The family of a mother of three assembled at the site where she and her companion were mortally wounded in a confrontation with Inglewood police, demanding authorities explain the circumstances of the shooting.
Family members identified the woman as Kisha Michael, 31.
"I have no clue why my sister is dead now," said Trisha Michael, the woman's identical twin.
Kisha Michael's two oldest sons, ages 9 and 11, joined other family members Monday afternoon on the sidewalk at the corner of Manchester Boulevard and Inglewood Avenue.
The shooting occurred early Sunday morning. According to a statement released by Inglewood police, officers responded at 3:11 a.m. to a call of an occupied vehicle that was stopped facing westbound in a traffic lane.
"Upon arrival, the officers observed the female occupant was in the possession of a firearm. The officers then took a position of cover and ordered the occupants to exit the vehicle. An officer involved shooting then occurred," police said in the statement.
From police scanner communications, it was apparent that the shooting occurred an hour after the initial response. Police declined to comment on what transpired during that hour.
At the time of Michael's death, there was an outstanding bench warrant for her arrest. She had been on probation for a theft case last year, and the warrant was issued on Feb. 11 after she failed to appear to provide evidence of CalTrans work service, according to Los Angeles Superior Court records.
Friends said she had moved to Las Vegas last year after separating from her husband, but had returned to Inglewood in the last month to visit, and was staying with her sister.
"She was a good mother," her sister said.
This past weekend, Kisha Michael had asked Sherry Cole to care for her children so she could have a weekend off, Cole said. As she checked her phone later, she discovered Michael had tried to call her three times at 2:38 a.m. Sunday.
Michael's mother, Rosalinda Reyes Lopez, said she learned of her daughter's death when police came to her Carson home late Wednesday afternoon. She said she was told only that her daughter was found dead in her car, and that additional information could not be provided because the case was under investigation.
"Even though she may have had a gun, that does not mean she was a threat to officers," said Najee Ali, a community activist who helped organize the Monday afternoon gathering.
Ali also questioned the circumstances of the fatal shooting of Trisha's companion, who was not described as armed in the police statement.
During police radio communications following the gunfire, one officer can be heard saying the woman was holding a gun in her hand.
Friends and family of Kisha expressed disbelief and said they could not imagine why she would have a firearm.
They speculated that Kisha Michael may have been unconscious when police approached.
