Father urges peace in the neighborhood where his son was gunned down

On Saturday afternoon, Rodney Hamilton pulled up to the spot where his son was fatally shot six months ago. He drove the same white SUV as on the night of the killing, parked in the same space and recalled the fall evening's harrowing details.

Hamilton, 47, got out of his vehicle shortly before 4 p.m. and stared at the spot near South Halldale Avenue and West 84th Place where he cradled his 28-year-old son's head moments after he was shot.

Rhasson Hamilton was celebrating the 44th birthday of his cousin, Julian Warren, on Oct. 4, 2014, when he stepped outside to grab a change of clothes from his father's vehicle. Police believe Hamilton was shot by two people.

“It’s ironic that we’re out here because it happened on a warm Saturday just like this," Rodney Hamilton said.

Rodney Hamilton came out with his brothers, Charles Hamilton and Steven McMaryion, and two others from his church. The men set up speakers and a microphone to talk to the community about who Rhasson was and about violence in the neighborhood.

Rodney Hamilton spoke about his son’s skill for grilling chicken and their shared love for the Isley Brothers. Some nights he still waits for Rhasson to walk through the front door and kiss his mother on the cheek.

He also called upon the neighborhood to get to know each other and to come forward about killings. Including Rhasson Hamilton, six people were fatally shot in Manchester Square in 2014, according to the LA Times Homicide Report.

“What happened to a neighborhood that would look out for each other?” said Rev. Ruddie Bruner, 72. “Half of us don’t know our neighbors.”

The men handed out fliers and put up posters detailing the night of Rhasson Hamilton's death. Police have not made an arrest, and his father asked the neighborhood for leads.

"I have a question for the person who took my son's life," Rodney Hamilton said. "Did you know his laugh? Did you know his smile?"

Speakers carried his voice to the end of the block, but no one was around to listen. The men tried to hand fliers to passing motorists at an intersection, but most didn't stop at the stop sign. 

Another woman folded up the paper and placed it in her pocket. Several neighbors looked through their doorways and windows, but intermittently disappeared. No one stopped to join them, and no other family members attended.

“I didn’t tell anyone else to come. I even told my wife to stay at home,” Hamilton said. “I’m scared to have my friends and family out here. I don’t want to give someone another chance to kill.”

Warren, Rhasson Hamilton's cousin, used to live on this street. He moved to Lakewood after the killing. He used to blame himself for the death and still feels devastated, McMaryion said.

Rhasson’s oldest son used to sleep with his father. The 10-year-old has slept with cousins for several months until he recently started sleeping by himself.

“Our family is still grieving in many different ways. Some still can’t talk about it, but it’s important so we don’t become desensitized to this type of senseless killing,” McMaryion said.

After nearly an hour, the men gathered in prayer and loaded the equipment back into Hamilton’s vehicle. Rodney watched the men go safely to their vehicles and offered them rides to their cars, even if they were parked around the block.

“The memory is still fresh, and I think it always will be,” Hamilton said, before driving away.

Anyone with information is asked to call the LAPD's Criminal Gang Homicide Division at (213) 485-1383. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Jerome Campbell 

Photo: Rodney Hamilton, 47, talks about his son's death in the neighborhood where the 28-year-old was gunned down on Oct. 4, 2014. Credit: Jerome Campbell/Los Angeles Times