20-year-old mother killed by stray bullet in South LA home

A 20-year-old mother was killed by a stray bullet that pierced her bedroom window while she slept in her South Los Angeles home early Sunday morning, July 19, 2026. Maria Barrios Ventura was pronounced dead at the scene after being struck in the head as she lay in bed next to her one-year-old daughter and her boyfriend.

The shooting occurred around 3:35 a.m. on the 400 block of West 103rd Street in the Vermont Vista neighborhood. According to police, officers responded to reports of shots fired and found Ventura suffering from a gunshot wound. Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics attempted life-saving measures but were unsuccessful. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's office officially identified the victim on Wednesday, July 22.

Ventura's boyfriend, Omar Misael, who was in the bed at the time, said a single bullet came through the bedroom window and struck Ventura. He reported that seven additional rounds were fired in the area. A neighbor, Jose Chavez, told reporters his car was damaged by the gunfire. Police confirmed that no other injuries were reported.

Authorities stated the shooter was outside the home at the time of the incident and fled the scene. Investigators...