The Homicide Report

A story for every victim

The Homicide Report

Died on
Jan. 25, 2016

Hyde Park
West 54th Street & 9th Avenue
Age: 21
Gender: Male
Cause: Gunshot
Race/Ethnicity: Black
Agency: LAPD

Gerrik Mykul Thomas, 21

By Nicole Santa Cruz

Jan. 28, 2016

Gerrik Thomas, a 21-year-old black man, was shot and killed Monday Jan. 25 near West 54th Street and 9th Avenue in Hyde Park, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

About 6:30 p.m., Thomas was standing on the southwest corner of West 54th and 9th Avenue when a sedan pulled up, said LAPD Det. Dave Garrido. A person got out of the car, walked up to Thomas and opened fire, Garrido said.

The gunman then got back into the car, initially described as a white sedan, and drove away. Thomas was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead at 7:10 p.m., according to coroner’s records.

Anyone with information is asked to call LAPD’s Criminal Gang Homicide Division at (323) 786-5113. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @nicolesantacruz and @latimeshomicide on Twitter.

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17 reader comments

I love you cousin and I miss you I’m hurt that I didn’t get to see you on your last years but I’m glade I have memories to remember you by I remember your smile you was always smiling when I came around all the family moments I miss those I just wish I could see you one more time talk to you I wish your funeral wasn’t the list time I seen you I wish we talked more when we got older. I remember playing football with you at your house and I thought you broke my toe I was crying my eyes out.lol you was the best cousin ever I can’t express how much I loved you and now I can’t even see you I’ll always have you in my heart but nothings like talking and seeing your family ❤️💔
I love you forever Cuddy and will always remember you.

— Shaniece T June 9, 2018 at 10:43 p.m.

RIP Mr Thomas! And Stay Strong Family and Friends.
I read the Barbers comments and they were touching. He had a lot of love for this young man. However, I simply don't recall him blaming any particular group or race besides this being more "Black on Black" violence. And he's right. We have other battles and more pressing issues than to kill each other. But let me just reiterate to James and tha Truth that Men kill Men and this includes Whites vs Whites, Browns vs Browns and so on and so forth. As for as us getting our act together. This is the hand some of us were dealt. We live in communities with limited everything, including jobs and good schools. And we are fighting tooth and nail for those scarce resources. There's plenty of blame to go around, but that matters not. The question is how will it get better. These neighborhoods wield a lot of power, more than they know. If they were ever able to pool their money's and voting power together they could enact change one neighborhood at a time. But will take education (self) and unfortunately you simply make folks open up their minds let alone a book.

— Alcott Barclay Aug. 9, 2016 at 6:59 a.m.

This comment is in response to Kevin Lewis' post: My condolences for the death of your friend. I know you're hurting, but I must take issue with the following statement: "i also know that another black man is not my enemy theres a bigger war out here for us and they win by self genecide (sic)..."

I read the Homicide Report regularly and I've seen similar comments, and such sentiments bother me. You're implying that some other group - either whites, or Jews, or the 1%, or however you define "them" - is at war with the black community. I'm a white male in my mid-40s, and it pains me every time I read another article about black-on-black crime, especially when the victim was not a gang member. I sincerely want to see this violence stop, in Los Angeles and across the country. Contrary to your belief, there's no war against blacks in the U.S., though I do think a lot of people are apathetic about black-on-black violence. Many older whites just shake their heads and say a version of: "When are those people going to get their act together?"

I think most whites feel powerless to affect black-on-black crime. Young gangsters aren't open to listening to older white folks or accept their help, and if you're white, many members of the black community (I'm thinking of Black Lives Matter) are openly hostile to us. So please, Mr. Lewis, don't blame black-on-black violence on some outside group. Such violence angers and disgusts whites as much as it angers and disgusts you. We just don't know what to do about it.

— James July 30, 2016 at 6:02 p.m.

Praise be to God. I have all the empathy for you and Gerald. This black on black crime has too stop. Your voice wil have a positive influence on the community. I have walked that walked a many of times as the Thomas familys knows all to well because your family is and was always a loving family to the Johnson's Family. If I could I will take the sorrow away, but only God can do that. I want you to know you are not along; I too will help you bear that burden that some sensely person just decided to take Gerrik life. For what, that is being a coward. Do they know or care about the sorrow his parents and family have to bear? I here he was a well rounded young man and I know his spirit because we shared the same birth sign. His smile is so contagious in which it shows his love for people. It tells me he had a caring heart. What you are doing is very positive by starting a foundation in the celebration of his life. I watch my mom overlooking Cynthia as she suffer her last days, but no one knew my mom was dying also, and I not knowing took my mom to the hospital to die. So I know what your bearing. Sudden deaths are the hardest and when a mom lose a child by the hand of another is unbearable sufferin!. I am praying for the Thomas's Family. Think of the good times. You will find the positives to keep on because he would wants you to continue on with your life. Always remember all of you will see him again; he's in a temporary sleep. You will find that you got this strength that you never knew you have as a mom. Grieiving is okay. Crying is okay. I cried for a year behind losing my last sister in 2013 from a sudden death. You will find your peace in time. Days will be harder then others, so just call on the holy spirit. People think they get away with wrongdoing, but little do they realize that either they got to answer to the system or the higher system above. I pray that people come forth to help. I am praying that the system do their job, so your family can heal in a healthy way. I thank all of you still today for all of your help and support in my time of grieiving, It will all be mearsured back to the Thomas family. The takeaway for me was to live as though they are still living. Gerrik is Angel to all of you. To be absent for the body is to be present with the Lord. I love you guys. Sandra from Bandera Street

— Sandra Johnson July 19, 2016 at 7:54 p.m.

I From Time to time google my son name to see what pops up. January 25, 2016 was the worse day of my life. I keep replaying the memory of that night in my head. Its sad that today made 4 months since I lasr seen my son alive. I been in bed all day not knowing why I was feeling down. Not knowing today made 4 months that my heart was shatteted in a billion and one pieces. If I had one wish I would wish that he was here with me instead of in the crypt at Inglewood cemetary. I hurt so much at times where one day I'm sad crying, depressed or extremely angry but all I can do is push forward in life and not let this consume me. I have seen so many mothers in agony since this tragedy struck us. I sit and think daily what could I have done to save my child. Now I'm in a club that I had no interest in joining but I'm here now and there is nothing I can do about it but make sure your name is never forgotten in a postive way since your not here to do it for yourself. I am starting a foundation along with a scholarship for someone else kid to attend nursing school. Make sure your voice is heard by playing your rap song (which by the way is banging), share your videos with others, make sure your nieces never forget you. We will never forget you. You my baby boy. I almost died giving you life for someone to rob you, me, your dad, your siblings, your nieces, nephews, grandmother, family and friends us all of you bring here. I pray that I find justice for your murder/death be that may the guy that pulled the trigger and the paramedics who dropped you. Meanwhile I will continue to help others in my shoes. Gerrik you will live on through us. You will never be forgotten. I miss that smile, I miss our random talks (the good and the bad). Hopefully one day I will be able tp share some awesome news with you but I have to wait a few more months. I miss you so much and love you beyond the golden gates you entered at 7:10pm January 25, 2016 #LONGLIVEGERRIK SOME PEOPL WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND A MOTHERS PAIN.

LOVE YOU BABY BOY
YOUR MOTHER DEMICHA (MAMA)

— DEMICHA LOFTON-THOMAS May 25, 2016 at 6:42 p.m.

hey jus up thinking about you your barber your friend and family i cherish the pics i took of you thats all i got im wounded and hurt senseless......i was jus with u man jus had cutt your hair and was on the phone and told the person on the other line "im cutting my client" he flipped and said "mf im not yo client im your boy" u dam rite u is.... i told him to get home he was tipsy he stopped by the corner store on 54thst and crenshaw and proceeded home where he laid to rest on 9th ave jus two blocks away from my shop and maybe 5 houses away from granny house i knew in my heart it was gerrik shot before ne one told me i was cutttin hair at the time and a client of mine ran in and said somebody jus got shot on 9th ave he light skin and young by then i flipped i knew it was my friend i couldnt finish cutting my client i told thim please tell me its not gerrik ....thats his name he said ....... i imediately broke down ran to the scene by then he was rushed off to the hospital where he sacome to his injury life changed for me that day i cant indure another homicide of a friend or family its to much to handle this black on black gotta stopp .... we stuck in poverty areas where we play with guns and our only enemy is ourselves for a color a hat a street that we own no house or bussiness on im 26 yrs old and i understand where we come from but i also know that another black man is not my enemy theres a bigger war out here for us and they win by self genecide....R.I.P gerrik i will never forget the positive friendship and the help u gave me by sending your family to support my bussiness

— kevin lewis March 16, 2016 at 6:27 a.m.