At the intersection of 27th Street and Raymond Avenue, two USC graduate students were killed Wednesday morning after a possible carjacking, leaving residents horrified by the news and seeking more information.
"I woke up to gunshots at about 1 a.m. I ran outside and saw a girl shot dead in her car. There was blood all over her and I could see her guts," said Jose Maldonado through a translator. Maldonado lives a few doors down from the crime scene.
"What is going on in our neighborhood today?" one resident shouted from her car window, her eyes wide with exasperation. She said she goes by "V" -- not wanting to give her full name out of fear for what has happened in the neighborhood she's lived in for 18 years.
Pat, a resident known as the "Police Woman" because of her involvement with the neighborhood watch group, shared as much as she knew. She declined to give her last name.
"Some idiot shot some kids," she said.
The rest of the details are still unclear. According to Commander Andrew Smith in a phone interview, detectives are still investigating the shooting that left two USC graduate electrical engineering students, both from China, dead. USC News reported that the students were identified as Ying Wu and Ming Qu.
"We are seeking the public's help in finding the suspect," Commander Smith said.
The neighborhood is considered "historic" by its residents with their houses dating back nearly 100 years. Though the paint is chipping and some yards are overgrown at some residences, the majority of the two-story Victorian-style homes in the area are well-managed and spacious, a great place to live, many of the neighbors say.
Charlie Parker, who has lived in the neighborhood for nine years, said one of his other neighbors heard the shot and looked outside in time "to see a guy fall in the street and another guy run away."
He also said the silver-gray BMW had been parked on the east side of Raymond and that the female student had been driving.
There have been reports that the male student ran to a nearby house for help. Residents in the house left a sign requesting not to be interviewed.
Parker was stunned about the shooting.
"It's a multicultural area -- all types of races, a nice mixture of races," he said.
"Everyone's like a family here," said V, who said many of the USC students who live in the area also tutor at the nearby elementary school.
Though V said she's felt safe in the neighborhood for the past 18 years, the shootings have caused her to rethink that.
"It's so sad to wake up to something like this ... It makes you wonder what's next? You can't even go to school without someone messing with you? Where are we safe at?" she said.
Pat said she's more worried about what news of this will do to the image of her community.
"I wish the media would stop putting out that this is a dangerous neighborhood, 'cause it's not...every community has its problems," said Pat.
Pat said that many USC students live in the area because it's more affordable than USC housing.
"The kids live over here because it's cheaper, around 400 or 500 a month, if USC didn't charge as much as it does, students wouldn't live over here," she said.
Pat also pointed out some other cars parked along the street, a Buick, another BMW.
"They're making it about a kid having a BMW, we have plenty of kids who have BMWs, Jaguars, Mercedes, my son even drives a Mercedes -- they're making a point out of a car ... I've seen the neighborhood change, they do have gangs over here. They have their fights ... But we've never had a problem like this before," she said.
This post was originally published on Neon Tommy: Annenberg Digital News
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.