Ebony Alert Issued for Missing South LA Teen Ty’Jhaya Richmond

An Ebony Alert has been issued for 14-year-old Ty’Jhaya Richmond who went missing from South Los Angeles last week, according to authorities.

Richmond was last seen around 1 a.m. on Friday in the area of 88th Street and Budlong Avenue, the Los Angeles Police Department reported. She is described as a Black female standing 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing approximately 100 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

The California Statewide Ebony Alert Program, which became law in 2024 through Senate Bill 673, specifically notifies the public of missing Black youth and women between the ages of 12 and 25. The program was created to address racial disparities in missing persons cases, as Black youth account for 38% of missing persons cases, yet these cases often receive less media attention according to analysts.

This alert system is particularly significant for Inglewood and Compton communities, which have historically advocated for greater attention to missing persons cases involving young people of color.

Anyone with information about Richmond or her whereabouts is urged to call the LAPD’s Hollenbeck station at 323-342-4191, or during non-business hours or weekends, at 877-527-3247. Those who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org.

This story includes information from City News Service.