Suspects Identified in Christmas Day Shooting Death of Woman During Purse Theft

Lourdes Padilla was shot and killed outside an Inglewood store by a woman who demanded her purse

Two suspects are identified in the tragic slaying of a grandmother on Christmas day. Patrick Healy reports for the NBC4 News at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019.

Police have identified two people sought in the death of a 70-year-old woman who was shot on Christmas Day when they stole her purse in Inglewood.

Arrest warrants have been obtained in the search for Donovan Bingaman, 20, and 29-year-old Lizet Martinez, police said Thursday in a news release. They're wanted in the death of Lourdes Padilla, who was shot at about 1 p.m. on Dec. 25 near Yukon Avenue and 104th Street.

Padilla was confronted by a woman, identified as Martinez, investigators said. The woman demanded her purse, then opened fire, killing Padilla with a single gunshot. Witnesses reported hearing the gunfire, then seeing Padilla on the ground. 

She died at the hospital two days later. 

Police and the family are asking for the public's help in finding the shooter and the getaway driver, identified as Bingaman. The two left the scene in a dark four-door sedan with tinted windows and yellow paper plates that was located by officers in Las Vegas after a brief pursuit in Arizona.

The car's image was captured on a security camera.

On Jan. 21, the two suspects were driving a white Nissan Versa with paper plates when they were pulled over by officers in Arizona. They eluded officers after a brief pursuit, but investigators said they might still be in the area of Casa Grande, Arizona. 

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They're considered armed and dangerous.

Martinez is described as 5 feet, 4 inches tall, about 160 pounds with brown eyes and brown hair. She has tattoos on her chest and arms.

Bingaman is described as 6 feet, 2 inches talls, about 230 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes. He is a documented gang member, according to investigators, who has a tattoo of "ES" on the back of his head, a purple rose on his right hand and "LA" on his forearm.

Anyone with information about the suspects is encouraged to contact police at 310-412-5206 or anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8277 or lacrimestoppers.org.

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