An outpouring of grief for a man known as 'the street apostle'

Michael Rowles, pastor of the Wrecking Crew for Christ church, has officiated at hundreds of funerals. Yet he was unable write the eulogy for Saturday’s service: his little brother’s.

“I’m going to pray and ask the Lord to lead me because I am not prepared for
this,” he said.

People packed the pews and aisles tightly for Ladell Edward Rowles, 50, who was shot to death July 8 in Broadway-Manchester, not far from the church where his funeral was held. Those who couldn’t fit inside New Temple Missionary Baptist Church listened from the lobby or waited outside for a chance to say their goodbyes.

Michael Rowles gave fiery sermon about recent violence in the neighborhood. The day would not be overshadowed by gang banging, he said.

"We have gang members running around trying to kill people — for what? To create fear and hurt innocent people," Michael said as he pointed toward a child who had been shot in the arm.

"This makes me mad as hell."

The audience was filled with people who had personal stories about Ladell Rowles, a former gang member who created a foundation to help children and became known as “the street apostle.” Several parents mentioned his work in the outreach program Kids IV Life Youth Center.

Others praised his ability to defuse dangerous situations.

"I've lived in South Central almost all my life, and I have never felt like anyone else cared about my neighborhood," said Michelle Mitchell, a childhood friend of Ladell Rowles. "Ladell saved a lot of children. He saved my daughter's life three times. No other politician or activist put themselves out there like him."

Earlier, Michael Rowles told a story about a special gift: a custom yellow two-seater tricycle. He had asked his brother to make the tricycle several weeks before, and Ladell Rowles presented it to him on July 8.

The reflector on the front handlebars glimmered in the afternoon sun. A stereo mounted under the padded black seat was complete with a cassette of “Amazing Grace” for Michael Rowles to listen to as he rode around South L.A.

“It was one of the nicest things he had ever done for me,” Michael Rowles said. “He had built many other custom bikes for other people, but I was so proud to have something made for me by my little brother’s hands.”

That night, Michael Rowles went to serve at a convalescent home in Mid-Wilshire; Ladell Rowles met with some friends. Less than two hours later, Michael Rowles received a call saying his brother had been shot.

Within a half an hour, Michael Rowles was looking at police tape at the intersection of Broadway and Century Boulevard. He hurried toward his little brother, but onlookers began to scream that Ladell was already dead.

The pastor stopped in the road and dropped his phone. A few seconds
passed as he processed the scene. Then he wept.

“I was the older brother,” he said. “I thought I would go first.”

Police said Ladell was shot by a man with a rifle about 11:25 p.m. after an argument. He died at the scene, according to the Los Angeles County coroner’s office.

Michelle Dukes, a close friend of Ladell Rowles and executive director of Kids IV Life, said she spoke to him a half an hour before the shooting.

“He said something was going down and he would call me right back,” Dukes said. “I waited for a while but I fell asleep. I never would have imagined that that phone call would have been our last conversation.”

Ladell Rowles grew up in the Broadway-Manchester neighborhood, the sixth of 10 children. Michael Rowles said his little brother was a mama’s boy, but the two grew closer as they moved through middle school and high school.

Ladell Rowles, almost seven years younger than Michael, often followed his brother’s path. They often worked on bikes and go-carts together on the weekends. Michael Rowles joined a gang when he was 17. Five years later at age 15, Ladell joined. He would be charged with various crimes, including assault and robbery. He was accused in a 2008 kidnapping case that was later dropped.

Michael Rowles said he left the gang when he was 23 and turned his brother away from that life when Ladell Rowles was in his 30s.

But disassociation is difficult to complete, he said.

“You never really leave the gang life in the eyes of some people,” Michael Rowles said. “You can start a new life, but you sort of always have to carry that burden from your past.”

The pastor continued: “I’ve been shot seven times and I survived. First time when I was 19. The last time was at 47. Ladell gets shot once and that’s it. It’s over.”

-- Jerome Campbell

Photos: (Top) Michael Rowles cries over his brother's casket Saturday. (Middle) Ladell Rowles' casket is moved to a hearse as friends, family and others watch in silence after the funeral. (Bottom) The crowd filled the pews, aisles and lobby and spilled outside the New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Broadway-Manchester. Credit: Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times