Carolina Ramirez, 16

Carolina Ramirez, a 16-year-old Latina, was shot and killed Sunday, Feb. 26, in the 500 block of Bay View Avenue in Wilmington, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Ramirez and Meldrick Melgoza, a 16-year-old Latino, were shot about 7 p.m. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.

It wasn't known if their killings were gang-related, said Officer Rosario Herrera of the Los Angeles Police Department.

Violent crime reports have jumped significantly recently in the Wilmington area, according to The Times’ crime profile of the area. There have been 53 homicides since 2007 within two miles of where the two teens were shot, according to The Times’ Homicide Report.

Anyone with details about the incident or the identity of the assailant is asked to contact the LAPD at (877) 527-3247. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Rong-Gong Lin II