Courtney Aoki -- the 20-year-old woman who was identified by police as the first victim in an Orange County shooting spree that left a total of four dead including the gunman -- was pregnant, her best friend told NBC4 on Friday.
Danni Wood said that Aoki had just found out she was going to be a mother.
Known as "Kitty Katana" on her Facebook page, Aoki was supposed to go to the beach with friends on Tuesday. That's when 20-year-old Ali Syed allegedly gunned her down in his Ladera Ranch home, according to police.
He then went on to kill two others before taking his own life, police said.
"My 'baby sister' was an escort, and I have a feeling that he basically called her up for a job, and that's what happened," Wood said.
"We know that she wasn't an escort. That's wrong," said Christy Aoki, Courtney Aoki's sister.
Christy Aoki said her sister had just started going to school for massage therapy, and was in the process of moving out with a male friend.
Local
Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, COVID, cost of living and more. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news.
She doesn't believe her sister knew the shooter, but she admits Courtney Aoki hung out with the wrong crowd.
"Our family will always know Courtney was a good, and honest, and true person and that she would never, ever think of doing anything such as escorting," Christy Aoki said.
But NBC4 News found pictures of Courtney Aoki on an escorting service website. A profile describes her as a very classy and discrete private dancer available in the OC and LA area. She was also available for all night parties, at a price.
Wood said Aoki started escorting after she lost her job at a fast-food chain at the end of last year.
Investigators have still not released a motive in the shooting.
