Woman in Wheelchair Fatally Stabs Teen

April 16, 2009

Los Angeles:  A wheelchair-bound woman fatally stabbed a teenager yesterday evening in South Los Angeles over a dispute about a man.

At around 4:30 p.m., 16-year-old Yolanda Kennard and her mother were standing on a sidewalk talking with a group of family members near Santa Rosalia Drive and Buckingham Road.  Kennard walked up to a woman in a wheelchair identified as 30-year-old Treauna Turner and was engaged in a conversation.  Turner became angry, pulled out a knife and brutally stabbed Kennard in the chest.  She attempted to stab the teen a second time and missed, detectives said.  When Kennard’s mother rushed to her aid, another woman who police identified as 54-year-old Pamela Johnson emerged from the group and stabbed her in the head.  Several bystanders intervened and held Turner until the police arrived.  

Paramedics rushed Kennard to UCLA Medical Center where she later died.  Kennard’s mother was treated and released at a local hospital.

Both suspects were arrested and taken into custody at the scene.  Turner was booked for murder and is being held in lieu of $1 million bail.  Johnson was booked for attempted murder.  Her bail amount is set at $500,000.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Southwest Homicide Detectives at 213-485-1383.  During off-hours, calls may be directed to a 24-hour toll-free number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (527-3247).  Callers may also text “Crimes” with a cell phone or log on to www.lapdonline.org and click on Web tips. When using a cell phone, all messages should begin with “LAPD.”  Tipsters may remain anonymous.