Eldest sister of Serena and Venus Williams is shot dead

Serena and Venus Williams, who rose from the urban blight of south central Los Angeles to the top of the world's tennis circuit, were in mourning yesterday after an elder sister was shot dead close to where the girls were brought up.

Yetunde Price, 31, was shot early yesterday in Compton, a suburb of Los Angeles. Ms Price was taken to hospital but pronounced dead at about 6am.

Police surrounded a house where three people believed to have been involved in the shooting were said to be barricaded but the house was later found to be empty. No arrests were made. Ms Price, who had three children, was one of five Williams sisters who spent the early part of their lives in Compton, an area with a history of violence and gang disturbances.

The family later moved to Florida, where their parents focused on raising Venus and Serena to become tennis stars. The other three Williams sisters never made it to the same media limelight.

Sheriff's Deputy Richard Pena said Ms Price, a registered nurse with a degree in business management, was with a man in a sports utility vehicle when the two became involved in a confrontation.

He said the victim had been shot in the upper torso. Police were trying to determine why Ms Price and her companion were in the area as well as a motive for the shooting. "Right now there are more questions than answers," Mr Pena said.

Sheriff's Deputy Alba Yates said Ms Price was not a resident of Compton but lived in nearby Corona. Keven Davis, the Williams family lawyer, said Ms Price was the owner of a beauty salon and a personal assistant to her two sisters.

She said members of the family were heading for Los Angeles. "Obviously all family are very devastated and shocked by this news.''