A story for every victim

911 call: 'It's the projects...a dude got shot'


Several weeks ago, Ramond Allen, a 36-year-old black man, was shot to death walking inside the Jordan Downs Housing Development in Watts.

Authorities said Allen was shot several times at about 4:20 a..m. on Saturday, April 24. He was taken to a hospital where he died 30 minutes later, according to coroner's records. Investigators described the assailant as an unknown black male and said they believe the shooting was gang-related.

The Homicide Report has acquired 911 audio from the Los Angeles Fire Department recounting the initial moments after Allen was shot.

On the tape, a woman tells the operator that she heard gunshots, looked out the window and saw a man on the ground. The operator asks for a description of the victim and the woman approaches Allen to give more details. She says, "He's not breathing. He's a older dude. He looks like he's in his 30s or 40s ... He's just laying on the ground, not breathing." People are heard yelling in the background.

Later she talks into the phone and says "Oh my God." The operator tells her help is on the way.

Although some readers may find the phone call disturbing, it provides a real-time account of what witnesses saw and experienced after the shooting. The Homicide Report seeks to provide readers with as much detail about homicides as possible and will continue to post 911 audio when authorities make it available.

To listen to the recording, use the player at the top of this post.

Two other black men, Chris Perkins, 48, and Maurio Proctor, 22, have been killed on the same block since January 2007. In all, Watts, which has about 41,000 residents, has had 50 homicides in that time period.

Police said no arrests have been made in connection with Allen’s death. However, detectives are working with the victim's family and interventionists from the Watts Gang Task Force and progress is being made in the case, said LAPD Det. Kerri Potter.

— Sarah Ardalani

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