Slain Compton 1-year-old was 'the center of attention and joy'

Slain Compton 1-year-old was ‘the center of attention and joy’

The fatal shooting of a 1-year-old Compton girl Autumn Jackson as she lay in her crib has brought grief and questions from residents of a city that has long struggled with senseless violence

By Nicole Santa Cruz

Feb. 10, 2016 8:53 AM PT

The fatal shooting of a 1-year-old Compton girl Autumn Jackson late Tuesday evening as she lay in her crib has brought grief and questions from residents of a city that has long struggled with senseless violence.

Marques Slaughter, Autumn’s uncle, said the family is in shock over the shooting.

“Everybody’s taking it hard,” he said.

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Slaughter said that the family has lived in the area for about 8 years.

The baby, he said, was “the center of attention and joy” who smiled every day.

“Her smile would make you feel so good inside,” he said.

Slaughter said he hardly slept Tuesday night.

“She was never a baby of hurt,” he said.

Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials said a gunman got out of a car Tuesday night, walked up to a residence near Holly Avenue and San Marcus Street, and fired in the direction of a converted garage where Autumn and her parents lived. Autumn, who had just celebrated her birthday last week, was struck in the head.

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Authorities are still looking for suspects.

Ronnell Thompson, 39, drove up to the home where the shooting occurred Wednesday morning and stopped her city-issued work truck. Thompson, a custodian with the city, said she grew up in the area and felt compelled to come by.

“Stop, please stop, it’s not getting us anywhere,” she said, pleading for an end to violence, to reporters outside the home. She said she saw the couple in the neighborhood sporadically.

Behind her, blood remained on the driveway. Two bullet holes were visible on a garage toward the back of the home. Other parents walked their children to school and men and women left their homes for work.

Thompson said she couldn’t sleep Tuesday night after hearing the news about the child.

“It could be my child,” she said. “It could be my family member.”

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