US gangs of women participate in street scuffle

A pregnant woman was killed and two other people were injured during a planned street fight involving as many as 30 young women.

Photo: US gangs of women participate in street scuffle

The driver of the car, Unique Bishop, 21, fled after Monday afternoon's fight but later turned herself in to authorities and was booked for investigation of murder, police said. She was being held on $1 million (690,000 EUR) bail.

"It was totally an intentional act to kill the woman. It was the driver's way of settling the dispute. It was a horrific act," said LAPD Deputy Chief Charlie Beck.

It was not immediately known if Bishop had obtained an attorney.

Shontae Treniece Blanche, 22, was killed in the confrontation, police said Tuesday. She was eight months pregnant.

One of the other victims was in critical condition and was expected to lose her leg, police said. The names of the two injured women were not released.

Police said the cause of the dispute is unclear, but that it was was part of a planned confrontation between two groups of women in their early 20s. Witnesses told police they saw women shouting at each other and fighting at a discount store parking lot. The fight then moved onto the street and into a gas station.

Dozens gathered at the gas station and watched as Bishop got into her car and drove it into the group, investigators said. One of the victims was pinned against another car, police said.

"We have seen women around gangs before, but we haven't seen anything like this event before," said police Cmdr. Pat Gannon.