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This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.

KPCC Archive

L.A. County Supervisors add to reward in Unique Russell case

Unique Russell, 14, was fatally shot on July 4 as she watched fireworks in the Westmont neighborhood.
Unique Russell, 14, was fatally shot on July 4 as she watched fireworks in the Westmont neighborhood. The L.A. County Board of Supervisors has posted another $10,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of a second suspect in her shooting.
(
José Martinez/KPCC
)

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L.A. County Supervisors add to reward in Unique Russell case

A $10,000 dollar reward for information in the shooting death of a teen last Independence Day helped authorities round up a suspect. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to add another $10,000 to that amount because a second suspect remains at large.

Shortly after somebody shot into a crowd watching Fourth of July fireworks and killed 14-year-old Unique Russell, the LA County supervisors posted the initial reward for information leading to the arrest of a suspect. Witnesses helped identify one man, Michael Staton, and deputies arrested him last month. He’s charged with murder and two counts of attempted murder because gunshots wounded two other bystanders.

Authorities haven’t caught up with another shooter they say was involved. The dead teen’s mother urged potential witnesses to break what she called a code of silence that results in too many deaths and no winners.

The supervisors urge anyone with information about the shootings to call the L.A. County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500 or Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

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