Disclaimer: This article contains mentions of murder. Reader discretion is advised.
ID’s Death by Fame chronicles the tragic demise of Judging Amy actress Tara Correa-McMullen, who died in a gang-violence incident in 2005. The episode titled “A Rising Star Shot Down” will air on the network this Monday, January 22, 2024, at 9 p.m. ET.
An official synopsis for the upcoming episode states, “Tara Correa-McMullen is only 15 when she rises from the tough streets of LA to star alongside some of Hollywood’s biggest stars; a romance with the wrong person takes her out of the spotlight forever.”
The Los Angeles Times reported that Tara Correa-McMullen was shot to death amid gang violence. The incident occurred on the evening of October 21, 2005, in front of an apartment complex in Inglewood. The 16-year-old was hanging out with friends. She suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Two men were also wounded but survived.
Correa-McMullen played a former gang member in the TV show Judging Amy in a recurring role. She also appeared in the movie Rebound.
How did Tara Correa-McMullen die?
Los Angeles Times reported that Inglewood police confirmed Tara Correa-McMullen was shot several times in the torso. The shooting occurred while she was standing outside an apartment complex on East Plymouth Street at about 5:45 p.m. on October 21, 2005. Two men also suffered gunshot wounds but survived. The 16-year-old was reportedly hit five times and died at a hospital about three hours later.
Sergeant Steve Overly said, “Not that she [Correa-McMullen] is a gang member, but she may have just been at the wrong place at the wrong time.” Police described it as a “walk-up gang-related shooting.”
The outlet reported that Tara Correa-McMullen grew up on the East Coast. She moved to Northern California in 1996 with her mother and sister. Her family then moved to Venice, where Correa-McMullen sang in the Venice High School choir. She also participated in several local dance groups.
Describing their daughter, Correa-McMullen’s parents, Devora Correa and Thomas McMullen said in their eulogy, “The girl stood out in a crowd. She had a special energy and an infectious personality.” They further added how “she didn’t judge anyone whether they were a grip or a caterer, it didn’t matter to her. She made friends with everyone at every level.”
Was Tara Correa-McMullen’s killer caught?
In March 2006, authorities charged a suspected gang member, Damien Watts, in connection with the gang-related shooting that claimed teen actress Tara Correa-McMullen’s life. At the time, Watts was already in custody for a separate shooting-related case. He faced one count of murder for Correa-McMullen’s death and two counts of attempted murder for injuring two other men.
According to Today, prosecutors alleged that Watts opened fire at a group of people, killing Correa-McMullen while injuring others. A day before the incident, Watts also fatally shot 31-year-old Thomas Sanders while he was loading laundry into a car.
Casetext further reported that a jury convicted Damien Watts of two counts of first-degree murder in January 2009. The charges stemmed from the shooting deaths of Tara Correa-McMullen and Thomas Sanders. Other charges included one count of shooting at an inhabited dwelling and one count of felon in possession of a firearm, among other charges.
The jury also convicted Watts of multiple gang allegations and firearm allegations, as well as the special circumstance allegation of multiple murders. These charges reportedly stemmed from three shootings that occurred over two days. In February 2009, 23-year-old Watts received consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole, per Hindustan Times.
Tara Correa-McMullen shooting death will feature on ID’s Death by Fame episode this Monday, January 22, 2024.
