Mom shot in Inglewood attack speaks out after husband, son killed

The Inglewood mother injured when her neighbor opened fire in an attack that killed her husband and 4-year-old son, spoke out for the first time since the Saturday shooting, saying it was a "very sad time" for her family.

In a statement released Monday, Gloria Jimenez, 28, also thanked her community, emergency responders and medical staff "for their ongoing support." "We appreciate your kind words and thoughts and quick response for our care," she said. "We feel blessed to have so many people there for us." Jimenez was in good condition at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center on Monday, hospital staff said. Her 7-year-old daughter, who was shot in the chest, was in fair condition at Mattel Childrens Hospital UCLA. The two were injured during a predawn attack Saturday, when Inglewood police said their 55-year-old neighbor, Desmond John Moses, entered their home and began shooting.

Jimenez and her husband, Filimon Lamas, tried to protect their four children, authorities said. Lamas was found slumped over three of them; Jimenez, despite being shot in both legs and her pelvis, jumped a fence and ran from the home cradling their 4-year-old son, who had been shot in the head. Lamas, 30, and the 4-year-old later died. The couple's 6-year-old son, who was shot in the pelvis, was released from the hospital Sunday and was resting with family, a relative said. Their 8-year-old son was not hurt in the attack.

Police said Moses also set his home on fire. Although a positive identification has not yet been made, authorities believe it was his body that was found in the charred rubble Saturday night. The man was wearing body armor, clutching a revolver and had what appeared to be a gunshot wound to the head, police said. Investigators were still trying to determine what prompted the attack, but they suspect that Moses blamed the family for an eviction notice he had received from their landlord.

The family had called police several times asking them to conduct a welfare check after becoming concerned about Moses' increasing isolation and odd behavior, a relative said. Neighbors said the man appeared to have no friends or family and had not paid rent for years.

LA Times

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