Mom’s ex-boyfriend kills her and her daughter in drive-by shooting, CA cops say
The search is on for a man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend and her daughter in a drive-by shooting, California deputies say.
Through an investigation, Los Angeles County deputies said they identified Donte Lamont Brown, 41, as a suspect in the killing of La’von Hall, 45, and Ma’Laysia Martin, 22, the sheriff’s department said in an April 3 news release.
Hall was driving with her daughter seated in the passenger seat in Compton the evening of April 1, deputies said.
While they were stopped at a traffic light near an elementary school, Brown is accused of pulling up beside the women, firing “numerous rounds” and fleeing, deputies said.
Hall collapsed to the ground as she exited her car, deputies said.
Without a driver, Hall’s car continued into the intersection and collided with a traffic signal pole, deputies said.
When deputies arrived, they found Hall lying in the street and her daughter still seated in the passenger seat of the car, the sheriff’s department said.
Both women “tragically” died on scene, according to deputies.
“My brother got murdered around the corner some years ago. I can’t imagine the pain they were going through at the time,” Debbie Shaw, who was consoling someone on scene, told KABC-TV. “... Just to come out here to see a mother and a daughter — that’s really heartbreaking.”
After exhausting all leads, deputies said they are looking to the public for help finding Brown, who “is considered to be armed and dangerous.”
Brown is known to frequent Compton and Long Beach, deputies said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact deputies at 323-890-5500.
This story was originally published April 4, 2025 at 9:06 AM.
