Luther Magee, 48

July 15, 2015

Luther Bernard Magee, a 47-year-old black man, was shot and killed Wednesday, July 8, in the 1000 block of West 77th Street in Vermont Knolls, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

Magee was walking east on West 77th Street when a dark sedan drove up and a person got out of the vehicle and shot him, said LAPD Det. Dave Garrido.

Magee was pronounced dead on the sidewalk at 3:56 a.m., according to coroner’s records.

Witnesses told police they only heard gunshots and saw the vehicle leaving.

Anyone with information is asked to call the LAPD Criminal Gang Homicide Division at (323) 786-5113. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Nicole Santa Cruz

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23 reader comments

In the magical of the morning as the sun rise, I think of you,
As the sun shine down in radiance and sparkles a glow all over the earth. I think of you,
As the sun has set and the shadows are dancing to the music of the winds, I miss you,
As I lay in bed pray and close my eyes for rest, I say a prayer your at rest,
Threw the years you put me to the test, But NO matter what I asked you always said , YES.....
Rest my bro and hope we end up in the same place after death, and Gabriel blow his horn, You are missed and you were a true boyfriend and then we became married and went our separate ways and always remained friends to the end with love and respect. YOU TRIED IT wanting me back, I have to be honest, you were too far out there, wild, and damage and you know me taking care of a man was out. Felonies and can't get a job would not have worked. A man takes care of me and you wasn't able to so friends was the best option. Love never leaves especially from your 1 st love, we lived 2 different kinds of life styles. the streets and drug had you and I do none of that. Just wanted to vent and let you know Somebody loves/misses and was thinking of you babe, Rest my friend. xoxoxox

— The One Aug. 25, 2017 at 1:32 p.m.

Man still can't figure this out and way. I do know you had changed and was doing things I had no clue of and I appreciated you being able to turn Gator off when you was with me. I was putting on my make up and thought how you always said I had pretty skin and wore my make perfect and of course you loved my lip stick color I wore, I know you are missed by many. I think of you a lot. Miss the fam and can't find them any more, I think of how many things has happened in life since you have been gone and wonder what your advice would have been. Most people did not know you was book smart and had a memory I couldn't stand. you where good on dates, times and place things took place. I hat4ed Gator but always loved Luther/Levon, (you know about that Levon) you have always respected me to the most. You always treated me like a lady at all times because I demanded it and you knew I would slap you A** the reflex in the hand was quick. (Smiles) I could always talk to you about anything and the one thing you ever would lie to me is about cheating. You knew I wasn't the one and would come clean. I never share or shared you. Miss you smile laugh, silliness, jokes, making me mad and laughing so I could pop your A**. you always told me you loved me and you should have listened to me and you would have been a better man, you choose the street life and women who meant you no good. I was never mad I just moved on. glad I did and you would always say Damn you always had good jobs, money, degrees and never had to ever go home depend on my parents or siblings. I take care of all of them. No price on love from me. if I got it you got it. After I found out you was using drugs I would never give you a loan not even a penny. habits should be supported by the user. Miss your notes on my door, you pop up calls and you calling me to tell me everything even if you got jumped. yet for some reason I knew this was not you. After moms died you where distance and wanted to see me and when I had time you make up an excuse, yet I told you to call me if any thing you needed to talk about or felt you was in trouble and you wouldn't bring the street life to me under no circumstances. I love and respect you for that. LOVE YOU BABE. Forever and a day. Remember who loves and loved you babe. 1ST love. Remember I said you was a trick and not a treat because of your birthday. You was always good to me and was a treat, Your whole fam knew that and told me I should have been the one and will always be their daughter in law, cousin and niece. Life moved on and so did I, but you never forget. After all you been through on your own for no reason, things you did, brought on yourself and things you didn't you still needed Christ in your life. Now rest babe. LOVE YOU MISS YOU. OXOXOXOXOXO'S

— The One July 21, 2017 at 7:36 a.m.

Man can't believe are gone. I do remember you telling me yrs ago if a person shoot you and they don't see your face, they are cowards. You know I keep up with the fam as much as I can, I iost contact, I know you are watching over me, yet you came to me in my dreams 3 times with voiced, no sound out of your rmouth yet I could read you mind trying to tell me something ? what are you trying to tell me? I lost a friend of years and I cant get that back I pray you repented. I can't say your smiling from heaven due to my religious beliefs. I pray I can see you at the gate the only thing is I wished you had listened to me and you would may be here. You wanted to be so hard to be hard seen and heard u never grew up from all the jail years. ;Love and miss you xoxoxoxoxoxo for life, Pray your at peace, you was out of control, disrespecting roll call checking in on hood DAILY who care nothing about you. love you
Sometmes::: by Anita Baker
love you. xoxox

— diane wine April 28, 2017 at 11:26 a.m.

Damn still in disbelief. I was looking at some of your old letters and pics. This year has started and it's amazing to not be able to hear your voice and that crazy laugh, checking up on me. So far this year has been great and full of blessings. I have been doing what I know you would have wanted me to do. I am at relief and peace. Happy New Year miss your smile and hearing you pissing ppl off and laughing to make them laugh and not be angry anymore. All the years I've known you this is something I NEVER thought would happen,, Thought we would grow old together and talk about old times, your relationships and mine and Always remain friends no matter who, where. You have always been there for me no matter what, your were a true friend. Hard as a rock, yet many people didn't know you had a wonderful loving giving heart. Luther was a wonderful kind loving man and Gator you know you had to leave him in the streets and shut him off when dealing with me. Missing you bro, XOXOXO'S

— True Friend Feb. 10, 2017 at 9:51 a.m.

Just wanted to say HAPPY 50TH birthday to you. Miss your crazy, funny a$$ so much. I can hear say ima turn up and what you going get me? (Nothing just this happy birthday wish.) Lol. Miss you calling me for my birthday as you did every year. I know you would have never missed calling me, I just wished ppl would have shown you more love and you know some things you were into you hid from me many years (Out of respect) I appreciate that, yet had I known you know I would of forced you to get it right, I appreciated your respect, love, always having my back, friendship, fun days and nights. Like the time came over and I laughed so hard because you had no rhythm, you never could dance not even as a teenager. We grew apart and got married, we still remained good friends and you tried it:::: before and after marriage and I wasn't having that. I still have the note you put on my door 6 months before you passed. I've had 4 dreams of you, I "smiled" i guess that was my conformation. Much love as always. Re- Re.

— Re- Re Oct. 31, 2016 at 11:34 a.m.

Thinking of you and how long it's been, Never would I thought you would have been gone this soon. I think you was tired and not being who you use to be and had the things you use to have, had a large impact on you, I just wish you was tired enough to turn to the Lord. you know realize homies and hood is not what it claim to be. a lot to late, I can't be mad with wifey i imagine what you put her though. I wish I had a way to talk with her.i know she was a super woman a hell of a woman to deal with you. you mind was still on hood gangs and street things, young woman who know no better. you are still my buddy, you was stuck on the past and started where you were before you went to change not reaizing things an people changed. I pray you have the since and to talk to god offer him your life and soul, you wanted to be seen heard and be a big homie, as I told you it happened love yourself and if they care the will still luv and respect you and in the end NO ONE had respect for you over there, your choice of drugs played a big part you never growing up and acting your age, you was stuck in the late 80's and 90's. failed to realize it was 2015.

— Friend Forever Sept. 5, 2016 at 11:59 a.m.

I can't believe it's been over a year. I have kept my promise which you know what it was. I pray you were able to repent and give your life to God, I hate I wasn't able to speak to you as much as I could. Later after thinking things over I think you was tired, I'm so glad you called spoke your peace apologized for so many things you in your past, your kids, fam and present which was hard for you to speak on, I'm glad you said you was sorry for so many things yet as I asked you have said that to god? Did you believe, pray, repent, ask for forgiveness you said yes, NEVER would go to church with me. I had to push and go and get the word as you would say, you use to tell me my prays and mama Mary is what kept you so long. I did have a dream of you which was strange odd, Some things I didn't understand. I did smile and pray when I awoke. I pray god has your soul and you are with love ones, So be an angel and protector of the one left, miss your goofy silly smart a** mouth and laugh, much love we was just thinking if you. Love and miss you,

— Diane July 12, 2016 at 11:53 a.m.

I knew Luther Magee, and I am a very close friend of the family. Luther came from a good family , His mother Mary Magee and sister Lisa Magee are know longer with us. Mary Magee did the best she could in raising her children she moved her family to Harbor City in late 70s . I came became friends with her children. Luther had mother who would stay on him to finished school and make a difference on what society would place on every black male American in the inner cities of Los Angeles . Drugs played a big part in the lives of the black males growing up in the 80s around 1986 dope was release into the street and fast money was to be made off the lives of our young generation . Although Mary Magee moved her children away from that life style ,that life would soon follow her child Luther and pull him back into the streets were gangs became his new family and away of life. Luther was from the streets and was well known and was called Gator by his peers. It sad to learn of his death because the person I knew was a kind and respectable young man who struggle with his life and what I mean is He wanted a better life but did not know how to let go after it , He was hunted by his past daily . Luther knew the Lord but his life did not represent the presences of God, the path he chose was a very lonely and dark road that could only lead him to his death. People who knew him by his street name never had the opportunity of meeting a young man with a sense of humor that kept you laughing ,he also was a protector of those who he loved and always wanted them to do better then the life he made for him self. I think that with the passing of sister Lisa Magee and mother Mary Magee ,Luther just wanted to return home and be with his family and live in a world were their is No violence or any crime that will take the life of our young black men. This is a sad story of a young life taken too soon, the bible always reminds us that we have a choice to choose and whatever road you decided to choose is yours but I hope you learn from this senseless death that we are strangers traveling through and we are a mist that appears for a second and then we are gone ; so make sure you put God first and be that person that will give life instead of taking life. One day we will all have to face God and when you come before him I pray that you will receive a crown of righteous then being put in hell where you will be tormented for your sins.. The biggest trick the devil ever told was to tell the world He does not exist and the world believe his lie.!! I pray on Luther final moments of life that He had a chance to repent of his sins. To the world a another Black Male gone , but to those that know Christ and very sad day if Luther never received Christ as his savior .

— Candy Beasley May 8, 2016 at 11:58 p.m.

just sitting here sitting listening to the song. NO ONE IN THE WORLD(ANITA BAKER) you knew I love and knowing you couldn't sing. LOL You tried and that's all that mattered, by the way you couldn't dance either. I'm glad to know you loved me and you was Luther around me I wished so many people who you really was, how you had a good heart and would do anything to make me happy, like you said if only you would have followed my lead you would still be here. you chose your path and I hate that I cant talk to you, hear you try to talk sh*t and that silly laugh. You said I was always your baby and no woman ever come take that, and how you loved how I took care of my business and me and became something in life. i appreciate our last conversation when you said you was sorry for everything and loved me no matter who, where you are. Wished you had one more chance, I moved on and got married, and you still tried. LOL. One thing for sure you will always be my first, I didn't agree with your lfe style and loved the way you separated your street life from our relationship.
Love and miss you. Your first and last love. The pain still hurts I lost my dad and you was right there even though I was married, you consoled me invited me over, I will always love you, couldn't be with you but will always love you.

— 1ST LOVE March 18, 2016 at 1:34 p.m.

Just sitting here and still camn't beliee you are gone. I miss your stupid laugh, especially when you pisssed off. Love the fact you was bold, outspoken at time a lil too much, I can say you have Never disrespected me through the years, I remember you thought you was going to slap me. LOL you laugh n that for yes because you said damn when you slapped me you slapped the shit out of me. I did not agree with your life style and gave you a choice,, you picked the wrong one. You was always Luther around me, the manners, class, romantic, sober and a gentlemen and gave me what ever I wanted. Never did you ever not see me, call me and say I love you. Miss you Scorpio. much love Luther. I glad you never brought the Big G around me. I will always respect you for that, you said what you do on the streets stayed there and when you was with me you was who I met. LUTHER B. or Levon

— Re- Re- always your #1 as you say March 15, 2016 at 12:20 p.m.

I still can't believe my 1st love is gone. I wish I could see you and helped you. I thought it was strange that you didn't answer my last few calls, before you passed. I know now. You always said you never told me certain things because you loved me never ever want to see me hurt disappointed in you. You treated me different than the rest of the women after me, you knew I wasn't having it, Drug use or sells, guns, women, banging. You was Luther around me and Gator once you hit the door I appreciated that. I NEVER KNEW GATOR I KNEW LUTHER. You said I was different than the rest of the women after I let you go and NO one could compare are replace me and no matter who or where you were you always be there for your Re-Re or you have too much respect for me, we shared a different love. A real one at one time. I knew you loved me knowing I was married sneaking putting notes on my door. Now you can rest, be at peace and be Luther once again..

— 1st Love Sept. 30, 2015 at 9:52 a.m.