- Wednesday December 7th, 2016 :: 02:19 p.m. PST
Advisory
#LASD Mom of 16 Y/O Lynwood Shooting Death Asks Public 4 Info; Det's,Donors Announce $30K Reward
Homicide Detectives Ask for Public’s Help in Solving the Murder of 16-year-old Danah Rojo-Rivas;
$30,000 Reward Offered
It was while a mother drove her two children home from a church function on Wednesday, November 23, 2016, that their lives intersected with evil.
The family drove with 16-year-old Danah Rojo-Rivas sitting behind her mother in the car and her older brother in the front passenger seat. As they travelled through the city of Lynwood, they stopped at a red light, facing eastbound on Euclid Street at the intersection with Long Beach Boulevard, and were unaware of a car-to-car shooting happening right behind them, on the driver’s side of their vehicle.
One of the intended targets being chased in the shooting exited his vehicle and ran behind the Rojo-Rivas car to avoid being hit by bullets. As the intended target ran, the shooter tracked him with a succession of gunfire from a handgun, during which a stray round entered the Rojo-Rivas car, struck Danah in the upper torso and fatally wounded her.
Danah’s mother desperately tried to get out of the area and turned southbound onto Long Beach Boulevard; it was then she realized Danah was shot and pulled the car over. The brother pulled Danah’s body from the vehicle to the sidewalk and passersby called 9-1-1. Paramedics rushed to the scene, but Danah’s wound was too grave and she was pronounced dead on the ground where her brother last placed her.
Danah loved sports and animals –especially dogs. She played softball and was working toward becoming a volunteer at an animal shelter. At the time of the shooting, Danah’s dog, Luna, was with her in the car. In the confusion after the shooting when the door was opened to pull Danah from the car, the frightened pet darted out and ran across Long Beach Boulevard; Danah’s beloved Luna was hit and killed by a passing car, adding heartache to heartbreak for the grieving family.
On Wednesday, December 7, 2016, at Lynwood City Hall, Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau detectives and Danah’s family made a plea to the public to request anyone with information to come forward and help identify the suspect who fired a gun indiscriminately in the street, and shot and killed a budding young lady as she rode home from church with her family.
Danah’s mom recounted memories of the angel who lived with her, loved animals and sports, and was loved by all who met her. Danah was kind, responsible and worked without complaint; she even stopped playing softball to take an after-school job without being asked, to help support the family.
“She was my best friend, besides my daughter,” said Danah’s mom. “We had this bond that everybody could see. My daughter was a bright light everywhere she went... She was that little person that everybody loved. Her smile was catching everybody’s love since she was a baby.”
“This Monday, I shouldn’t have to wake up to get ready for her funeral. This Monday should be a day of waking her up at six in the morning…so she can go to school. I (shouldn’t) have to wake up and get ready to go to her funeral. I don’t even know how that happened.”
To encourage witnesses to come forward, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for Danah’s death.
In an act of compassion and philanthropy, two private citizens presented reward money on behalf of local businesses, Che Hill Real Estate and CLJ Realty, to add to the Board of Supervisors’ reward money. Kindly, they offered $5,000 each, which increased the sum to $30,000, in hopes of stirring the hearts of anyone with information and causing them to step forward with much-needed information to help solve this investigation.
“We are hoping to increase leads and or information which will result in the arrests and convictions of those persons involved in the murder of Danah,” said owner, Che Hill.
Homicide Bureau Captain Stephen Katz and Century Sheriff’s Station Captain Kerry Carter, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department; representatives from the Office of Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors; and representatives from the city of Lynwood, including Mayor Pro Tempore Jose Luis Solache, Mayor Maria Santillan-Beas, Councilmember Aide Castro, Councilmember Edwin Hernandez, and Councilmember Sal Alatorre, also attended to offer their support to Danah’s family and demonstrate their shared concerns for the members of the Lynwood community.
Mayor Maria Santillan-Beas said, “As a mother, I cannot imagine the pain and suffering the parents and family of Danah Rojo-Rivas. Parents shouldn't have to bury their children. As Mayor for the City of Lynwood, my priority is public safety. I will continue to work with the Sheriff's Department to not only protect the public, but to obtain justice for Danah.”
If you have information about this case, please contact Sheriff’s Homicide Detective Adam Kirste or Detective Sergeant Robert Gray at 323-890-5500. If you prefer to remain anonymous, you may call “L.A. Crime Stoppers” at 800-222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 MOBILE APP” on Google play or the App Store, or use the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.
Prepared by:
Deputy Lillian Peck
Sheriff’s Information Bureau
211 West Temple Street,
Los Angeles, CA 90012
213-229-1700
Website LASD HQ: http://www.lasd.org
Recruitment LASD: http://www.careers.lasd.org
Follow LASD HQ via text and email: http://www.Nixle.com
https://nixle.com/lasd---los-angeles-county-sheriffs-dept-information-bureau-sib/
Twitter: @LASDHQ http://twitter.com/LASDHQ
Twitter: @LASDtalk https://twitter.com/LASDTalk
Twitter: @LASDvideos https://twitter.com/LASDvideos
Twitter: @LASDespanol https://twitter.com/LASDespanol
Facebook LASD HQ: http://www.facebook.com/LosAngelesCountySheriffsDepartment
Instagram LASD Photos: http://instagram.com/LASDHQ
Pinterest LASD Photos: http://pinterest.com/lacountysheriff/
YouTube LASD Videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/LACountySheriff/videos?view=0
SNAP LA County: Specific Needs Disaster Voluntary Registryhttp://snap.lacounty.gov/
Alert LA County: Telephone emergency mass notification system
http://www.lacounty.gov/wps/portal/alertla
Text and email, register for LASD Nixle messages: To receive more detailed, up-to-date information via E-MAIL and/or TEXT directly from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD), sign up for "Nixle" alerts at http://www.Nixle.com and register for "LASD – Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Dept Information Bureau (SIB)" AND your local LASD station area. To receive URGENT TEXT ALERTS ONLY, text your zip code to 888777. Standard text messaging rates may apply depending on your calling plan.
"If You See Something, Say Something"
L.A. Crime Stoppers: Partner to prevent or report crime by contacting your local Sheriff’s station. If you prefer to remain anonymous, you may call “L.A. Crime Stoppers” at 800-222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 MOBILE APP” on Google play or the App Store, or use the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.
Jim McDonnell, Sheriff
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
#LASD Mom of 16 Y/O Lynwood Shooting Death Asks Public 4 Info; Det's,Donors Announce $30K Reward 
Homicide Detectives Ask for Public’s Help in Solving the Murder of 16-year-old Danah Rojo-Rivas;
$30,000 Reward Offered
It was while a mother drove her two children home from a church function on Wednesday, November 23, 2016, that their lives intersected with evil.
The family drove with 16-year-old Danah Rojo-Rivas sitting behind her mother in the car and her older brother in the front passenger seat. As they travelled through the city of Lynwood, they stopped at a red light, facing eastbound on Euclid Street at the intersection with Long Beach Boulevard, and were unaware of a car-to-car shooting happening right behind them, on the driver’s side of their vehicle.
One of the intended targets being chased in the shooting exited his vehicle and ran behind the Rojo-Rivas car to avoid being hit by bullets. As the intended target ran, the shooter tracked him with a succession of gunfire from a handgun, during which a stray round entered the Rojo-Rivas car, struck Danah in the upper torso and fatally wounded her.
Danah’s mother desperately tried to get out of the area and turned southbound onto Long Beach Boulevard; it was then she realized Danah was shot and pulled the car over. The brother pulled Danah’s body from the vehicle to the sidewalk and passersby called 9-1-1. Paramedics rushed to the scene, but Danah’s wound was too grave and she was pronounced dead on the ground where her brother last placed her.
Danah loved sports and animals –especially dogs. She played softball and was working toward becoming a volunteer at an animal shelter. At the time of the shooting, Danah’s dog, Luna, was with her in the car. In the confusion after the shooting when the door was opened to pull Danah from the car, the frightened pet darted out and ran across Long Beach Boulevard; Danah’s beloved Luna was hit and killed by a passing car, adding heartache to heartbreak for the grieving family.
On Wednesday, December 7, 2016, at Lynwood City Hall, Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau detectives and Danah’s family made a plea to the public to request anyone with information to come forward and help identify the suspect who fired a gun indiscriminately in the street, and shot and killed a budding young lady as she rode home from church with her family.
Danah’s mom recounted memories of the angel who lived with her, loved animals and sports, and was loved by all who met her. Danah was kind, responsible and worked without complaint; she even stopped playing softball to take an after-school job without being asked, to help support the family.
“She was my best friend, besides my daughter,” said Danah’s mom. “We had this bond that everybody could see. My daughter was a bright light everywhere she went... She was that little person that everybody loved. Her smile was catching everybody’s love since she was a baby.”
“This Monday, I shouldn’t have to wake up to get ready for her funeral. This Monday should be a day of waking her up at six in the morning…so she can go to school. I (shouldn’t) have to wake up and get ready to go to her funeral. I don’t even know how that happened.”
To encourage witnesses to come forward, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for Danah’s death.
In an act of compassion and philanthropy, two private citizens presented reward money on behalf of local businesses, Che Hill Real Estate and CLJ Realty, to add to the Board of Supervisors’ reward money. Kindly, they offered $5,000 each, which increased the sum to $30,000, in hopes of stirring the hearts of anyone with information and causing them to step forward with much-needed information to help solve this investigation.
“We are hoping to increase leads and or information which will result in the arrests and convictions of those persons involved in the murder of Danah,” said owner, Che Hill.
Homicide Bureau Captain Stephen Katz and Century Sheriff’s Station Captain Kerry Carter, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department; representatives from the Office of Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors; and representatives from the city of Lynwood, including Mayor Pro Tempore Jose Luis Solache, Mayor Maria Santillan-Beas, Councilmember Aide Castro, Councilmember Edwin Hernandez, and Councilmember Sal Alatorre, also attended to offer their support to Danah’s family and demonstrate their shared concerns for the members of the Lynwood community.
Mayor Maria Santillan-Beas said, “As a mother, I cannot imagine the pain and suffering the parents and family of Danah Rojo-Rivas. Parents shouldn't have to bury their children. As Mayor for the City of Lynwood, my priority is public safety. I will continue to work with the Sheriff's Department to not only protect the public, but to obtain justice for Danah.”
If you have information about this case, please contact Sheriff’s Homicide Detective Adam Kirste or Detective Sergeant Robert Gray at 323-890-5500. If you prefer to remain anonymous, you may call “L.A. Crime Stoppers” at 800-222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 MOBILE APP” on Google play or the App Store, or use the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.
Prepared by:
Deputy Lillian Peck
Sheriff’s Information Bureau
211 West Temple Street,
Los Angeles, CA 90012
213-229-1700
Website LASD HQ: http://www.lasd.org
Recruitment LASD: http://www.careers.lasd.org
Follow LASD HQ via text and email: http://www.Nixle.com
https://nixle.com/lasd---los-angeles-county-sheriffs-dept-information-bureau-sib/
Twitter: @LASDHQ http://twitter.com/LASDHQ
Twitter: @LASDtalk https://twitter.com/LASDTalk
Twitter: @LASDvideos https://twitter.com/LASDvideos
Twitter: @LASDespanol https://twitter.com/LASDespanol
Facebook LASD HQ: http://www.facebook.com/LosAngelesCountySheriffsDepartment
Instagram LASD Photos: http://instagram.com/LASDHQ
Pinterest LASD Photos: http://pinterest.com/lacountysheriff/
YouTube LASD Videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/LACountySheriff/videos?view=0
SNAP LA County: Specific Needs Disaster Voluntary Registryhttp://snap.lacounty.gov/
Alert LA County: Telephone emergency mass notification system
http://www.lacounty.gov/wps/portal/alertla
Text and email, register for LASD Nixle messages: To receive more detailed, up-to-date information via E-MAIL and/or TEXT directly from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD), sign up for "Nixle" alerts at http://www.Nixle.com and register for "LASD – Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Dept Information Bureau (SIB)" AND your local LASD station area. To receive URGENT TEXT ALERTS ONLY, text your zip code to 888777. Standard text messaging rates may apply depending on your calling plan.
"If You See Something, Say Something"
L.A. Crime Stoppers: Partner to prevent or report crime by contacting your local Sheriff’s station. If you prefer to remain anonymous, you may call “L.A. Crime Stoppers” at 800-222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 MOBILE APP” on Google play or the App Store, or use the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.
Jim McDonnell, Sheriff
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
Address/Location
LASD - Los Angeles County Sheriffs Dept Information Bureau (SIB)
211 W Temple St
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 213-229-1700
