Julius Brown, 43

Julius Brown, a 43-year-old black man, was shot and killed on Thursday, March 23, in the 10800 block of South Western Avenue in the South Los Angeles neighborhood of Westmont, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

Moments before the shooting, Brown was talking with three male friends in and around a pickup truck parked outside Eddie’s Jr. Market and Liquor at the corner of South Western Avenue and West 108th Street, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. Steve Jauch. 

At 5:48 p.m., two men parked a vehicle in the alley just west of the store and walked over to the pickup, Jauch said. 

The newcomers pulled out guns and began shooting inside and outside the truck, striking three of the four men, Jauch said. 

Brown and Jeremiah Andres Lewis, 23, died at the scene. Brown, who was standing outside the truck, was shot multiple times in the torso and was pronounced dead at 5:57 p.m., according to coroner’s records. Lewis, who was sitting in the driver’s seat, died from multiple gunshot wounds to the head and was pronounced dead at 5:55 p.m., according to coroner’s records. 

Charles Harris, 68, who was standing behind the truck, was shot in the head, Jauch said. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead the next day at 12:39 p.m., according to coroner’s records. 

The fourth man, who was sitting in the back seat of the truck, was uninjured, Jauch said. 

Investigators don’t have a motive for the shooting or a description of the gunmen except that they were black, Jauch said. 

The victims had no gang ties, Jauch said. “They were just four friends, and we don’t know who would shoot them or why.” 

Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477. 

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @latimeshomicide on Twitter.