Javier Sanchez, 15

July 19, 2010, 12:48 p.m.

Javier Sanchez, a 15-year-old Latino, was fatally shot Sunday, July 18, near 65th and Long streets in Inglewood, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Javier was walking with a group of friends about 11:54 p.m. when he left them to wait for his father, Inglewood police and a Los Angeles County coroner’s investigator said.

Moments later, someone approached Javier and shot him multiple times, Inglewood Police Sgt. Robert Richmond said. Javier's friends quickly returned and found the teenager lying on the sidewalk. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Witnesses reported seeing someone flee the area on foot; no one saw or heard a car, Richmond said.

Although there was no known motive, Richmond said, “We always suspect it’s gang-related when a juvenile is shot and there’s a lot of graffiti around from rival gangs crossing each others' names out.”

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Inglewood homicide detectives at (310) 412-5246 or the 24-hour anonymous tip line, (888) 412-7463.

-- Corina Knoll

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44 reader comments

I just now read this. My son was also gunned down in Inglewood, on Prairie and 102nd street back in feb 1998. He was not a gangster, he and 3 friends were going to a party at the Airport hotel. They couldnt find parking and parked on 102nd street. They had never been in this neighborhood before. Some idiot in Echo Park passed out the fliers for this party. A few days later after my son was killed we drove to the spot where he fell. I was horrified at all the graffiti on the walls, the sidewalks, even on the houses and apartments. They even marked the spot where my son was shot 187, a victory for gang bangers. No one had ever been caught. It happened so quick, all my son's friends were able to see were about 4 hispanics, bald heads and white t-shirts and the guy that shot was crouched so all they saw was a hand holding the gun. No one came forward as witnesses because they are so afraid of gangsters and retaliation. Now all I have is the memories of my only son and child and his son, my grandson, that my husband and I have helped his mother raise these past 16 years since my son was murdered. I feel for young Javiers family. I cry with you, you are not alone. Stay strong and look toward God for comfort. Celebrate Javiers birthday and death anniversary and keep his memory alive. Remember this: they killed his body not his spirit, no gun or anyone can kill the spirit, it lives FOREVER!

— Melena March 29, 2014 at 10:43 a.m.

i still cant believe that almost a year police havent got the killer but then again its not that easy. javier i miss seeing you around my house we use to kick it and have fun and do a lot of fun crazy stuff.. now that your gone it will be good memories ill never forget... i still see your dad. i can tell just by looking at him no matter how happy/sad he is i an tell he still hasn't completely recovered since the day of your death. your dad once told me on the one year anniversary that he wishes he was there when you were shot that way he would be protecting you. he was crying again but i told your dad. stuff happens whether we like it or not. theres no explanations on way unexpected stuff happens but thats life and we have to continue living. i told your dad "you had 15 wonderful years with him since the day he was born thats when the wonderful times started. just think of the good times and not the bad times..keep his spirit and memory alive. he may be gone but not forgotten. and your dad said thank you so much joseph you really were his best friend.... damn javi i miss you bro :')

— joseph Nov. 11, 2011 at 10:48 a.m.

You know reading about this child's murder makes me incredibly sad and frustrated. This handsome boy was just doing what teens do hanging out with friends, waiting for a parent. I wish all of us who read the HR regularly would join together to bring about some change to greater L.A. Those @ City Hall and in Sacramento don't care, but I think we do. We simply cannot keep allowing innocent children and others to be gunned down by thugs. The only difference between now and Chicago of the 30's is Capone and the like usually killed others like them not innocent bystanders. For starters when a murder happens in a location close to your own or one you have interest in, call that mayor’s office also the councilperson, supervisor state and federal representatives. Let them know we are paying attention we are tired of the gang violence of their increasing numbers and brazen behavior. Most of all tell them that you and your family and neighbors will vote them out and then take action to do just that. Stop voting for a party or incumbent, vote for real change not just rhetoric. Rest in peace young Javier, may God bless your family.

— Sherlock Sept. 13, 2010 at 2:22 p.m.

wow. i just started school and i rememba he would go to my school which is inglewood to skateboard with his buddies, gustavo, gary, johnathan,and with me. i miss him alot. i know i said it a couple of times but its true i do miss him. me and my gf will never forget him. i just hope that bastard rotts in hell so his family and his sister who really misses him alot get justice. i no how you feel javi,s sister. when ma grandma died of cancer i was sad and felt ma world was over. but i only had to remember the good ole times i had with her when she was alive and u should do the same thing........javis sister if you r reading this u should rememba him and think of the great awso0me, beautiful, nice, fun, caring moments o times you and ur family had with him. if u rememba him in your dreams o think of him its like hes still there with you. leave ur comments if im rite

— joseph Aug. 30, 2010 at 6:52 p.m.

javis was the best brother ever, i fought with him so many timess but now at night i can just hear his voice saying ROSIEE LET ME BORROW YOUR COMPUTER TO GO ON MY SPACE AND YOUTUBE wen he was alive i would saay no and he would reply with IF U DONT LET ME IMA TELLL NINA he would ask me to let him borrow it i really miss him he was the only one that did something that no one else would do an he will alwasy be remebered as my hero I REALLY HOPE THAT THE PERSON WILL PAY now my brother wont be able to to be with me see me get older and bug me fight wit me and protect me from others.....i ask everyone out there if anyone know anything or saw anything that night to report it to the police or ur conscious will bug u ur whole life or u too will be consider an acomplis i beg u and if u are the person that killed him i wann tell u if u had the dam balls to kill him and take him away from me his family friends and every one that loved him i wonder if u also have the balls to kill ur own family and if u did it just to get a better psition in a gang im srry but killing was not worth it i feel sorry for u and your family i wished you would have thought twice before u shot him then maybe the police wont be out looking for u and he would have still been with us ..... TEENAGERS DIE EVERYDAY AND WEN THEY DIE BY BEING SHOT THEY AUTOMATICALLY ASUME IT WAS GANG RELATED.... AND TO CLARIFY EVERYONE KNOWS JAVIS WAS NEVER RELATED TO NO GANG ALL HE LOOVED TO DO WAS TO SKATE THATS IT AND BE WITH HIS FRIENDS ... WE DON'T CARE ABOUT THE WORLD AROUND US UNTIL ONE OF OUR OWN DIE.........REST IN PEACE MY BROTHER HOPE UR WITH MY GRANDPA SAVE UR ROSIE A SPOT UP THERE ND TELL GRANDPA THE SAME I HOPE TO JOIN U TWO SOON :( 7-17/18-10

— HIS SISTER Aug. 25, 2010 at 9:13 p.m.

ok we HAVE a question? why did all his friends left him alone late at night. if his friends and his so call girlfriend cared about him then why didnt his friends and girlfriend or anyone from the party gave him a ride home. everybody knows that late at nite is dangerous. this aint no goddamn hollywood, bel-aire, santa monica, beverly hills,o some rich spoiled place like that. tis south central L.A. INGLEWOO0D, EL SEGUNDO, L.A.X. HAWTHORNE, GARDENA, HUNGTINTON PARK, EAST L.A. LYNWOOD, AND LENNOX. ITS ALL SOUTH CENTRAL WHERE PEOPLE GET SHOT ALL THE TIME.YOU PEOPLE TELL US IF me and ma girlfriend are RIGHT CAUSE WE ARE. I MEAN WE CAN PARTY BUT NOT THAT LATE LIKE JAVI. HE WAS A GOOD KID AND FRIEND. BUT LIKE HIS SO CALL GIRLFRIEND KELI SAID HE WAS JUST AT THE WRONG TIME.WE WERE OUT OF L.A. so we WERE IN SAN DIEGO WHEN HE GOT SHOT. why COULDNT HIS GIRLFRIEND IF SHE REALLY LOVED HIM THEN WHY COULDNT SHE TOOK HIM HOME. THE SAME WITH HIS FRIENDS. IF HIS friends AND GF GAVE HIM A RIDE HOME INSTEAD OF LEAVING HIM BY HIMSELF WAITING FOR HIS DAD THEN HE STILL BE HERE ALIVE.

— joseph and jenniferfattass Aug. 20, 2010 at 11:10 a.m.

The Homicide Report

Javier Sanchez, 15

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