Sonya Tautinei Tauanuu, 26

Sonya Tauanuu, a 26-year-old Samoan woman, died after she was hit by a limousine Thursday, Dec. 3, and dragged nearly a mile from the  700 block of Ceres Avenue in Downtown, authorities said.

[Update: A previous version of this post listed Tauanuu's race as Filipina.]

The driver of the limousine intentionally ran over Tauanuu, who was pronounced dead about 1 a.m. at the scene, the Los Angeles Police Department said.

The incident, which police are investigating as a homicide, began shortly before 1 a.m. when two women began arguing in the 700 block of Ceres Avenue, the LAPD said.

The driver, Nancy Lekon, 43, got into the limousine and allegedly struck Tauanuu, then began driving northeast through skid row, police said.

The limousine, with the body wedged underneath, stopped near 5th and Los Angeles streets. Police said they arrested Lekon on suspicion of homicide.

It was unclear what sparked the argument, police said.

— Robert J. Lopez

Learn more about the demographics of the neighborhood on the Downtown Mapping L.A. page