Herman Owens, 34

Herman Owens, a 34-year-old black man, was one of two people who were fatally shot Monday, April 13, in the 1100 block of East 52nd Street in Central-Alameda, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

Owens was standing on the sidewalk with a group of people shortly before 3:30 p.m. when an SUV pulled up and a person inside began shooting at the group, said LAPD Det. Richard Arciniega. Three people were hit.

Owens was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4:30 p.m., according to coroner’s records. Patrick Keaton, a 19-year-old black man, was also killed. Another man who was hit is expected to survive.

At the shooting site a few days after the killing, a group of people milled about. Posters with messages for the two men hung on a black fence above red and white candles.

Ashley James, Owens’ sister, said that her brother was a father of a young boy.

“That was his thing: family,” she said. Owens enjoyed playing basketball and loved Air Jordan sneakers.

People who were gathered at the scene said that Owens was a funny man who could have been a stand-up comedian.

Kim Vaughn, who lives in the area, said gunfire doesn’t happen often on her block.

“I fear for the rest of the people out here,” she said. “We don’t know who is being targeted.”

-- Nicole Santa Cruz