Three-year-old Stephanie Kuhen was killed on September 17, 1995, in Los Angeles’ Cypress Park neighborhood. Around 1:45 a.m., the family’s car — returning from a cookout — turned into an alley known as Avenida Asesinos, and members of the Avenues gang opened fire on the vehicle. Stephanie was fatally shot; her stepfather and younger brother were wounded.

The attack drew wide attention and prompted a law-enforcement response against street gangs. Several suspects were arrested; Anthony Gabriel Rodriguez, Manuel Rosales Jr., and Hugo David Gomez received lengthy prison terms. Another defendant, Augustin Lizama, later accepted a plea to assault. Defense attorneys suggested the family might have been familiar with the area and could have been there to buy drugs, but Stephanie’s mother, Robynn Kuhen, said they were merely trying to find a shortcut home. The shooting helped spur local and federal anti-gang initiatives, including the creation of the CLEAR program.

If anyone knew the Kuhen family, witnessed the shooting, or has information about Cypress Park gang activity from that period, please share what can help clarify what happened that night.