Sheriff

Suspects Sought in Murder of Two Young Women Sitting In A Vehicle In Carson; Family Asks For Public To Help Find Killers; Detectives to Announce $30K Reward

Detectives are searching for the suspects involved in the shooting deaths of 19 year-old Erin Lavender and 17-year-old Dalelaja Hearn that occurred on Sunday, December 15, 2019, in Carson.

That evening, at approximately 8:50 p.m., Erin and Dalelaja, along with three other individuals, were sitting in a vehicle that was parked outside of a residence at the 20300 block of Alvo Avenue, in the city of Carson.

As Erin and Dalelaja were seated in the front of the vehicle, two suspects who wore hooded sweatshirts, were seen on video surveillance walk towards their vehicle. One of the suspects directly approached the front driver side of the vehicle, and fired several shots aimlessly into the vehicle.

Immediately after the shooting, both of the suspects ran southbound on Alvo Avenue, towards Del Amo Boulevard and out of view. While the suspects were running away from the scene, a light colored sports utility vehicle is captured on video surveillance driving in the same direction passed the suspects. Detectives are asking the occupants of that vehicle to contact investigators with any information that they may have seen or can provide, to help shed light on the circumstances of this heinous incident.

Right after the shooting occurred, one of the individuals in the vehicle with Erin and Dalelaja, saw that they had both been struck by gunfire, and drove them to a local hospital. Both Erin and Dalelaja were struck in the upper torso, and unfortunately succumbed to their injuries a short time later.

Today, Wednesday, January 15, 2020, Sheriff Villanueva and Homicide Bureau Detectives announced a combined $30,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Erin and Dalelaja’s murders.    

During the press conference, Sheriff Villanueva asked the public for their assistance in helping to locate those responsible, and said, “It is always tragic when a life is loss, but when two young ladies lose their lives, it is extremely heartbreaking. These ladies were just beginning their lives, and we need the public’s help to locate those responsible.”

Mayor Albert Robles, from the City of Carson, also pleaded to the public for their help with any information about this case, stating “It touches every single human being to think, what happened here? This senseless killing. I know there is someone out there that knows something about this. We are begging you to do the right thing. Come forward. Share what information you know.”

A reward of $10,000 has been sponsored by Supervisor Mark Ridley- Thomas, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Second District. Along with a second reward of $20,000 from the City of Carson and approved by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, has been graciously offered in exchange for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the shooting death of both victims.

Incidentally, Erin and Dalelaja were in the area attending a vigil for a mutual friend of theirs, who had just passed away.  

At the time of her death, Erin Lavender was only 19 years-old. She was just beginning her life and was a student attending a local college and an avid softball.

Dalelaja Hearn was only 17 years-old at the time of her death. She was a high school student in Central California, and was also an avid softball player.

Both Erin and Dalelaja grew up surrounded by their loving family members, and will be missed dearly.  Anyone with information about the murders of Erin Lavender and Dalelaja Hearn are encouraged to call Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.  If you prefer to remain anonymous, you may call “L.A. Crime Stoppers” at 800-222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 MOBILE APP” on Google Play or the App Store, or use the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.