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Mother shot and killed in front of 12-year-old after they laughed at gunman

Posted at 4:37 PM, Apr 03, 2015
and last updated 2015-04-03 16:43:18-04

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — A woman was shot to death in Los Angeles Thursday afternoon after her and her son apparently laughed at the gunman.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department tells KTLA that Denise Chiffon Berry, 44, was driving with her son when the two saw someone in another vehicle with their feet hanging out the window.  The two laughed about it and the boy made eye contact with the suspect, KTLA reports.

Shortly after, officials say the suspect's vehicle started tailing Berry's; she later stopped by a police officer and reported that she was being followed.  The officer told her to pull in front of him so he could help, and officials say the gunman then got out of the car and opened fire with two handguns, killing Berry and wounding her son.

The officer shot and killed the suspect, who was identified by KTLA as 38-year-old Robert Washington.

The driver and another passenger in Washington's vehicle were arrested on other charges, KTLA reports.

Despite his wounds, Berry's son was able to run away from the shooter and talked to investigators before going into surgery, officials told KTLA.