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Anthony Alonzo Cudger, 47

Anthony Alonzo Cudger (2015-07-25)

Anthony Alonzo Cudger, a 47-year-old black man, was shot and killed Saturday, July 25, at the intersection of South Hoover and West 88th streets in Vermont Knolls, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records. 

Cudger was sitting in a dark-colored Honda about 4 p.m. at a stop sign when a gunman in another car stopped alongside, got out of the car and opened fire, police said.

The gunman drove away in a light-colored SUV.  Police said they believe that more than one person was in the vehicle.

Cudger's vehicle collided into a light pole. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 4:15 p.m., according to coroner’s records. 

Scott said the attack came after some “verbal sparring” at a gang member’s funeral earlier in the day, about a mile and a half away from the shooting scene. 

Cudger’s killing was the only death out of several gang-related shooting incidents on Friday and Saturday, according to investigators. 

The LAPD deployed extra patrols to try to find the shooters and calm tensions.

The shootings have put the community on edge, especially since rumors started flying on social media that a gang had promised 100 days of violence after a member was killed in early July. Using the hashtag #100days100nights, many people responded with concern or threats of retaliation. 

Police are monitoring social media, hoping to prevent more violence, The Times reported.  South L.A. community intervention worker Robert Rubin said that the speed and anonymity of social media make it much easier to fan the flames of gang violence. 

People can hurl dangerous insults and threats while hiding behind their computers and phones, he said. 

“You know that saying, 'Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me?' ” Rubin said. “That is no longer true. Words are costing people their lives.”

 — Nicole Santa Cruz and Jeanette Marantos 

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