Woman Being Chased Crashed and Killed

May 27, 2006

Los Angeles: A 22-year-old woman who was being chased and driving in a high rate of speed was killed when she ran a red light and crashed into several vehicles.

On May 27, 2006, at about 6:00 AM, the victim, Shayla Phillips of Pacoima, contacted the Los Angeles Police Department to report that she was being chased in her vehicle by a former girlfriend. Ms. Phillips was driving a black Lexus LX330 and gave her original location as Plummer and Woodley, located in the North Hills area. Ms. Phillips made several additional 9-1-1calls to report her location and gave additional information. She described the vehicle that was chasing her as a gray Chevrolet Trail Blazer.

A few minutes later, Ms. Phillips, travelling westbound on Roscoe Boulevard, traveled through the intersection of Reseda Boulevard against a red light and collided with a white Ford pickup truck being driven by an off-duty L.A. City firefighter. The force of the impact caused the pickup truck to flip over and crashed into a Volvo. The Lexus being driven by Ms. Phillips spun through the intersection and collided with a MTA bus.

The force of the impact with the bus caused massive trauma to Ms. Phillips and she was pronounced dead at the scene. The firefighter was taken to a local hospital where he remains in critical but stable condition. The bus driver, two passengers on the bus and the driver of the Volvo received minor injuries.

Detectives made a follow up investigation and a 17-year-old female from South Los Angeles has been arrested and booked for murder in connection with the death of Shayla Phillips. The vehicle believed driven by the 17-year-old is also in custody.

This investigation is being jointly conducted by Devonshire Area Homicide and Valley Traffic Division. Anyone who may have witnessed the collision or the events that preceded the collision are asked to contact Devonshire Detectives at 818-832-0532. On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at 1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855).