Clayton Mickel Shuford, 18

June 5, 2014

Clayton Mickel Shuford, an 18-year-old black man, was shot and killed Thursday, June 5, near South Vermont Avenue and West 91st Street in Westmont, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

Deputies responded to a call of a gunshot victim in the area about 5:30 a.m., said Lt. Eddie Hernandez with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Deputies found Shuford in a dark-colored Ford Mustang with gunshot wounds.

The car was seen going eastbound on West 91st Street before colliding with the center median on South Vermont Avenue. Witnesses heard loud arguing in the area followed by multiple gunshots, Hernandez said.

Shuford was pronounced dead at 5:49 a.m., said Ed Winter, a coroner’s spokesman.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Nicole Santa Cruz

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11 reader comments

2 Timothy 3:13" The world will wax more and more evil in the last days." - Paul -------True transformation, true repentence can only come from and through Christ. World peace is an oxymoron as it implies that man is control of his own destiny, as he can barely balance his own checkbook. Nothing can be further from the truth, as lack and the associated evil that comes with it, is symptomatic of the world's rejection of God. We sit in wait, for other men to solve our problems, and to prosper us...a trick of the enemy, as he is the God of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4) as Jesus warned. Satan wins if we allow him to distract us from our purpose, and our inheritance. If the world, and the black community continues to reject Christ and the promise, we will continue in poverty and crime which leads to more bondage. Christ is the cure....

— Vincent Williams June 26, 2014 at 10:05 p.m.

This is only blocks from where I work. I know the area is overwhelmingly crime ridden and it is sad to see such young people murdering each other day in and day out. I know the economics are harsh and the allocation of funds doesn't see this side out town fairly but good grief. There is literally nothing for young people to do in this area; nothing positive, inspiring, or motivating. The only 'restaurant' I see is McDonald's, dollar Chinese food, and Tam's. No movies, no mall, no bowling alley, no arcade, no gym, no college, not even a boys and girls club. The schools look depressing (even the new ones they just built within the last few years that look like small versions of prisons) and the parks are suspect to say the least. No wonder gang life is appealing, enticing even. But then, you don't see this stuff going on in Malibu or Beverly Hills...

Yes, many of the homes are broken but at what point does the community stand up and vote out the people who make promise after promise and don't deliver? When do people start caring?! I know when I worked in other areas, people cared about their children, their community, and actually other people. I know - it's the geographical/low socioeconomic area. I know - people aren't used to this or used to that, they weren't taught. But somehow I have to know that people understand right and wrong on some level so they know that killing someone else just because they don't agree with you is wrong. Insane.

I guess I have just seen this go on and on for so long, it gets frustrating. You never get used to it. You never get used to kids under 18 having to be out at that time of the night for anything. I am just ranting.

Rest in peace young man and my condolences to his family and friends.

— Anonymous June 16, 2014 at 4:09 p.m.