Photos by Stephanie Rivera.
Local leaders took to social media recently to offer condolences to those affected by the tragic death of a young mother and her 4-year-old daughter who were shot near downtown Long Beach Saturday night.
Mayor Robert Garcia, who said he visited the scene of the shooting on Monday, noted the touching memorial built by the community for the pair and said he was “incredibly sad” for the family.
In a tweet the day before, Garcia thanked police officers and firefighters who responded to the shooting over the weekend and wrote that he was “sad to see such violence.”
Had a chance to visit the scene of the terrible Downtown shooting – the community built a touching memorial. Incredibly sad for family
— Robert Garcia (@RobertGarciaLB) August 9, 2016
Carina Mancera, 26, and her daughter, 4-year-old Jennabel Anaya, were walking home on 9th Street and Locust Avenue when they were gunned down at about 10:20PM on Saturday, August 6, Long Beach police officials stated. Mancera died at the scene and Anaya was pronounced dead at a local hospital the following morning.
On Tuesday, Councilwoman Lena Gonzalez, whose district covers the site of the shooting, released a statement on the shooting.
“Words cannot describe how heartbreaking it is to know that our community has lost two young innocent lives to gun violence,” Gonzalez said. “As a mother of three boys, my heart breaks for this young family in our neighborhood.”
Woman, 4-Year-Old Daughter Gunned Down While Walking Home in L…
"Words cannot describe how heartbreaking it is to know that our community has lost two young innocent lives to gun violence." In the wake of the death of a young mother and her 4-year-old daughter, who were shot while walking home in downtown Long Beach on Saturday, local leaders took to social media to express grief and offer condolences to those affected by the tragic incident. Read more: http://lbpo.st/2bhwiBZ
Posted by Long Beach Post on Tuesday, August 9, 2016
Rep. Janice Hahn, D-Los Angeles, who represents North Long Beach, said Monday the shooting is a disturbing reminder that while her colleagues in Congress continue to block sensible gun laws, innocent people are being killed every day. While it is unknown if this shooting was preventable, it is known that this Congress refuses to try, she stated.
“The shooting deaths of Carina Mancera and her 4-year-old daughter Jennabel this weekend have devastated the Long Beach community,” Hahn stated. “I am heartbroken for Luis Anaya, who witnessed the deaths of both his wife and young child and the destruction of his beautiful young family. I cannot imagine what could have driven a person to commit this terrible crime.”
Patricia Costales, a crisis intervention specialist and CEO of The Guidance Center, which is located just blocks away from the scene of the shooting, encouraged those affected by such violence to seek help.
“Our hearts break for the family of Carina Mancera and her daughter, Jennabel Anaya,” Costales stated. “Community violence of any kind strikes the core of our being and can leave us feeling hopeless, especially after an act as unexplainable and senseless as this one. It is common for those who have experienced this trauma to feel scared, depressed, angry and confused.
Costales went on to state that community violence, if left untreated, can have a far reaching ripple effect with long lasting impacts.
“We encourage those who have experienced this type of trauma – whether you’ve witnessed the act itself, lost a loved-one or are living in the neighborhood – to seek help. We are here as a resource.”
Please contact LBPD Homicide Detectives Scott Lasch and Michael Hubbard at 562.570.7244. Anonymous tips may be submitted by calling 1.800.222.TIPS (8477), texting TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or visiting www.lacrimestoppers.org.
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