James Dwon Hill, 45

Jan. 3, 2012, 10:13 a.m.

James Hill, a 45-year-old black man, died Wednesday, Dec. 28, after he was fatally shot in the 10800 block of Grand Avenue in Vermont Vista, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Hill was taken to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance and pronounced dead at 7:38 p.m., coroner's officials said. Records show he suffered several gunshot wounds to his body.

The coroner's office could not provide additional information about the killing.

The Times has contacted investigators to obtain details about the case and will post an update as soon as possible.

Anyone with information about the death of James Hill is asked to contact the Los Angeles Police Department's Criminal Gang Homicide division at (213) 485-4341. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (800) 222-8477.

-- Los Angeles Times

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28 reader comments

I am so upset about the comment I read about my son G Len, having anything to do with Shoota's death. I thought I was about to have a heart attack.
Every since both Bang and Shoota were little kids, just like Len we have had nothing but love for Shoota, Bang and his mother Ms Hill.
We both cried for days after each one of them left this world.
Len love Shoota, Bang and all the homies.
He took each death personal.
He keep a book of last tribute of the forty fallen soldiers in our neighborhood, and cried for each one.

He could never hurt Shoota or anyone else from the neighborhood.
Anyone who really knows Len knows he has a kind heart and would rather help you then hurt you.
He has been accused by someone who is mean spirited, and who just doesn't like him, but GOD KNOWS THE TRUTH, and you cant mess with GOD.

Len has been incarcerated for three years and has not been allowed to use a phone or anything for the last 3 months.
He is in the hole below the hole with no coummication with anyone. He's where you don't come in contact with anyone.
When I told him about Shoota he was crying and in shock.
This statement about my son is not true the person that sgined it says he don't know anything about this statement. So I don't know where it's coming from. The person that wrote it knows it's not true, so don't let anyone tell you any thing different. Rest in Peace Shoota you know Len as your real Friend not just a homie.
Love Rappin Granny

— Rappin Granny Jan. 30, 2012 at 1:51 p.m.

Words can not explain the hurt that I'm feeling. Your death snatched the very soul that was never my own. I am so glad that I found Jesus 2 years ago because without him I would have died with you. I will forever treasure our friendship. I will miss being your secretary LOL. No more late night Booga I'm hungary's, No more early mornings Hey Hey, No more running errands, No more EBT hook ups, No more whinning about them cutting off the cable because you forgot to pay them their $20. No more long rides and conversations about our future. The many talks about are could haves, would haves and should haves. There was a lot of things left undone. We both had plans to do so much, moving in different directions but always staying side by side. I now travel this road alone hoping to get a glimpse of you in my rearview or hear your voice in my ear, waiting until we meet again. You WERE MY BEST FRIEND and will forever remain in my heart. "What's left of it" Loving you always & forever..... God is the Author & finisher of my fate, he is my rock & my strength.

— 1st Ladi Jan. 13, 2012 at 9:57 a.m.

My two cents, first off Rest in Peace young man. Syscom3 and Meck, I don't know you two personally but I do know that you two could be doing other things with your free time and that tells me and I'm sure countless others that view this site that you care about these murders. So keep it up, someday more will care and hopefully the number of murders will start to decrease. And for the young man or men saying that this guy was not a gangster, well that may be true. But when the casual observer reads Bang in Peace or a nickname calling one a Shooter are you surprised? Come on Son! And then you have comments by so-called gang affiliates. Gangsters don't speak about squares or L7's and we know this. I know it hurts to loose someone you know and love, we feel your pain but this ain't the venue to be verbally abusing someone you don't know and who had nothing to do with your loss. To me most of these guys are "Victim's of Circumstance. "They never really wanted in, and really could not get out. And the Police love it, the more violence the the justification for even larger budgets. I left Los Angeles in 90, and often ask "Will it ever stop? " Probably not! Shalom

— A Working Man Jan. 9, 2012 at 5:48 p.m.

@syscom3 : if you didn't know the Man then think B4 you speak "DAM ASS " Mook short for " Mookie " is his nick-name given to him by his Mother (Ms. Hill we all "LOVED") as a baby growing up , Same as your parents may have named you Richard yet for some reason they chose to call you Dick.. Shooda/Shoota/Jay/Big Homie/ along with close personal inside joking names is how those that were his true friends addressed him. has nothing to do with if he was or wasn't in a gang Before.. As a 45 yr old Man (Father) whom has Not been know to carry his self in no fashion as a Gang-Bang for Decades as calling " Men " Brother and has completely removed the N word in his vocabulary. People know this was a good man doing Nobody no Harm and I, We, The Neighborhood and All those who knew him that Worked at L.A.pd So. East Division Knows This to be the truth... so dum ass Syscom3 as he would not act to your negative comments in a respectful way.. I would wanna punch you in yo Big Dum Mouth...

— DaLazyOne Jan. 8, 2012 at 11:54 a.m.