$25,000 Reward Offered in Killing of Activist

The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday authorized a $25,000 reward for information leading to the identification and arrest of the killer or killers of a New York political activist who moved to Los Angeles earlier this year.

Tamu Bess, 39, and another woman were attacked Aug. 1 as they sat in a car parked in the driveway of a residence in the Mid-City area.

Witnesses said a man walked up to the open driver’s door and demanded the women’s purses. Bess’ companion, who was in the driver’s seat, jerked forward to grab a noise device on her key chain and the gunman fired, striking Bess once in the upper body, Detective Fred Miller said. She died at the scene.