Lanai Ariyana Dees, a 21-year-old woman from Inglewood, California, was tragically shot and killed early Sunday morning in South Los Angeles. Her body was discovered in a crashed white Mercedes in an alley, prompting a homicide investigation as her family seeks answers.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reported that deputies responded to the scene on Century Boulevard at 12:46 a.m. after receiving shooting reports. Upon arrival, they found Dees in the driver’s seat with a fatal gunshot wound and pronounced her dead at the scene. Initially thought to be a traffic accident, further investigation revealed she had been shot before the crash.
Authorities have not confirmed why Dees was in the area at that time. While her identity was initially withheld, family members identified her and expressed their grief. Her brother, Jordan Dees, described her as kind and loving, emphasizing that she did not deserve such a tragic fate. He mentioned that she might have been visiting a friend but remains uncertain about the circumstances of her death.
Jordan urged anyone with information about the shooting to come forward, stressing the need for justice for his sister. As of now, no arrests have been made, and police have not released any suspect descriptions or determined if Dees was targeted or simply caught in a random act of violence.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to establish a motive for the shooting. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau.