City Council OKs $25,000 reward for leads in shooting of 12‑year‑old

The Los Angeles City Council voted to approve a $25,000 reward for information in a July 8 shooting that left a 12‑year‑old girl critically injured.

The council approved the special‑item motion by roll call, with the clerk recording 13 ayes. The City Attorney told the council the Police Department requested the reward and that the council needed to make findings allowing the body to act on a matter that arose after the posting of the agenda. "Therefore, the council needs to make the findings that the need to act arose after the posting of the agenda and that there's an immediate need to act," the City Attorney said.

Councilmember Pacheco moved the reward motion and described the case as a "very tragic incident" involving two gangs and a 12‑year‑old victim identified in the meeting as Elizabeth Thomas. He said the motion seeks to "authorize the sum of $25,000 for a reward" to encourage community members with information to come forward.

No public speakers were recorded on the item during the meeting. The item passed on the recorded roll call with unanimous support among members present.

The council also voted (13 ayes) on the procedural findings that allowed the special motion, as required when a matter arises after the agenda is posted. The City Attorney framed the vote as fulfilling that procedural requirement so the Police Department's request could be considered immediately.

Details provided at the meeting identify the incident as occurring near "1922 and 1923 Pennsylvania" in the neighborhood name given in the transcript as "Bull Heights." The council did not provide additional details about next steps for disbursing the reward or the investigative timeline during the public meeting.