Benjamin Darnell Houghton, 40

Nov. 1, 2010, 1:56 p.m.

Benjamin Houghton, a 40-year-old black man, died Saturday, Oct. 30, five days after he was shot near 88th Street and South Broadway in Broadway-Manchester, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

Authorities received a call reporting a shooting about 1:30 a.m. on Oct. 25 , said LAPD Criminal Gang and Homicide Det. Kerri Potter.

When police arrived, they found Houghton shot several times, she said. He was taken to St. Francis Medical Center, where he remained until his death Oct. 30.

No arrests have been made in connection with the case, Potter said, and there is no description of the shooter.

Although Houghton was not a gang member, the shooting appears to be gang-related, she said.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Det. Andrew Moody or S. Teubert at (213) 485-4341. Those wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

-- Sarah Ardalani

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27 reader comments

I cant beleve its alredy a month that u been gone.. i cant stop thinking bout u. i dont even like gng down the block no more it hurts so much not seen u out there no more..i will never forget u..i want to share these 2 dreams i had wit bj. i was cryin so much the other nite. tht he came to meeh in a dream here it goes mah cell phn rings n i say hello he said whts up wit u i said nothin who is this he said u forgot mah voice tht fast i said who is this he said bj i said its not it cant be u ure in heaven he said excatly he said im k im wit god u guys stop been sad i dnt like seen u guys like that i love u guys see u soon.. 2nd dream he said wen ever u guys c 1 bird fly over u unexpectally its meeh if u see the 1st shining star in the sky away from all the others its meeh jus look up to heaven n knw im k n always round mah job nw is to watch over mah love 1s mah daughter mah fam n mah friends jus thought i share what i dreamed rip i love u bj aka flip tipper

— ure sis Dec. 4, 2010 at 5:22 a.m.

Man this hurt is felt all the way up here in the Inland Empire. My prayers and condolences go out to the Family. I have known BJ and the family for over 30 yrs and man this was a General that has departed us and went on to be with the Lord. I truly thank God for the peace BJ now has and it is a blessing to hear that his homegoing was a celebration. Life's challenges prevented me from seeing my man one last time and it hurts so deep. BJ was truly my brother, he and I did everything coming up. I remember the old times together on the Place (lol) with Rob, Dee, Sergio, Pete, Tyrone and the rest of the Place when we were Pop Locking, Break dancing, going to Alondra park with Mrs. Rose, whooping on every other block in football, hanging out in the trailer playing techmo bowl... wow I can't believe it happened to you. I am a man of God and I know God knows best, but if you knew BJ like we knew him... Man I can go on and on about BJ but I will end for now with, I thank God for having the opportunity to tell my brother I love him the last time I saw him. Show love every chance you get because we never know like God knows.

Note to whomever is responsible for this tragedy, In the name of Jesus I command you to come to justice. You will not have rest in your spirit until you do. The word of the Lord declares in Romans 12:19(NIV) Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.

I call you forth NOW in the name of Jesus Christ our Saviour, Amen!

RIP BJ, see you soon!

— Kevin D. Nov. 21, 2010 at 5:12 a.m.

I can't believe ure really gone yesturday was ure funeral services it was so hard to walk up n say the final goodbye i almost didn't do it even though it was heart breaking to say goodbye. I cought my self smiling n laughing about everything everyone had to say about you. all the crazi things u would say lol all the things u would do to make someone laugh every single person that went up to say somthing about said the samething that u were a nice loving n caring person n funni to u were the life of the party u made every situation fun when u came around it could be boring as i don't what n everybody would say call bj aka flip tipper n then u would get there n wow it was cracking u were a very happi person we would even quick it by yo self n dance wit a drink in yo hands wow bj it's not gng to ever be the same without u.. i said to myself dang everybody in here really knew him n we all celebrated ure homecoming home to jesus chirst u look so peaceful that's what kind of helped me get threw the whole funeral we love u rip bj

— jj Nov. 14, 2010 at 3:58 a.m.

I want everyone to know how good of a person bj was..I"ve known bj seens i was 7 years old im 32 now so it has been for most of my life. He will be miss so much,he never did nothing to no one. you could go to him for anything i use run to him alot he knew jus what to say to make u smile again. i have good memories lol the crazi things he said lol, the way he would dance,. im going to miss him walking up to my car everytime he seen me just to give me a hug and say hello. i"ll never get that phone call again from him checking up on me saying come on the block and kick it with me, he would look after all the kids playing outside. He was one of a kind. We need you so much but i think god felt he needed you even more. Everybody keeps saying everything is going to be ok but there not knowing inside i feel have dead it"s empty without u until we meet again. it so silent without u i can it get threw my head that your no longer here with us all i can hear is my heart beating faster as i try to move ahead with out u i dont know if i"ll be able to make it or do it without you. you were my back bone my best friend my brother my uncle . God i wish i could turn the hands of time and have you here with us once again. i love you and miss you dearly i miss your smile your voice your laughter i miss all of u period we love u soooo much even though im so hurt to have lost u i thank the Lord for u everyday for allowing me to have meet u n to have been apart of your life.. Rip bj

— your lil sis Nov. 6, 2010 at 10:30 p.m.

i cant belive your gone. i wake up everyday wishing it was a dream n you were still here. i wish that i could hold u one last time.u will always live in our hearts. i cant help but ask why? you never did nothing 2 nobody u wer a good son,father,friend.uncle,brother.im so mad hurt sad i have all these emotions.i rember all the times we shared together i thank god for every moment he blessed us with u. you where one of a kind n i promise u i will always look after your family.man bro i miss you so much. i feel so empty without u. but remberin all the sweet things u did and the funny things u did n said puts a lil smile on my face.its hard to smile n move foward without u. but if u were here you would say gurl dont be sad smile lil mama .i love u rip big bro til i see u again in heaven. n to any1 whos lost sum1 may god bless u n ure family.

— jr Nov. 6, 2010 at 2:26 a.m.