Friends Say OC Shooting Rampage Victim Didn't Deserve To Die
COSTA MESA (CBSLA.com) — Authorities Thursday were still unable to provide solid details about the first victim in a multi-city Orange County shooting rampage earlier this week.
Courtney Aoki, 20, of Buena Park, was reportedly shot in the face around 4:30 a.m. Tuesday at the home of Ali Syed on Red Leaf Lane in Ladera Ranch.
At a press conference Wednesday, officials said any connection between the victim and Syed, who gunned down two other people before he committed suicide, is unknown.
Aoki's mother told the OC Register that she believes her daughter was at Syed's home to sell her laptop.
Although investigators have Aoki's computer and cellphone in their possession, they haven't elaborated on her life, family or occupation.
According to Aoki's Facebook page, where she went by "Kitty Kitanna," she worked as a dancer at Eye Candy Bikini Bar in Costa Mesa.
Employees at the bar, however, said she never worked there.
Aoki's ex-boyfriend told CBS2/KCAL9's Andrea Fujii via phone that the victim, at one time, worked as an escort.
Amber Adams, the victim's best friend, said Aoki was an aspiring actress who wanted to be a star.
"I think all she wanted to do was get money to pursue her modeling and acting career," she said.
Adams said the 20-year-old may have hung out with the wrong crowd, but was a good person and didn't deserve to die.
"She felt like she was alone in the world a little. She was trying to do everything by herself. She didn't like asking for help. But I felt like I could have been there," said Adams.
