Mom of Toddler Fatally Shot Outside Police Station During Custody Exchange

Police car in a file photo. (Nick Starichenko/Shutterstock)

A man has been arrested and accused of shooting dead the mother of his 17-month-old child in front of a Southern California police station during a custody exchange, according to police.

Authorities said that the 28-year-old mother Brenda Renteria was killed when she approached the entrance to the lobby of the police station to take custody of her child at around 6 p.m. on April 7, according to a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s statement.

Authorities said the suspect fired at least one shot at her and the firearm, a shotgun, was recovered at the scene. The couple’s child and a relative who was with the woman were not harmed in the shooting, reported Fox News.

The suspect has been identified as 30-year-old Jacob Munn of Hawthorn.

“In general, the police departments are not aware of any custody exchanges,” Hawthorne Police Chief Michael Ishii told NBC 4. "Oftentimes, [the parents] make arrangements at local police stations or across the county. It’s a public space. We are not supervising them, not aware of them.

“We’re not sure if that was the case yesterday in this horrible and tragic incident,” Ishii added.

Officers responded to the scene upon heard gunshots, but the suspect was already driving away in his car. Authorities then located the vehicle, which had been abandoned, near the intersection of 133rd Street and Hawthorne Boulevard.

Police arrested the suspect after searching for him for several hours.

“Update: 187 suspect is now in custody; Southbound Hawthorne Blvd will remain closed, while equip is being removed. Thanks to the many surrounding agencies for their help,” police wrote on Twitter.

Munn was booked at Hawthorne Police Department and is being held on a $2 million bail, the statement said.

In another shooting earlier on April 7, a Hawthorne police officer was wounded by gunfire. The suspect was taken into custody, reported KTLA 5.

Anyone with information about the custody exchange incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at [phone].