A тιԍнт-knit neighborhood in South Los Angeles is mourning the death of a 4-month-old baby girl whose body was discovered in a garbage bin late Monday night. The infant, identified by family members as Luna, was found near Holmes Avenue Elementary School, leaving residents and visitors deeply affected by the tragedy.

Around 10:30 p.m. on Monday, a neighbor discarding trash in the 5200 block of Alba Street noticed something inside a bin. What first appeared to be a doll turned out to be the unresponsive child. Los Angeles Fire Department personnel responded quickly and transported the baby to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced ᴅᴇᴀᴅ. The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating the death as a homicide.

Takiyah Babers, the 19-year-old biological mother of the child, was taken into custody at the scene. She remains held on $2 million bail. According to accounts from neighbors and relatives, Babers had moved into the neighborhood roughly four months earlier. Luna had been living with Babers’ foster parents before being returned to her mother’s care. On Sunday evening, the baby’s grandmother, Laura Lacey, dropped Luna off with Babers. The following morning, after learning of the discovery, family members rushed to the area and soon received confirmation of the child’s death.

The neighborhood responded with an outpouring of sorrow. Residents and people from outside the community began gathering at the site, leaving flowers, gifts, and lighting candles to create a makeshift memorial. Neighbor Meme Johnson said she was stunned by the number of strangers who arrived simply to pay their respects because the victim was a baby. Johnson described the area as family-oriented and said the incident left many parents and caregivers shaken, particularly those with young children of their own. “I’ve never seen this in real life,” she told reporters.

Rudolph Bent, a longtime maintenance worker at the property, witnessed the arrest. He said officers spent more than half an hour persuading Babers to leave her apartment before taking her into custody. Both Bent and Johnson expressed regret that safer alternatives for placing a child in protective care—such as a nearby fire station less than a mile away—existed but were not used. Neighbors also noted that some had observed Babers walking and speaking to herself in the days leading up to the incident.

Luna’s family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral expenses. In their statement, relatives described the loss of their granddaughter as an unimaginable tragedy and asked for support as they prepare to lay her to rest. A candlelight vigil was later held at the site as the community continued to process the events.

Authorities have not publicly released a detailed cause of death. The investigation remains active, and prosecutors are expected to review the case for formal charges. In the meantime, the memorial continues to draw people who wish to honor the brief life of the infant and express solidarity with those left behind.

Sources : Los Angeles Magazine, ABC7 Los Angeles, NBC Los Angeles.