18-year-old Southern California woman killed in Metro bus shooting

Loved ones are devastated after an 18-year-old woman was killed while riding a Metro Bus in Los Angeles.

On Aug. 22,  Anastashia Morales, 18, and her boyfriend were taking the bus home after enjoying a day at the beach. During the ride, a fight broke out between her boyfriend and a 16-year-old male passenger. 

When Morales tried to intervene with pepper spray, she was shot in the chest multiple times by the teen suspect. The shooter fled the scene before authorities arrived.

Police responded to the scene near Manchester and Belford Avenues in the Westchester neighborhood near Los Angeles International Airport. Morales was transported to the hospital where she died from her injuries. 

“It was such a senseless act of violence,” said Emily Garcia, Morales’ cousin. “She was scared and I’m pretty sure he was scared as well. She just didn’t know what to do and she had pepper spray on her.”

Garcia said her family is devastated over the Morales’ death. The 18-year-old was an Inglewood nursing student who had a bright future ahead of her.

“She was a ray of sunshine,” Garcia told KTLA’s Mary Beth McDade. “She was the sweetest young lady you’ll ever meet. From an early age, always so loving. She was a beautiful and loving soul.”

Family members said police have since caught the shooter, who was only identified as a 16-year-old boy due to his minor status. 

Loved ones said they want to see the teen charged as an adult for taking Morales’ life.

“He needs to pay for what he did,” Garcia said. “He took a young person’s life. Justice for her is for him to be behind bars for a very long time.”

A GoFundMe page to help Morales’ family with funeral expenses can be found here. A fundraiser selling food and drinks will be held on Sunday, Sept. 7 at 11611 Culver Blvd. in Culver City beginning at 10 a.m.

Garcia is survived by her mother, five siblings and her friends and family.