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Mother, 23, Fatally Shot After Dropping Off Child, 3, At Relative's Long Beach Home

LONG BEACH (CBSLA.com) — A 23-year-old mother was shot and killed Thursday in Long Beach as she dropped off her three-year-old son at the home of a relative, police said.

Jazzmine Wash, of Long Beach, died at the scene of the crime in the 500 block of Walnut Avenue about 6:20 a.m., Long Beach police said.

Authorities responded to a shots fired call and arrived to the scene to find the victim in the courtyard of the apartment complex where she had dropped off her child.

"The police woke us up and I heard gunshots. Four or five gunshots," a neighbor told CBS2/KCAL9's Michele Gile.

Wash had walked out of the apartment to get a diaper bag when residents in the area heard several shots fired, according to Sgt. Aaron Eaton.

"She came outside of the apartment to gather a bag, what was described as a diaper bag, and was shot multiple times in her upper torso. The suspects fled the scene and the fire department came and unfortunately she was pronounced dead here at the scene," he said.

Police have not yet determined a motive for the shooting or whether the victim knew her killer, or killers.

Neighbor Shawn Malloy said Wash was a single mother who had recently started working at Walmart in order to support her son. He said she planned to celebrate his  third birthday later today.

"She was affectionate with her son... very reserved. Good neighbor. Always said hello, friendly. A real nice person, you know, single mom. Struggling. Just started work. Today was the little boy's birthday. It is really sad. We are heartbroken," he said.

Family members did not want to comment.

Police have not yet determined if the victim knew her killer or killers.

No suspect information was available at press time.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact Long Beach Police Homicide Detectives Hugo Cortes and Peter Lackovic at (562) 570-7244.  Anonymous tips may be submitted by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), texting TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or by visiting the L.A. Crime Stoppers website.

(©2013 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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