Anthony Smallwood, 40

Sept. 1, 2013

Anthony Smallwood, a 40-year-old black man, was fatally shot Sunday, Sept. 1 in the 400 block of West 50th Street in Vermont Square, according to L.A. County coroner’s records.

Smallwood, 40, was involved in a traffic accident with Gilbert Ralph Montano, 24, shortly before 5 a.m. while the men were driving west on 50th Street, said LAPD Det. Supervisor Chris Barling.

The two cut each other off and chased each other, then stopped near Figueroa Street to get out of their vehicles and talk about the accident, Barling said.

A man then walked up to the two, asked where they were from and shot them, Barling said. The man then fled.

Smallwood was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:06 a.m., said coroner’s spokesman Ed Winter.

Montano also died at the scene.

A suspect in the slayings, Derrick Antonio Henry, was arrested Sept. 4 on suspicion of murder, Barling said.

He is being held without bail, according to L.A. County Sheriff’s Department records.

Barling said investigators believe that Henry is a gang member but Smallwood and Montano are not.

Anyone with information can call the criminal gang homicide division at (213) 485-1383. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Nicole Santa Cruz

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33 reader comments

Three years and one day to the date of your death anniversary justice finally came down the pipeline. 1st Degree Murder. He will not see the light of day until he is a very old man (if he survive). An opportunity he stole away from Anthony for street bragging rights. The same streets he will not be able to visit.

I'm grateful to the jurors for seeing past the lies in order to convict him. Thank you to the prosecuting team and 77th police department for mapping out the case and showing compassion and consideration to the family.

Although I can't go over any major details about the trail, I do want to mentioned that Anthony wasn't racing and cutting off anyone as mentioned in the article. They cut him off. He sat in his car the entire time up to his death.-Dorothy

— Dorothy Sept. 3, 2016 at 12:09 a.m.

Wow, I guess the evidence and his actual confession they have on Derrick wasn't mentioned to you as he wrote his I'm innocent letters, begged for money on his books and made those collect phone calls to you. He is lying Boo. I will accept he wasn't a gangsta prior to the killing but I'm sure he is one now and probably not the only one in your family especially from that area. Regardless, some people do work that time in the morning, as well as some people head out to the gym at that time of the morning before church on a Sunday which is what Anthony was doing. Not everyone that live in that area is about that street life and rolling with hoes. I accept that you and the rest of your family will be in denial for years to come but it was his choice to surrender over his life to the streets.

I have thugs in my family that are very sweet and loving to me but what I hear what they do with their homeboys is an entire different story. I don't know them like that but it doesn't mean they don't do things that are questionable and enjoy killing, robbing and hurting folks. They just don't bring that to family dinners.

Regardless, this is the wrong place to voice your insenstivie concerns about your family member. Why don't you build a page on facebook listing why Derrick is so innocent?

— Dorothy Nov. 3, 2013 at 10:14 a.m.

First off the person that is in custody is my one of my family members and he would never do anything like this. The LAPD has the wrong person. Im sorry to here about your loses but Im not about to sit around and let people talk bad about him because he would never hurt another person. Plus his not a gang member. Thats the thing how do the police no what was said and at 5am it aint nothing but prostitutes up .... so that whole road rage sh*t is bullsh*t. If you wasnt there dont try and make a story that never happen.
If they had the evidence he would of been charged by now but they need to get it together and let my family go because if they knew who killed these two people for a FACT he would of been gone but people on some (he say she say) But NO EVIDENCE!

— HisFirstLady7 Oct. 21, 2013 at 1:25 p.m.

@Brown Texas. What a immature statement! Rather they cut each other off, did a hit and run or argued on the streets. Both did not deserve to die by the hands of a ignorant gang banging. Neither belong to a gang or even attempt to be part of that lifestyle. Lets get real here, if we followed your silly thinking half of the people in America will be dead. I am sure you would have died a million times over.

Our family is devasted from the lost of Anthony and his poor daughter do not know how to react to his lost. I am sure Mr. Montano's family suffered a great lost as well. I will be praying for them since they lost someone so young. I agree with C. Rodriguez in regards to remembering Anthony. I will remember his joy of sports, working out, loud laughter, great appetite, dominoe playing, NFL season picks and his overall upbeat spirit. Anthony's death did not match his daily lifestyle. He was actually up early on his way to the gym so he can attend 8 a.m. church service and the accident happen. Were both of the drivers upset? Most likely. Most people are generally upset when they get into a car accident its human nature. To suggest that they both deserved to die because of it is ridiculous thinking and I feel sorry for anyone that ever know you and exposed to your ignorant. RIP Anthony and Gilbert. I hope the Smallwood and the Montano family can get together to insure we both received justice.

— Dorothy Sept. 14, 2013 at 9:44 p.m.

The Homicide Report

Anthony Smallwood, 40

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