DeAnthony Wills, 28

DeAnthony Wills, a 28-year-old black man, was shot and killed Sunday, Oct. 8, in the 2600 block of Lantana Street in Compton, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records. 

Wills, a resident of Perris, was visiting friends in the neighborhood about 6 p.m. when he got into an argument with a man in the middle of the street, said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. Joe Mendoza.

The other man pulled out a gun and began shooting at Wills, Mendoza said. The shooter, a black man in his 20s, then got into a white sedan and drove away, heading east on Lantana and north on Wadsworth Avenue, until he was out of view, Mendoza said. 

Wills was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 8:42 p.m., according to coroner’s records. 

“DeAnthony was a loving father, son and brother,” said his obituary in The Times. “His life was taken over senseless violence. This has left his family and friends heartbroken and demanding answers.”

An online fundraising account has been set up to help Wills’ family with expenses. On the site, his cousin Rictera King posted several photos of a smiling Wills hugging his two young children.

Wills was “kind, caring, charming, with a charismatic smile,” King wrote. “He cared about trying to help others and becoming a better person for his children. He was extremely passionate about family, his children and life.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 870-5500. Those wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.  

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @latimeshomicide on Twitter.