Ian James Samuel Jr., 19

Nov. 14, 2016

Ian James Samuel Jr., a 19-year-old black man, was fatally shot Sunday, Oct. 23, in the 6400 block of Woodley Avenue in Van Nuys, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

Shortly before 11:30 p.m., Samuel was standing on a sidewalk when a person walked up to him and shot him, said Los Angeles Police Det. Dave Peteque. Samuel ran a short distance before collapsing on the front porch of a home.

Samuel was pronounced dead at 12:30 a.m. at the scene, according to coroner’s records.

Peteque declined to elaborate on a possible motive but said that Samuel was targeted.

“We don’t feel like this was a straight-out random shooting,” he said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Peteque at (818) 374-1934. 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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13 reader comments

So i cant believe that its been almost 2 years since he was taken off this earth. I am still told to keep my head up and be glad hes not in anymore pain. Trust me, I am so happy that he is taken away from all the troubles of the world. I just wish that i could have a day or two more to be spend with him. I just want to hug him one more time and tell him that i love him. I want to hear his laugh and jokes one last time. I can't believe that i lost the person that i had the strongest connection with. Trust me i know that he is always with his loved ones, but i wish i could she him in person. Just one last time. I see him in my dreams that turn into nightmares. I didn't have any hatred in my heart until he passed away. That's what changed me. I used to be so happy. I was so smart, lovely, joyful, and bubbly. I was a very happy person. Once he died, its like that switch turned off and all the hatred and sadness hit me like a truck. Now i have a dark soul, love being in the dark, and love to read dark thing. I really miss my brother and i know others miss him too. I really just need closure. I need to tell him i love him one last time. I need to know why he was chosen to be taken away. But i have learned that the good die young. I will always love you Jr. So as i always will stand and say proud. LLJSBRACKIN412 and S4L

— SOMEBODY March 25, 2018 at 8:58 a.m.

I am very sad that i have to read this for a class project. I have read other sites and they have spelled his name wrong. I am glad that he is in a better place and i hope that all his family and friends that read this website know that he is in a better place and that he is watching over everyone that he loved. I know how much it hurts to lose him and how long it takes to get over it. I am still struggling to get over his death. I really hope that you all know that he is in a better place and he really loves you. If you knew my brother and he loved you, you must be a person that was like him. I just want to say that if you get told to smile because hes in a better place, you dont have too. Everybody deals differently. NEVER FORGET 10-23-16

— Deja Samuel Feb. 23, 2018 at 3:17 p.m.

It is now the holiday season in 2017. I have tried extremely hard not to think about my brother but it is now the time to give thanks and spend time with your family/ siblings. This is now something that i can't do without feeling incomplete. I love my brother and i know that he didn't want to leave us, but i have to look on the bright side which is the fact that i was able to have him as my brother. I should be glad that i even knew him and that god chose my family to put him in. I wish he was here to see my mom walk the stage in a few days but i know that he will be there with us in spirit and he will see her walk that stage and that he will be just as proud of her as we are because even though he is not here now , he knows the struggles everybody as a family has been through. He is with us all and will always be with us. We love him and he loves us. RIP Jr and I'll see you in my dreams which seems as the only place i can talk to you. I love you in death and always. So Lets Stand Together and say LLJSBRACKIN412$$!!!!!!

— Deja Samuel Dec. 4, 2017 at 11:49 a.m.

I was just scrolling and i accidently tapped on this tab. The comments had opened and i saw that my dad had commented. And my heart just broke. It hurts me because me and my family are going through so much and i cant do anything to make it better. I constantly just sit and think how can i make it better. But there is no answer. Nothing in this universe will ever replace my big brother. He was like the person that brought my family together and now that he is gone, its like we are drifting apart. We don't talk as much and we don't spend as much time together. Bg bro, i just want to let you know that i love you in death and always and you are never forgotten. Sometimes i wish that you would come back. Just for a day. I wish that i could hold you one last time. I just want to tell you that i love you one last time. I wish that you were still with us but i cant do anything about that. I try to not let your death affect me while i'm doing something but its hard to have fun without you. I'll go from having the best day to crying cause your not there with me. I try to stay strong for my family but its hard. Really hard. My dad is the one i am trying to stay strong for. My brothers death affected us the most. If my brother was still alive me and him would probably be out getting ice cream or something. Like i was really close to him. OMG bro i cant keep doing this!!!!!! I cant keep acting like nothings wrong when everything is wrong. I try not to think about my brother while i'm at school. Simply because this thing happens to me when i think about him. I start to shake and lose my breath and its like i black out. I know that Jr wouldn't want me to spend my days thinking about him but its hard not to when we all look just like him. It hasn't even been a year yet so it hard to forget about it. I can't do this anymore. I cant keep sitting around like hes not gone. But deep down in my heart he will live on. He will never be forgotten. Especially not by me. Your dreams are now mine big bro and i will accomplish them i promise you. So all i got to say now is LONG LIVE JR and NEVER FORGET 10-23-16 or 4-12-97

— Deja Samuel Sept. 13, 2017 at 9:40 p.m.

My brother did not deserve this. My brother was a sweet caring person. He cheered me up a lot and taught me a lot. The only thing he didn't teach me was how to let him go. We had our ups and downs but we always had each others back. When my mom told me that my brother was gone i could not stop crying. My whole family was in tears. He was my night in shining armor. He was my protector. And to read this and know that he was targeted it hurts a lot to know that someone would hurt my big brother. He was my life and now that he is gone i don't know what to do. Jr was my brother and my best friend. He told me everything and we always had our laughs but its all over because of a inconsiderate bitch. I made his dreams my dreams and i will fulfill them.I love my brother with all my heart. He changed my life so now its my turn to help make his dreams come true. I need my brother to help guide me until i get to be with him in the sky. I know my brother watches over me to keep my safe but at least i know he is free. He is free from the worldly cost and free from pain. My heart misses m brother but my soul knows he is at rest. He never said goodbye or gave a farewell. He was gone before i knew it and only god knows why. I keep asking why me lord why me but i know now that he only takes the best. I have to turn 13 without my brother with me and my dad did too. my sister turns 18 and we all have the blues. I didn't know he was gone until the next day the day i wanted to reach out to him and say hey. I cry almost every night and i cant stop it because my brother was my life. I am so done with my life its like a living hell, and i am reminded of him with every bell. His car is going to be mine and i will cherish it forever. He made me laugh and at times i would cry until i got to see him. I know he is at rest but i still cant believe it and its been 6 months. Ian James Samuel Jr will forever live on in my heart and many more. It hurts to celebrate without him and sometimes i just want to lay in a ditch and cry. I love u Jr and never forget 10-23-16

— Deja Samuel March 21, 2017 at 10:18 a.m.