Three Transients Suspected of Fatally Stabbing Lynwood Woman

Three transients were in custody today in connection with the stabbing death of a 27-year-old Lynwood woman outside the Hollywood & Highland entertainment complex.

Christine Calderon was with a friend walking in the area about 8:10 p.m. Tuesday when they saw three men who were holding signs and panhandling, according to police and Lt. Joe Bale of the coroner's office.

Calderon and her friend took photos of the men with their cellphones as they were holding their signs. Calderon refused to give the men some money and she was stabbed in the upper torso, Los Angeles Police Department Officer Christopher No said.

Calderon died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Calderon's mother, Yolande Tassin, told KCAL9 she believes her daughter was a victim of hate crime.

"Christine's friend wasn't scratched, wasn't touched,'' Tassin told KCAL9. ``They went after my daughter because of how she looked.''

Tassin said her daughter came a long way in a short time once she decided what she wanted to do for a career.

"She wanted to be an engineer and her focus was on education,'' Tassin continued. "That was very important to her. She did nothing wrong. She was just taking pictures. I know Christi liked Hollywood.'' 

Tassin said her daughter was attacked in a heavily congested area.

"She was attacked in front of everybody,'' Tassin said. "People were just scattering every place. They couldn't believe what was happening.''

The suspects were arrested near the crime scene. The names of the men, in their late 20s or early 30s, were not released.

Anyone with information on the stabbing was urged to call detectives at
(213) 382-9470, or (877) LAPD-247.

By City News Service