Clifford Gordon Benton, 66

Clifford Gordon Benton, a 66-year-old black man, was shot and killed Sunday, Oct. 15, in the 1700 block of West 77th Street in Manchester Square, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

A group of men was playing dominoes about 11:20 a.m. when two black men believed to be in their late teens or early 20s walked up to three nearby teenagers and yelled a gang slur, Los Angeles Police Det. Chris Barling said.

The two men then pulled out guns and began shooting at the teens, who ran away, Barling said.  

The dominoes players tried to escape the gunfire, but the shooters turned to two of them – one of whom was Benton – who were hiding. The two gunmen then began firing at Benton and another man, Warner Stern, 59, Barling said.

Benton was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:40 a.m., according to coroner’s records.

Stern was taken to a hospital, where he died at 5:45 a.m. the next day, according to coroner’s records.

Neither the teenagers nor the shooting victims were involved in gangs, police said, but authorities think the gunmen were.

The shooters fled on foot north on South St. Andrews Place, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call detectives 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.