Tauvaaga Judy Lauvai, 53

Tauvaaga “Judy” Lauvai, a 53-year-old woman of Samoan descent, died Saturday, June 16, after she was shot in the 22700 block of Island Avenue in Carson, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records. 

Lauvai, a native of Carson, lived in Tempe, Ariz., but she and her husband had returned to Carson to visit family over Father’s Day weekend, said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. Joe Mendoza.  

Her family had gathered on the front porch of her mother-in-law’s home shortly before 9 p.m. when a light-colored four-door sedan stopped in front of the house, Mendoza said. 

Someone inside the car began shooting toward the porch, and Lauvai was struck by the gunfire, he said. 

Investigators don’t have a motive for the shooting, “but we don’t believe she was the target. We believe this was just a random shooting,” Mendoza said. 

“These were just regular people who were celebrating an early Father’s Day. They are not gang-related. Yes, there are gangs in the area, but this is a nice neighborhood with well-kept homes. I’m thinking this lady never thought about gangs until this happened. It could happen to any of us.” 

Lauvai was taken to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 9:23 p.m., according to coroner’s records.

Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s  Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.  

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @latimeshomicide on Twitter.