Fourth of July Block Party Shooting Kills Nursing Student
Fourth of July Shooting Kills Nursing Student
A block party celebration ended in tragedy when gunfire broke out on West Laurel Street — now the accused shooter faces the possibility of life behind bars.
Charged · Not Guilty Plea- Suspect
- Antoine Jones, 54, aka “Twinal”
- Charges
- Murder, 2x Attempted Murder, Felon w/ Firearm
- Bail
- $5,000,000+
- Next Hearing
- July 29 — Compton Courthouse
- Max Sentence
- 117 years to life
A Fourth of July celebration in Compton turned deadly this year when a 54-year-old man allegedly opened fire on a crowd of partygoers, killing a 19-year-old nursing student and seriously wounding two teenagers. The suspect has since been formally charged and arraigned, with prosecutors seeking a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Here’s everything currently known about the case, the victims, and what happens next in court.
What Happened on July 4
According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, the shooting took place at roughly 11:20 p.m. on July 4 at an apartment complex on West Laurel Street in Compton, where residents had gathered for a holiday block party. Gunfire broke out during the celebration, striking three people.
Nineteen-year-old Meah Bordenave-Jenkins, a nursing student at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, was killed at the scene. Two teenagers, ages 15 and 18, were also shot and seriously injured but survived.
Investigators say the man now charged in the shooting personally fired the weapon during the attack.
Who Is the Suspect?
The man charged in connection with the shooting is Antoine Jones, 54, of Compton, also known by the alias “Twinal.” Jones faces:
- One felony count of first-degree murder
- Two felony counts of attempted murder
- One felony count of possession of a firearm by a felon
Prosecutors also allege a sentencing enhancement for personal and intentional discharge of a handgun during the crime. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced the charges at a news conference, calling the shooting a senseless act that shattered a community celebration and devastated multiple families.
Arraignment and Court Proceedings
Jones was arraigned in a Compton courtroom, where he pleaded not guilty to all charges. He remains in custody on bail set at just over $5 million. A preliminary hearing setting and bail review has been scheduled for July 29 at the Compton Courthouse.
If convicted on all counts as charged, Jones faces a potential sentence of up to 117 years to life in state prison. The case is being handled by the Gang Homicide Division of the LA County District Attorney’s Office.
The Victims
Meah Bordenave-Jenkins was remembered by her family as intelligent, compassionate, and driven — she was reportedly pursuing a nursing career focused on neonatal trauma care because she wanted to help protect vulnerable newborns. Her death has been described by officials as a profound loss to both her family and the broader Compton community.
The two surviving teenage victims, ages 15 and 18, were treated for their injuries and are expected to recover.
A Second, Unrelated Shooting the Same Night
Compton investigators are also working a separate, apparently unrelated homicide from the same holiday night. A 37-year-old man, identified as Eric Washington — a former field deputy for a state assemblymember and a community youth advocate — was shot and killed at a different Fourth of July gathering less than an hour after the Laurel Street shooting.
Authorities say the two shootings do not appear to be connected, though both remain under active investigation. A separate victim, identified as Thaddeus Clark, was also shot and killed in a gathering nearby around the same time frame. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is still seeking public assistance to identify a suspect in that case and is asking anyone with information to come forward.
Why This Case Matters
Fourth of July shootings tend to spike nationally due to large public gatherings, alcohol consumption, and, in some areas, illegal firearm discharge tied to holiday celebrations. This case has drawn particular attention because of the victim’s age, her career aspirations in healthcare, and the fact that multiple, apparently unconnected shootings occurred in the same Compton neighborhood within the same hour.
The case also highlights ongoing concerns from LA County officials about gun violence at community gatherings, with the DA’s office emphasizing victim support services as the prosecution moves forward.
What Happens Next
The next major court date is July 29, when a Compton judge will set a preliminary hearing and conduct a bail review. Prosecutors will need to establish sufficient evidence at the preliminary hearing for the case to proceed to trial. We’ll continue to update this post as the case develops.
This post is based on statements from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and local law enforcement. Charges are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
- FOX 11 Los Angeles Man scheduled for arraignment on murder charges
- CBS Los Angeles Man arrested for July 4th deadly shooting, second suspect sought
- MyNewsLA — Arraignment Report Suspect due in court in Fourth of July Compton shooting
- MyNewsLA — Not Guilty Plea Report Man pleads not guilty in deadly 4th of July Compton shooting
- Palisades News Compton man charged with murder after July 4th block party shooting
- Yo! Venice Compton man charged with murder after July 4th block party shooting
- 2 Urban Girls Compton man charged with teen’s shooting death at 4th of July party
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