Dozens of balloons were released on the Manhattan Beach Pier Wednesday for 19-year-old Meah Bordenave-Jenkins, one of the two people killed at a Fourth of July celebration in Compton.
Bordenave-Jenkins, a nursing student entering her sophomore year at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, was killed when gunfire broke out at a community block party on West Laurel Street on Saturday.
“She knew exactly what she wanted to do at a very young age and was preparing herself to do great things in life,” her mother, Ebone Jenkins said.
Nijel Bordenave, Bordenave-Jenkins’ father, described her as a funny person, known for her love for people and her bright smile.
The 19-year-old grew up in Inglewood and was visiting her grandmother who still lives there. Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts also attended Wednesday night’s memorial.
“The grandmother goes to our senior center, so I see her all the time, and they talk about her all the time,” Butts said. “Sweet, lovely, had the world ahead of her.”
The event was organized by Bordenave-Jenkins’ sister, Kayla, who says she believes the Fourth of July block party should have been more secure. According to family, a man with a gun opened fire at the celebration with children and families around.
“Should have been permitted,” she said. “There were a lot of things wrong with how that event was put together.”
She and the rest of her family say they now are left to mourn Bordenave-Jenkins and the life that she was meant to live.
“My daughter wasn’t just ordinary. She was extraordinary,” Ebone Jenkins said. “And so for that person that’s guilty for doing what you did to my daughter, you don’t know what you have done.”
One of the victims was a community leader while another was a nursing student. Alex Rozier reports for the NBC4 News at 4 p.m. on Monday, July 6, 2026.
Eric Washington, a community activist, was also killed in Saturday night’s shooting. His family said he was shot while trying to deescalate a conflict at the party.
As of Wednesday night, no arrests have been made.