Los Angeles County Sheriff’s investigators have arrested a suspect in one of two deadly shootings that occurred during a large Fourth of July block party in Compton, while authorities continue searching for those responsible for a second fatal shooting that happened moments later at the same gathering.
During a Thursday news conference, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna announced that Antoine Jones, 54, of the Los Angeles area, has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Meah Bordenave-Jenkins and the attempted murders of two other women. However, investigators are still seeking information about the separate shooting that claimed the life of community activist Eric Washington.
Sheriff Luna also provided updates on two other Fourth of July weekend shootings in Los Angeles County, including a fatal shooting at another Compton gathering and a separate shooting in East Los Angeles.
Gunfire Erupted at Large Compton Block Party
The first shooting occurred at approximately 11:40 p.m. on July 4, when deputies from the Compton Sheriff’s Station responded to reports of multiple people being shot at an apartment complex in the 700 block of West Laurel Street.
When deputies arrived, they found three women suffering from gunshot wounds outside the apartment complex.
One of the victims, Meah Bordenave-Jenkins, a 19-year-old nursing student at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), later died from her injuries.
The two other women survived their injuries and have since been released from the hospital. Authorities have not publicly identified them.
Suspect Arrested Nearly Two Weeks Later
Following an extensive investigation, detectives identified Antoine Jones as the suspected gunman responsible for Bordenave-Jenkins’s death and the attempted murders of the two surviving women.
Authorities located Jones in Los Angeles on July 14 and took him into custody without publicly detailing the circumstances of his arrest.
Jones is expected to face charges related to:
- Murder in the death of Meah Bordenave-Jenkins.
- Two counts of attempted murder involving the surviving female victims.
Sheriff Luna described the arrest as a significant development but emphasized that investigators still have substantial work ahead.
“While today’s announcement represents an important step toward justice for Meah and her family, our work is very far from being over,” Luna said.
Community Activist Killed While Trying to Defuse Dispute
Investigators determined that a second shooting occurred only moments after the first during the same gathering.
That shooting claimed the life of Eric Washington, 37, a respected community activist and former government staff member.
According to Washington’s family, he was attempting to calm an argument and de-escalate tensions when he was shot.
Deputies found Washington suffering from a gunshot wound inside the apartment complex.
Investigators later discovered that another adult male had also been shot during the same incident.
Washington died from his injuries, while the second male victim survived and has since been released from the hospital.
Authorities have not released the surviving victim’s identity.
Detectives Believe Two Shootings Were Separate Incidents
Although both shootings happened within minutes of one another at the same Fourth of July celebration, investigators believe they were unrelated.
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, evidence indicates the two shootings involved different circumstances and are being investigated as separate crimes.
Sheriff Luna urged members of the public who attended the event to come forward.
“There were hundreds of people at this gathering,” Luna said.
“Somebody knows, somebody saw or somebody heard what happened.”
Investigators continue searching for the suspect or suspects responsible for Washington’s killing and the attempted murder of the surviving male victim.
Separate Fourth of July Shooting Claimed Life of Father of Three
Sheriff Luna also provided an update on another deadly shooting that occurred shortly after midnight on July 5, at a different Fourth of July gathering in Compton.
At approximately 12:10 a.m., deputies responded to the 2100 block of North Grandee Avenue, where they discovered two shooting victims.
One victim, Thaddeus Clark, 30, was pronounced dead after suffering gunshot wounds.
Clark was remembered by family members as a father of three.
A second victim survived the shooting and continues recovering.
Investigators have not announced any arrests in that case and continue asking for information from the public.
Authorities stressed that this shooting is not believed to be connected to the earlier violence on West Laurel Street, despite occurring less than an hour later.
Three Arrested in Separate East Los Angeles Shooting
During the same briefing, Sheriff Luna also announced arrests in an unrelated shooting that occurred in East Los Angeles on July 5.
The shooting happened near the intersection of Whittier Boulevard and Leonard Avenue, where large crowds had gathered during a World Cup match celebration.
Four people were struck by gunfire, including:
- Two adult men.
- One adult woman.
- One juvenile boy.
Authorities said none of the victims suffered life-threatening injuries.
Investigators arrested three suspects in that case:
- A 15-year-old alleged gang member, who investigators believe carried out the shooting.
- A 21-year-old woman.
- A 38-year-old woman.
According to investigators, the two women allegedly helped lure the intended victim to the location and later assisted the teenage suspect in avoiding arrest.
All three suspects are facing four counts of attempted murder.
Investigation Into Compton Shootings Continues
While authorities have made progress in identifying one of the suspects responsible for the deadly Fourth of July violence in Compton, investigators continue working to solve the remaining homicide.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is asking anyone who attended the West Laurel Street block party or has information about Eric Washington’s killing or the fatal shooting of Thaddeus Clark to contact the department’s Homicide Bureau.
Officials believe witness cooperation will be critical in identifying the remaining suspect or suspects and bringing those responsible to justice.
