Long Beach mother was killed in revenge plot, police announce
The fatal shooting in late July of a Long Beach woman as she grabbed her toddler’s diaper bag was a planned killing by a friend who believed the woman could send him back to prison.
Long Beach Police Chief Jim McDonnell announced Thursday that Jason Haggerty, 30, and a 16-year-old female juvenile have been arrested and charged with the premeditated murder of Jazzmine Marie Wash, 23.
Wash was found in the courtyard of a Long Beach apartment complex with multiple gunshot wounds on July 25, and initially police had very few leads.
Wash was said to have gone to her grandmother’s house in the 500 block of Walnut Avenue to drop off her 3-year-old child. The woman was shot when she stepped out briefly to grab a diaper bag.
McDonnell said Wash’s slaying was retaliation by Haggerty who blamed the woman for providing authorities with information that could jeopardize his probation and potentially send him to prison.
“Haggerty was facing probation violation that he blamed Jazzmine for,” McDonnell said.
Earlier in the day, Wash had a gun pointed at her while in South LA., authorities said.
After talking to police, she left the station and a 16-year old friend came and picked her up, officials said. Investigators said they believe the teen tipped off Haggerty.
The teen allegedly drove Wash to her grandmother’s house where Haggerty allegedly ambushed Wash in the courtyard.
Lt. Lloyd Cox said the 16-year old friend lied initially, saying she did not know the gunman.
Haggerty planned the ambush, Cox said.
“He made a decision she needed to die.” Cox said.
Haggerty and the 16-year-old female are both charged with murder and are in custody. Both were arrested last weekend, though details were not made public until Thursday.
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