Woman killed in West Phoenix illegal party shooting identified; mother speaks out

Police officials in Phoenix have identified an 18-year-old woman who was shot and killed during an illegal party at a vacant warehouse.

According to police, the shooting happened near 35th Avenue and Earll Drive on Nov. 21. Officers responded to reports of a shooting there, and found a woman with a gunshot wound. She later died at the hospital. Police say four other people with gunshot wounds arrived at different medical facilities.

"We [were] cool. Having fun and then, 'Boop boop boop boop boop," Starlenna Williams said, in a report aired by FOX 10 on Nov. 21. Other witnesses say they heard more than 20 shots.

The family of the victim, identified as Lalaina Baldison, is completely devastated.

"It’s just senseless. It’s all senseless. They’re too young. She had her whole life ahead of her," said Annalisa Hernandez, the mother of Lalaina. "She's a good girl. She just got her first job at Walmart a few months ago," said Annalisa. "She was doing so good. Managing her money."

Hernandez said she had a bad feeling after her daughter didn't answer her phone calls early Saturday morning. When the late afternoon came around, she went to Phoenix Police.

"They told me a detective was coming to talk to me from the hospital, so I knew something was bad," Annalisa recounted. "She came out and she told me that she had a tattoo and piercings, and it was her and she didn't make it."

Annalisa said her daughter met some friends who introduced her to these parties. While she warned her daughter to not go to these parties, especially because they were all word-of-mouth gatherings that were shared through Snapchat an hour before. In particular, the party at the center of the shooting began at 2:30 a.m.

"These promoters are promoting these kids to go to these parties. It’s got to stop because it’s not safe. They're not safe," said Annalisa.

Annalisa described Lalaina as a good girl who was working on getting her GED and become a paramedic. 

"She's not just some teenage girl that killed to a party, but she's my daughter, and she might not mean anything to anyone who is watching this, but she meant everything to me and my family," said Annalisa. "I had her for 18 years, and I don't know how I will live without her."'

Annalisa said all she wants is justice, and for the person who took her daughter's life to be held responsible.

"I'm not going to stop until we find out who did this. I’m a mother and I’m angry. That’s the only thing that’s going to get me through until I figure out who did this to her," said Annalisa.

Anyone with information should call Phoenix Police at 602-262-6151.

Online: www.gofundme.com/f/lalaina-baldison

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