[dennisw]

Melvin and her boyfriend, both originally from central California, were strolling along McCadden Place shortly after 10 p.m. Sunday when a man -- described by police as African American and in his mid-20's -- walked up behind Melvin and shot her once in the head before jumping into the driver's seat of a dark sedan. She was pronounced dead at the scene. 

Forget the American part. The killer is from Africa. He came all the way over to America to spend his next 50 years in prison. No dearth penalty in California

[dennisw]

http://laist.com/2015/07/25/shotgun_killing_suspect_arrested.php

The killing was originally thought to be a random act of violence but investigators now believe Melvin was targeted by Obioha due to a financial dispute. According to KFI AM 640, Obioha had hired Melvin to "produce online promotions for a security or clothing business." Just days before the killing, Melvin threatened to take Obioha to small claims court over a check he either bounced or canceled. The check was only for a few hundred dollars.

According to her LinkedIn, Melvin was the head of a social media company. Obioha lists himself as the head of a clothing company called Hoodfellas on his Facebook page, and is also the security guard at a pot dispensary. Police raided both the clothing store and the pot shop:

The suspected killer

[BenLurkin]

13 people convicted of murder have been executed in California following the 1976 U.S. Supreme Court decision of Gregg v. Georgia. The first two executions were by gas chamber; all subsequent executions were by lethal injection.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_California#Executions_after_1976