Christopher Ricardo Cantero, 15
Samantha Bustos Vital, 15
Samantha Bustos Vital, a 15-year-old Latina, was pronounced dead on Monday, March 25, after her body was found in the 500 block of West Victoria Street in Compton, according to Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner records.
Samantha, a student at New Designs Charter School in Willowbrook, went out with friends on Friday, March 22, and never returned home, according to family members.
Her mother, Blanca Bautista de Cuevas, told NBCLA and CBS2 television that Samantha said she was sleeping over at her best friend's house, and the friend told her family she was staying at Samantha's house. Instead, the girls apparently went to a party, unusual behavior for her daughter, she said.
"She was really good," Bautista de Cuevas told reporters. "She didn't even go out to parties, until that day."
Bautista de Cuevas also said her daughter's friend told her she last saw Samantha in a white jeep, with …
Chloe Jane Hunter, 17
Chloe Jane Hunter, a 17-year-old black girl, was fatally shot on Sunday, Sept. 30, in the 200 block of North Long Beach Avenue in Compton, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.
Chloe was one of four people shot outside a school carnival at the Optimal Child Development Center at 1300 E. Palmer St. around 5 p.m. The school’s blacktop, where the carnival was being held, is behind the large parking lot for DND Mart Liquor, at 217 N. Long Beach Ave., where Chloe and others had parked to attend the carnival, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. Scott Hoglund.
The other three shooting victims, a 14-year-old girl, a 19-year-old man and a 40-year-old man, all had non-life-threatening gunshot wounds and are expected to survive their injuries, Hoglund said.
The gunfire struck Chloe in the torso, however, as she was getting out of her car to go watch a …
Britney Malone, 13
Britney Malone, a 13-year-old black girl, was shot and killed on Friday, Sept. 28, in the 600 block of West Palmer Street in Compton, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.
The shooting inside Britney’s family home around 6 p.m. also killed her stepfather, Edward Charles Talley II, 65, and seriously injured her mother, Katherine Evans, according to family members.
Talley’s 43-year-old son, Jamie Jajuan Williams, was arrested in connection with the shootings, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. Joe Mendoza. Williams also lived in the home along with Britney's older sister and brother, according to her cousin Shayla Greene.
Williams was charged with two counts of murder with a special circumstances allegation of multiple murders, and one count of attempted murder on Oct. 2, according to a news release from the Los Angeles County district attorney's office.
Britney would have turned 14 on Friday, Oct. 5, and her …
Sammy Samaja-Lee Cush IV, 14
Sammy Samaja-Lee Cush IV, a 14-year-old black boy, was fatally shot on Saturday, June 16, in the 900 block of North Rose Avenue in Compton, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.
The shooting occurred during a large outdoor party to celebrate a child’s first Communion, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. Joe Mendoza.
Witnesses said three black youths wearing dark clothing and hoodies that concealed their faces walked toward an apartment complex around 11 p.m., Mendoza said.
“All three were armed with some sort of gun, and as they walked down the driveway, they opened fire, specifically toward a couple of males who were next to a car,” Mendoza said. “One of those males, along with, we believe, other people in that area, armed themselves and began to return fire.”
One of the youths, identified later as Sammy, was shot in the torso during the exchange, Mendoza said. He was taken to a nearby …
Francisco Javier Salazar Jr., 15
Francisco Javier Salazar, a 15-year-old Latino, was found dead Wednesday, Feb. 17, after he was shot in the 2100 block of Long Beach Boulevard in Compton, according to Los Angeles County coroners records.
Salazar’s body was discovered at 12:02 a.m. when a patrol deputy went to investigate a 1993 grey Nissan Sentra that was parked in a long driveway, said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. Steve Jauch.
The boy, who was found alone in the front passenger seat, had a gunshot wound to the neck, according to coroner's records. There was broken glass around the car, Jauch said, but investigators aren’t sure whether he was shot from inside or outside.
There’s no indication the car was stolen, Jauch said, but he wouldn’t say who owned the car.
The area where Salazar was found is commercial, surrounded by boarded-up businesses and a few small shops. No one reported hearing gunshots in …
Jeremiah Isaiah Dunn, 17
Jeremiah Isaiah Dunn, a 17-year-old black male, was shot and killed Sunday, Feb. 7, in the 700 block of South Mayo Avenue in Compton, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.
Dunn, a resident of Long Beach, was visiting a residential neighborhood in Compton around 10:50 p.m. when he “got into a confrontation” with two black males on the street outside a home, said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Steve Jauch.
The three males began to fight, Jauch said, and Dunn tried to get away into a vehicle, according to coroner’s records. One of the men pulled out a gun and shot multiple times at Dunn, who fell onto the ground, according to the records.
The vehicle drove away, leaving Dunn behind, according to coroner’s records. Dunn was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:56 p.m.
Jauch said the two men ran from the scene in an unknown …
Armando Bejar, 15
Armando Bejar, a 15-year-old Latino, was shot and killed Wednesday, Sept. 9 in the 1600 block of North Largo Avenue in Compton, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.
About 11:40 a.m., authorities said that Bejar was crossing out graffiti in the area when two people in a black vehicle pulled up next to him, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
One of the passengers chased the boy north on Largo Avenue but couldn’t catch up to him. The driver of the vehicle sped toward the boy and fired two shots through the front passenger window, officials said.
Bejar was struck twice in the upper torso and pronounced dead at the scene. The driver and passenger fled before deputies arrived.
Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.
Lontrell Lee Turner, 16
Lontrell Lee Turner, a 16-year-old black teenager, was shot and killed Sunday, Dec. 7, near North Bullis Road and East Queensdale Street in Compton, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.
Shortly after 12:30 p.m., Lontrell was walking north on North Bullis Road when he was confronted by a gunman, according to a news release from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
According to the department, “words were exchanged” and the person pulled out a handgun and shot Lontrell multiple times in the upper torso.
Lontrell was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:52 p.m., said Ed Winter, assistant chief of investigations for the coroner's office.
The gunman was described by authorities as a 16- to 18-year-old Latino wearing a dark blue or black hooded sweatshirt. He fled south on North Bullis Road.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those who …
Alicia Cassandra Gomez, 14
Alicia Cassandra Gomez, a 14-year-old girl, was shot and killed Saturday, Dec. 14, near East Elm Street and North Tamarind Avenue in Compton, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.
Deputies responded to a call of gunshots about 10:10 p.m. and found the girl in the street suffering from several gunshot wounds, according to a release from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Witnesses told deputies that Gomez was riding a bicycle when she was shot.
Gomez was taken to a hospital where she was pronounced dead at 10:47 p.m., said Ed Winter, a spokesman for the coroner’s office.
An autopsy showed that Gomez died of multiple gunshot wounds.
Deputies do not have a suspect description.
Anyone with information can 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.
Juan Manuel Ibarra, 17
Juan Manuel Ibarra, a 17-year-old Latino, was fatally wounded Tuesday, July 30, in the 1300 block of North Chester Avenue in Compton, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.
Ibarra and three friends were walking south on the sidewalk around 6 p.m. when the group was approached by two male Latinos from opposite directions, said Lt. Dave Coleman of the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department.
One of the two pulled out a handgun, pointed at Ibarra and fired four to six shots, Coleman said. Ibarra died at the scene at 6:26 p.m., said Ed Winter, a coroner’s spokesman. No one else was injured.
Ibarra lived in the area and did not have gang ties, Coleman said.
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 (800) 222-8477.
-- Emily Foxhall and Nicole Santa Cruz
Jesus Morales, 17
Jesus Morales, a 17-year-old Latino, was shot and killed in the 300 block of West Magnolia Avenue in Compton, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.
The shots rang out Monday, Nov. 5, about 10:40 p.m., sheriff's officials said.
Morales was shot several times in the upper body. He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead the next day, Tuesday, Nov. 6.
Officials said they believed the killing may have been a gang-related, walk-up shooting.
Anyone with information about the slaying is asked to contact the sheriff's homicide bureau at (323) 890-5500. Tipsters wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.
--Wesley Lowery
Cesar Sanchez-Caro , 17
Cesar Sanchez-Caro, a 17-year-old Latino, was fatally shot Saturday, Oct. 2, in the 800 block of East Pine Avenue in Compton, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.
Sanchez-Caro was standing outside an apartment about 11:05 p.m. when he was shot several times, said Ed Winter, spokesman for the coroner's office.
Witnesses to the shooting called 911 and he was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:33 p.m., Winter said.
The Times has contacted detectives to get more information about the homicide investigation and will post an update when details become available.
[Update March 9: Sheriff's homicide Det. Kathleen Gallagher, who is handling the case, said Sanchez-Caro was chasing a male through the apartment complex when that person shot him.
The shooter was described as a Latino, younger in age and wearing dark clothing, she said.
Authorities believe the shooting was gang-related. No arrests have been made in …
Marvin Nicholson, 13
Marvin Nicholson, a 13-year-old black youth, was shot and killed Monday, Oct. 12, in the 900 block of South Grandee Avenue in Compton, according to Los Angeles County coroner's officials.
Marvin was shot about 12:30 p.m. when someone jumped out of a vehicle and fired several shots at him, coroner's officials said.
He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 3:10 p.m., said Ed Winter, a spokesman for the coroner's office.
-- Anthony Pesce
Following dispatch originally ran Oct. 22, 2009:
'Lord knows I wish that I could just hold him one more time, and I can’t.'
Lakeisha Hamm has not slept in days. Each time she lies down, the killing of her 13-year old son last week in Compton replays in her mind like a movie.
She hears gunshots, rushes to the front door and sees a body drop to the ground. She knows her …