Woman’s Slaying Baffles the Police : Murder: Victim’s childhood friend is seriously wounded. Investigators have no motive or suspects.

Police had few clues Monday in an unexplained attack in which an 18-year-old Crenshaw woman was shot to death and her childhood friend was seriously wounded as they returned Sunday evening to the slaying victim’s apartment after picking up a pizza.

The two women were shot at close range around 10:15 p.m. Sunday as they were getting out of a car to go into Yretta Tatum’s apartment, said Lt. Bruce E. Hagerty, assistant commanding officer of the South Bureau homicide unit.

Tatum, who lived in the 4300 block of Don Tomaso Drive, died at the scene, Hagerty said. Her friend, Keesha Norman, 18, of Los Angeles, was taken to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, where her condition was upgraded Monday from critical to serious, a hospital spokeswoman said. Police were waiting until her condition improves before questioning her, Hagerty said.

Both women were shot in the upper torso, but police declined to say how many shots were fired or what type of weapon was used.

The pair apparently had gone to a pizza parlor and were returning home when the shootings occurred, Hagerty said. A pizza was found in the box at the shooting scene, said Detective Phil Alaniz, one of the investigating officers.

Police have established no motive for the shootings and have identified no suspects, Hagerty said.

Police released few details about the two victims. They did confirm, however, that Tatum was the mother of a boy who is about 2 years old. The son, an older child and an adult were inside the apartment when Tatum was shot, Alaniz said. He said he did not know the relationship between the other child, the adult and Tatum.

Tatum’s neighbors said that the woman moved into the six-unit complex in May and mainly kept to herself, though she was frequently visited by Norman.

“I would always see them together playing with the little boy,” said Jas Percy, who lives above Tatum’s apartment. “She was a friendly person. When she moved in here in May she asked if this was a quiet building. I told her it was--and she seemed relieved.”

Until Norman is able to talk to police, Hagerty said, authorities are hoping the public will provide information about the case. The number to call is (213) 237-1310.

“This is a frustrating case because both girls seemed to be nice ladies,” Hagerty said.