17-year-old Calif. mom shot dead, cops seeking brother

OAKLAND, Calif. – Police are seeking the younger brother of a 17-year-old mother whose family claims she was shot dead over a dispute about laundry in an Oakland apartment on Thursday, CBS San Francisco reports.

Family members said Justice Toliver, the mother of a young girl, was shot and killed by her 14-year-old brother around 12:15 p.m. in the apartment the siblings shared with their grandmother.

“They were good kids. They were just brothers and sisters arguing,” said Mario Toliver Sr., father to Justice and her brother.

The brother and sister were arguing over the way Justice did her brother’s laundry, according to the family.

Police received a call reporting the shooting at 12:17 p.m. and the responding officers found Justice Toliver suffering from a gunshot wound. She was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics, authorities said.

Justice was going back to school and raising a little girl, family members said.

“She’s going to be deeply missed, because she was a very loving young lady,” said grandmother Wanda Brown. “My great-granddaughter, her daughter… is going to miss her mother.”

Police conducted a preliminary investigation into the incident and have announced that the suspect is related to the victim, but officers would not release a name. Police also said they do not yet have a motive for the shooting, and are seeking to speak with Justice's 14-year-old brother.

Mario Toliver Sr. implored his son to turn himself over to authorities on Thursday night. “Please call me son, I love you, we all love you,” he said. “We know it was an accident, a mistake, s*** happens. You’re 14, you’ve got a long life ahead of you.”