Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance in locating three children taken at gunpoint.

On Saturday, July 26, 2003 at about 9:48 p.m., Harbor patrol officers responded to a radio call of a shooting investigation in the 600 block of West 23^rd Street. Upon arrival the officers were informed that Janice Gay Ashley a Black female went to the location and abducted her three children. The children had been placed in their grandmother’s custody since February 2003.

The preliminary investigation revealed that Ashley forced her entry into her mother’s home by firing two shots at the front door. Once inside the residence, an altercation ensued, at which time another shot was fired. No injuries were sustained as a result of the gunfire.

Ashley took her children at gunpoint to a waiting burgundy or red colored Buick Skylark or Toyota Corolla parked in the rear alley driven by a male Black.

The children are described as 7 year-old Alexus Williams a female Black, 6 year-old Ashton Williams a male Black and 2 year-old Armonnie Sesions a male Black.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Harbor Area Detectives at 310-548-2835. On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at the Detective Information Desk, 1-877-LAWFULL, 1-877-529-3855.

This press release was prepared by Public Information Officer Grace Brady, Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.

UPDATE: On July 27, 2003, at about 9:20 a.m., Janice Gay Ashley, 28 years-old and Wayne Nellums, 43 years-old were taken into custody in Bakersfield, California. Ashley and Nellums will be booked in Los Angeles for multiple counts of Child Kidnapping and Assault with a Deadly Weapon. The children were place in protective custody.