One Of Two Women Fatally Shot Jan 3 at Pine/PCH Was Listed As Possible Prosecution Witness To Testify In Murder Trial Of Man Accused Of Fatally Shooting Her Brother Less Than Two Years Ago In Area 14th St/LB Blvd.; Second Jan 3 Victim Was Also A LB Resident

(Jan. 7, 2007) -- The L.A. County Coroner's office has identified one of the decedents as Tasha Brown, 39. She met her death near Pine Ave/PCH less than two years after her brother, Maurice Brown, 26, was fatally shot in the area of LB Blvd./14th St. in May 2005.

LBPD has confirmed to LBReport.com that it is investigating (among several possibilities) whether the death of one of two women, shot to death in the 1800 block of Pine Ave. on Jan. 3, was related to her status as a possible witness for the prosecution in the trial of a man alleged to have murdered her brother.

The two areas where the brother and sister died are a little over a mile north of downtown LB. They've been represented since 2001 by 1st district Councilwoman (now Vice Mayor) Bonnie Lowenthal and since 2000 by now-former 6th district Councilwoman (now state Assemblywoman) Laura Richardson.

The other victim in the Jan. 3, 2007 Pine Ave/PCH shooting has been identified by the County Coroner as Tanya Rhena Settles, 44, also a LB resident.

LBPD Public Information Officer Jackie Bezart says Ms. Brown's status as a witness about to be called in the murder trial is among the areas it's examining. LBPD has already indicated that its Detectives believe what occurred at Pine Ave/PCH on January 3, 2007 was gang related.

As LBReport.com reported in mid-May 2005, Maurice Brown, 26, was seated with a man and a woman in a vehicle parked on 14th St. just west of LB Blvd. shortly after midnight; a man walked up, fired multiple shots into the vehicle and Mr. Brown was struck; he managed to drive off...but crashed into a light pole and was transported to a hospital where he died. was was transported to a hospital and did not survive; a motive for that shooting wasn't immediately cited by LBPD.

LBPD asks anyone who may have witnessed what took place on Jan. 3 or has any information regarding it to contact LBPD Homicide Detectives William Matsubara or David Rios at (562) 570-7244.