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17-Year-Old Found Fatally Shot in Crashed Car in San Pedro

A 17-year-old mother was found fatally shot in a crashed car early Monday morning in San Pedro.

The victim has been identified as Kayla Yolanda Huerta, who was a little under two months shy of her 18th birthday, her family and the Los Angeles County Coroner's office confirmed. 

Huerta had a three-year-old daughter named Madeline. 

"How am I going to tell my great granddaughter her mommy is gone because she’s always asking for her?" said the victim's grandmother. 

Police received a call at 2:30 a.m. regarding a crash on West Sepulveda Street and North Cabrillo Avenue. 

Once officers arrived, they found the victim dead inside the car with multiple gunshot wounds. 

Huerta's family said that no one in the family knew she had gone out that night. Huerta had celebrated Father's Day at her mother's house where she lived with her daughter. Huerta's grandmother said that she told her she was staying in for the night. 

The car had hit a cinder block wall that led up to a driveway between an apartment complex and a single family home, according to LAPD Capt. Gisselle Espinoza. 

It is unknown whether the victim was driving the vehicle, but police believe that she was shot while inside the sedan. 

The shooter was described only as a man, police said. It is unclear if the shooting was gang-related.  

"There's [been] three, four shootings in the last couple weeks in San Pedro," said San Pedro resident, Gary Mikaelian. "I mean, I like to walk on the street. I don't want to be scared of walking in the street." 

Detectives are currently canvassing for security camera footage in the area. 

Editor's Note: Police earlier incorrectly stated the victim's age. The article has been updated to reflect the new information. 

NBC4's Ted Chen contributed to this report.   

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