Arrest in South LA shooting of transgender woman



Commanding Officer Peter Wittingham, LAPD Criminal Homicide Division, at a news conference announcing arrest in the murder of Deshawnda Sanchez. | Photo by Deshawnda Sanchez

Commanding Officer Peter Wittingham, LAPD Criminal Homicide Division, at a news conference announcing arrest in the murder of Deshawnda Sanchez. | Photo by Deshawnda Sanchez

The Los Angeles Police Department announced the arrest of Robert James Spells, 30, in the murder of Deshawnda Sanchez, who was killed in the Chesterfield Square neighborhood of South L.A. in the early morning hours of December 3, 2014.

Sanchez identified as a transgender and was 21 years old when she was killed.  At a news conference at the 77th Street Community Police Station, detectives said she called 911 on Dec. 3 for help, telling the dispatcher that she was assaulted and robbed. [Read more…]