Melody Ross, 16 [Updated]

Oct. 30, 2009, 10:53 p.m.

Melody Ross, a 16-year-old Cambodian teen, was shot and killed Friday, Oct. 30, in the 4400 block of East 10th Street in Long Beach as she left Wilson High School's homecoming football game, authorities said.

The following is an excerpt of Times staff writers Ruben Vives and Ben Bolch's story about the shooting:

The "Supergirl" Halloween costume that 16-year-old Melody Ross wore to the Wilson High School football game was befitting of her promising resume: honors student, pole vaulter and athlete, positive attitude, aspirations to attend UCLA.

Those were the attributes that Ross' friends and family recalled Saturday as they gathered near the stadium gates at the Long Beach campus. They placed flowers and votive candles at the spot where she was fatally shot Friday night as she and her friends were leaving the Wilson homecoming game against Polytechnic High School.

The daughter of Cambodian immigrants, Ross died at St. Mary's Hospital at 10:30 p.m., half an hour after she was shot, said her uncle, Sam Che.

Two men, ages 18 and 20, were wounded in the gunfire and hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, police said. They are not believed to be students at either school, and their identities were not released.

No arrests have been made, police said.

[Update September 12, 2011: Teen found guilty of murder in Melody Ross slaying]

[Update Dec. 19, 2011: Gang member gets 155 yearsin slaying of honors student Melody Ross]

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17 reader comments

I was there. I try to forget what I saw, but I cant. Indeed; I'v lied, I stole, I cheated at just about everything in my life. I sold crystal meth to boys and girls (some as young as 13) I used people in order to get ahead of others. I am a sinner, but I enjoyed it! Im 21 and No matter how I figure it; its to late for me now, but it was to early for Melody Ross. Its not fair and it aint right that people like me live on when others like Melody Ross do not. Every October (alone) I cry with my hate, wishing it was me that night who died and not her. If there was ever a chance with no turning back, I would trade places to give her that second chance we all take for granted so often. I had a class with Melody Ross during my time attending Wilson.. I'll never forget to remember the month of October. I hope you R.I.P. Melody, you deserved better. - Alex Ashworth

— Alex Sept. 20, 2014 at 7:35 a.m.

Emily i know your little sister is proud of you, knowing that you walked into school like nothing had happened. how in front of people you were so strong, not showing tears in your face after losing one of the most important person in your life.. i would of been devastated for months, not worrying about life or school or even graduating with our class. But you did!!
i met your sister once and just because you introduced us that one time, who would of known that would be the only time i ever said hi to her. Because of what happened, wilson became so united, so in sync when we all wore black that whole school week after homecoming, how instead everything that was going on in that school was blocked off, they were helping those in need with counceling and grief sessions during class. Sometimes you think why weren't theyre metal detecters at the gates before coming in the game , why ? i'ts just questions that cant be answered because only god knows what happends and why everyting is done. When i found it was the sister of a girl i've known since jefferson i started to cry just because 2 minutes before the shooting i was with my little brother that was the same age as your sister on the other corner of the auditoruim, we walked to 10th to get picked up and when we were infront of the 100 building entrance ... bang ! bang! everyone started running , i remember i ran so fast looking where my little brother was at, finding out he was half a block infront of me i felt so reliefed. still the things that everyone went through brought alot of people closer. class of x no regrets!!
hope you and your family are blessed (:

— wilson_2010 Nov. 25, 2012 at 12:33 a.m.

The Homicide Report

Melody Ross, 16 [Updated]

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17 reader comments