Bria Echols of Inglewood, CA, and her 1-year-old daughter are grieving after the tragic loss of father, boyfriend and Navy veteran Carol Flenoy, 28, who was fatally shot early Saturday, Jan. 28.
Echols and Flenoy drove home around 2 a.m. after a night out with friends and arrived at the 405 Freeway off-ramp at La Tijera Boulevard, KABC reported. Behind them was a vehicle with two men, who got out and approached Echols and Flenoy. When Echols looked up, her eyes met a man armed with a gun.
One of the suspects came to the passenger side and tried to open the door, but it was locked. The other approached the driver’s side.
The moment, Echols said, happened swiftly.
“Carl hit the gas,” she recalled. “I hear a shot, and then we hit head-on another vehicle. Immediately open the door and we start yelling for help. I look over and Carl is slumped. There’s blood everywhere. All over my phone and he’s not responding.”
Flenoy tried to flee from danger, but the suspect by the door fired and hit the Navy veteran.
“There was no reason for us to suspect that someone wanted to do this or follow us,” Echols said. “I believe it was a random act of violence or mistaken identity ’cause I just can’t see any cause to why anyone would want to do this to Carl.”
Witnesses said the perpetrators fled the scene in a burgundy sedan. Police couldn’t get the license plate since some security cameras weren’t operating, and arrests weren’t made. The experience shook Echols and made her fear simply living her life.
“It makes me scared,” she said. “A little bit afraid to leave my home. Not even a little bit. You can’t do something as simple as go on a date or wait or exit a freeway. I feel like a piece of me is gone. It hurts. Literally my protector. My best friend. It was to a point where we were finishing each other’s sentences.”
Echols made a GoFundMe to help her family during their time of grieving. The goal is $15,000, and she has raised $3,840.
Police are asking those with insightful information regarding that night to come forward by calling the California Highway Patrol at 1-800-835-5247.
