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Sierra Dominique Brown

Age 16

Los Angeles, California

Sisters, mothers, up to the end

She often wore gold hoop earrings and a wide smile. She was a dance student at Bright Star Secondary Academy. “She always wanted the best for me (and) always made me do the right things,” a friend said.

That friendship ended on Nov. 17, 2018, when Sierra Dominique Brown, 16, and her sister Uniek Souvinette, 27, were discovered in an apartment in the Westchester neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.

Both had been shot dead. Both were mothers, with children aged 7, 5 and 10 months. The apartment had been set afire. Police arrested a 17-year-old boy and said the murders were “domestic violence-related.”

By Megan Chen · Age 16
Meet the Reporters

More than 40 dancers

Yaleah Hall

Sister, daughter, dancer, since day one

Alisia JaNell Williams

She made her dolls happy, too

Orlando Myron Anderson Jr.

He was so full of life

Cara Marie Loughran

Dancing in our hearts for eternity

Xzariah Denecca Rice

Her father died in her arms

Taylor Hayes

A star on her karaoke machine

Arthur Roger Holloway III

His obituary ran in two states

Doumba Sannoh

Fatal price for the American dream

Eugene Ryder Stamey

Innocent game turned to foul play

Des'mon Reyshard Anderson

His baby lost her loving dad

Tylon DaJaun Batey

So much family left to grieve

Christopher Williams

Web design intern, brother of six

Justise Armoni Ledena Allen

She did not even look hurt

Eliza Kristine Orellana

She was a singer, dancer and friend

Alexa Denice Montez

Her father’s “greatest gift,” he said

Jaime Taylor Guttenberg

Independent, fearless, bright; a graceful dancer

Darius Marcel Boone

An infectious laugh silenced by violence

Michael D. Bardlett

To know Michael. To love Michael.

Kelvin Ramone Creech

Engaged. Ready for fatherhood. Taken away.

Trinity Renee-Jordan Wiggins

Her uncle’s house, pockmarked with bullets