Mother, Daughter Gunned Down: Police Continue Search For Unknown Suspect As Long Beach Mourns [VIDEO]
In the flash of an eye, a young family's late-night Saturday shopping quickly turned tragic, as a mother and her 4-year-old daughter were gunned down by an unknown assailant in Long Beach.
The woman, who was identified as 26-year-old Carina Mancera, died on the spot. Her 4-year-old daughter, Jennabel Anaya, was quickly rushed to the Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, where she succumbed to her injuries early Sunday morning.
The mother and daughter are survived by 27-year-old Luis Anaya, Mancera's husband and Jennabel's dad. In a statement, Anaya stated that his wife and daughter had gotten out of the car as he parked the vehicle.
Anaya further stated that he was just getting out a few more things out of their car when he heard gunshots. Upon turning around, he saw his wife and 4-year-old daughter fall to the ground. In a statement to the Long Beach Press-Telegram, Anaya related what happened during the tragic night.
"I ran over and tried to save them, but it was too late. I couldn't," he said.
The grieving father also stated that the assailant was a man whom he has not seen before. According to Anaya, the man also shot at him multiple times. However, the gunman missed. The shooter then took off down the street.
"I don't know why he did it, why he came after my family. I don't have any problems with anybody," Anaya said.
Concerned friends and family, as well as members of the community, have set up a small memorial on the sidewalk where the mother and daughter had been gunned down. For many of the family's friends, the tragedy is still very bitter pill to swallow.
Gabriel Sanchez, a longtime friend of Mancera, reminisced about his time with the slain mother.
I went online and I opened up a link to the news story and my heart dropped," he said. "I just started shaking. I couldn't keep still. Any time I ran into her, it was like time hadn't passed. Still the same, joking and laughing," he said.
"She was a real cool person. She had a good heart. I never thought her time would be up at this age."
While authorities have not announced if a suspect for the crime had been determined, a full-scale investigation is nonetheless underway.
A GoFundMe page has been established to help the family cover the expenses of the slain mother and child's funeral.
