LOS ANGELES (CNS) — The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a $10,000 reward offer Tuesday for information that leads to the conviction of the person responsible for the shooting death of a 16-year-old girl whose body was found dumped alongside the 110 Freeway.
Meanwhile, two Los Angeles City Council members introduced a motion calling for the city to offer a $50,000 reward for information in the killing of Tioni Theus, whose body was found Jan. 8 on the side of the freeway on the Manchester Avenue on-ramp near South Figueroa Street in South Los Angeles.
The motion by Councilmen Marqueece Harris-Dawson and Curren Price is expected to be voted upon in the coming week.
The county reward proposal was introduced by Supervisor Holly Mitchell, who also proposed a $10,000 reward approved by the board for information in the killing of 16-year-old Ricardo Trujillo Ramirez, who was fatally shot Sept. 24 in the 1900 block of East Pine Street in Compton while walking to his car with friends.
Mitchell said she brought the reward motions to highlight the "lack of attention murders of people in some communities really get."
"I think it's critical...that we not become desensitized to this horrific loss of life and we give each case...the full attention and resources they deserve," Mitchell said.
Tioni was last seen Jan. 7 after telling a family member she was going to meet a friend to go to a party, officials said. No further information was provided, and no suspect description was available.
Speaking to the Los Angeles Police Commission, Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore said Tuesday the case was something that "all of Los Angeles should be paying close attention to."
He added that other than the anticipated reward money, "the incentive should be that we know in our community that this murder did not occur in a vacuum and that ... this young girl was tragically taken from us and the people responsible are still amongst us, which poses an imminent risk to all of us."
The investigation is being handled by the California Highway Patrol, but the LAPD offered investigative assistance. Moore told the Police Commission the CHP hasn't yet identified a suspect or description of the suspect or involved vehicle.
"Ms. Theus lived in Compton and was a student at Centennial High School," according to the county motion. "She was reportedly living with her father as her mother recovered from a serious hit-and-run accident. Family members say she was a straight-A student and enjoyed dance and golf."
In a statement shared earlier this week, Councilman Curren Price said Tioni was a young lady with promise, joy and spirit.
"She had so much to live for and countless unfinished dreams," he said. "It's disheartening to know that the person or persons responsible for her killing are still on the loose while a family and entire community continues to grieve in search for answers."
California Highway Patrol is asking anyone with information to come forward — whether they saw something around the time of her death or have cameras on their vehicle and were in the area around Jan. 8.
Anyone with information is asked to call CHP at 323-644-9557.
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