Dwayne Nichols, 37 [Updated]

July 8, 2010, 5:15 p.m.

Dwayne Nichols, a 37-year-old black man, was shot and killed Thursday, July 1, in the 2000 block of 130th Street in Willowbrook, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department officials said the shooting occurred about 2 p.m.

A passerby found Nichols on the driveway of a residence with a gunshot wound to the face, according to preliminary information provided by the coroner's office.

Nichols was pronounced dead at the scene, sheriff's officials said.

The Times will provide more information about the case as soon as details become available.

[Updated July 13, 3:13 p.m.: Sheriff homicide Det. Donna Cheek, who is handling the investigation, told The Times Monday that investigators are working on several leads but she declined to provide additional information about the case while that work is going on.

Cheek said Nichols may have had some gang-involvement in the past, but authorities do not know if he had been recently active.

Anyone with details about his death is asked to contact the sheriff's homicide bureau at (323) 890-5500.]

-- Robert J. Lopez and Sarah Ardalani

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149 reader comments

My heart breaks reading these posts.

To Shaundra and the rest of the Nichols family...regardless of what ANYONE tells you, you are doing the right thing by posting your thoughts on here. It's part of the grieving process that needs to happen in order to heal. This is the closest thing to communicating with him aside from prayer.

Nobody should have their lives taken from them, it just rips the families apart and leaves them with the pieces to pick up. Know that you aren't alone...like Wayne, there are countless people murdered and the murderers (cowards) need to pay. If the justice system fails you, GOD WILL NOT!!!

For what it's worth, know that there are people out there that care; I'm one of them. May God and Wayne's spirit guide your family and heal your hearts so that you may all love those around you to the fullest. RIP Wayne.

God Bless You All!!!

— Mighty Mike April 21, 2011 at 11:51 a.m.

Shaundra,I'm sorry to hear about your bro,I know you miss and love him till the end .. your gonna see him again soon but you need to understand that Your brother is asleep to till the lord calls him up from the grave (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17)

His spirit is resting..the deceased cannot communicate with the living (Psalms 146:4)(Job 14:12,21) the dearly departed know nothing(Ecclesiates 9:5,6,10)(Psalms 115:17)..only God is immortal(1 timothy 6:15,16),but Man is mortal (Job 4:17).

He's neither in heaven looking down or has been condemmed in the lake of fire,God will decide that during the Judgement day for all of us.

Please dont pray for the dead,dont be decieved into thinking your brother is sending you messages from the other side,the devil uses trickery so that when the end time comes you will be fooled by agents of Satan into thinking false prophets and Anti-christs working miracles by communicating with the dead.

This lie has been told since the beggining of time in Genesis 3:4) when the serpent said "Ye Shall Not Surely Die".

God bless.

— Antman31 Jan. 26, 2011 at 4:10 a.m.

To Shaundra,
I'm from England and was shocked and speechless when John Singleton and the Hughes brothers educated my very young self (way back in 1993) to life for black children growing up in Compton and surrounding areas. I honestly never knew a thing. They opened my eyes to what is going on in Los Angeles. I still find it hard to know that our brothers are just killing each other over there. God decided I would be born in a far more civilized society where problems are settled (at worst) by a fist fight. In a society where I have never seen a gun in my life nor has any of my friends. Where I have never even heard of anyone in our town or city being shot. Beaten? Yes. Hospitalized? Yes. But not shot or killed. God could have easily decided that I be born where you are. Would I still be alive today? Being someone who likes to study in the library til late and then make my way home at night? Doubt it. I wish you all the best and that God helps you get out of there so that the same doesn't happen to your children or children's children. Some parts of America sound like hell on earth as I continue to read about death after death after more death in the news.

— Philip Smith Dec. 11, 2010 at 1:39 a.m.

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free. I'm following the path God laid for me.
I took his hand when I heard him call. I turned my back and left it all.
I could not stay another day to laugh, to love, to work or play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way, I found that place at the close of the day.
If my parting has left a void, then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss, ah yes, these things, I too, will miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow, I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life's been full, I savored much, good friends, good times, a loved one's touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all to brief; don't lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your heart and share with me, God wanted me now, He set me free. -YOUR LOVE ONE

— shaundra Aug. 20, 2010 at 3:51 p.m.