A woman who was collecting recyclables at El Camino College on Christmas Eve was killed when a man attacked her with a sledgehammer, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
The holiday killing was reported shortly after 7 a.m. Sunday when law enforcement received a call of an assault. Officers responded to the Torrance college, where the woman, who was walking her dog on campus and collecting recyclables, was seen suffering from injuries. She was taken to a nearby hospital, where she died from her wounds the following day.
The victim, whose name has not been released, was described by her neighbors as being in her 60s and being a kind person. One woman named Ilka said they were neighbors for more than 20 years.
"I have no idea what kind of person could do such atrocious things to her," she said. "We don’t know the details but we know that we lost a very, very kind soul and we’re going to miss her awfully."
Get top local stories in Southern California delivered to you every morning. >Sign up for NBC LA's News Headlines newsletter.
Leslie Andersen, another neighbor, echoed those sentiments.
"Very sweet, very gentle soul. Very loving," Anderson said. "She’d pass out Christmas presents to people on Christmas. Just really, really nice lady."
Local
Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, COVID, cost of living and more. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news.
While investigators continue looking into the case, the victim's neighborhood continues to mourn her. One neighbor adopted her dog, which was with her at the time she was killed.
An arrest was made in connection with the attack. LASD identified the suspect as 40-year-old Jeffrey Davis, who is an unhoused individual. The department did not say what charges he could face.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information on the case is urged to contact LASD’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Anonymous tips can be made by contacting Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.
