A teenage girl was fatally shot in Lynwood on Wednesday night, caught in the middle of what detectives believe to be a gang-related shooting.

Danah Rojo Rivas, 16, may have been the victim of car-to-car crossfire as she was on her way home from church with her family, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Deputies responded to a gunshot victim call in the 12600 block of Long Beach Boulevard around 9:30 p.m., authorities said.

The girl was riding in the back seat of her family’s car with her small white poodle her lap. Her 18-year-old brother also was in the car, sitting in the passenger seat. As her mother drove east on Euclid Avenue, a “possible car-to-car shooting or chase” approached from behind.


Authorities said the target vehicle, a burgundy Saturn SUV, was trying to get away from the shooter but was caught in traffic at the light at Euclid Avenue and Long Beach Boulevard. A male adult suspect then exited a vehicle and began shooting multiple rounds at the target.

One of the rounds hit the car the teenager was in, tearing through the back near the license plate and striking the girl in her upper torso, the sheriff’s department said.

The suspect then made a U-turn and fled the scene. The intended target also fled.

When the teenager’s mother realized her daughter had been shot, she pulled over along Long Beach Boulevard. Paramedics treated the girl, but she died at the scene.


No description of the suspect’s car was available, but detectives believe there could be more than one person involved in the shooting. No weapon has been recovered.

The victim’s mother and brother were not injured, but the dog ran into the street during the incident and was struck by oncoming traffic. It died at the scene.

sarah.parvini@latimes.com

For more California news follow me on Twitter: @sarahparvini


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UPDATES:

1:30 p.m.: This article was updated with the victim’s name.

11:08 a.m.: This article was updated with additional details about the shooting.

This article was originally published at 9:55 a.m.