are mourning the loss of their loved ones. On July 4th, while many were celebrating, two victims lost their lives among people they wanted to enjoy the day with. Gunfire erupted at a Compton block party on Saturday, which resulted in the deaths of Eric Washington, a community activist and former aide to California State Assemblymember Mike Gipson, and nursing student Meah Bordenave-Jenkins.
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, deputies responded to reports of gunfire at about 11:20 p.m. on July 4 at the New Wilmington Arms Apartments in the 700 block of West Laurel Street. Investigators said gun fire struck five people while a large Fourth of July celebration was underway. Washington was pronounced dead at the scene.
Washington, an LA native and Grambling State alum, dedicated his professional career to helping others, as he was known for his public service in Los Angeles. He most recently served as a field deputy for California Assemblymember Mike Gipson. He also worked with the Watts Gang Task Force and the Watts Rising Collaborative, focusing on violence intervention.
Congressional candidate Shonique Williams paid tribute, writing that he “devoted his life to pouring into his community” and had hoped to seek elected office in the future.
Washington’s mother, Tina Johnson, grieves the sudden death of her son. “To sit there last night and know he’s not going to walk through that door, I couldn’t sleep,” Johnson said in an interview with FOX11. She also described him as a “beacon of light” and said that he dedicated his life to serving others. “I don’t know what happened to humanity.”
The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA), where Washington worked, gave a statement. “Eric exemplified the values that define HACLA,” said HACLA President and CEO Lourdes Castro Ramírez. “He led with kindness, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to serving others. His ability to build trust and bring people together made a profound difference in our organization and in the lives of so many residents. We are heartbroken by this tragic loss, and our thoughts remain with Eric’s family, friends, and everyone who loved him.”
Jenkins was a student at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and was in town celebrating with family and friends. “This wasn’t supposed to happen to my little sister. She wasn’t affiliated with anything. She didn’t deserve this,” Kayla Jenkins told FOX 11. She said her sister was a 19-year-old nursing student.
“My daughter was going to UNLV to be a nurse. She had a dream to be a travel nurse for [the] neonatal [unit]. “She was full of life, very compassionate, in the church, very giving,” said Ebone Bordenave-Jenkins, Meah’s mother. “My daughter was one of the sweetest, most compassionate, friendly, smart people that you could ever come across in your life.”
Several others were injured during the shooting and were transported to the hospital. Another man was hospitalized in critical condition, while two female victims, an adult and a juvenile, were treated for non-life-threatening injuries. No suspect, person of interest, or motive has been released, as the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department is working fervently to find the ones who caused this holiday tragedy.
