Calvin Williams, who survived a 2009 shooting, dies from another shot

May 15, 2014, 11:46 a.m.

After Calvin Williams was wounded in a walk-up shooting in Watts five years ago, some thought he wouldn't survive.

Williams, who fell into a coma for three months after the June 2009 shooting, slowly recovered. He still had trouble using his right hand, and he walked with a limp, but he had come a long way.

In the past, Williams had been arrested. After the shooting, he tried to stay out of trouble. He briefly enrolled in school to become a mechanic, and he took more of a role in caring for his four children: Calvin, 12, Kayla, 9, Kilin, 8, and Kelvon, 4.

He spent the evening of May 9, 2014, a Friday, with his girlfriend, her sister, and Kelvon and Kilin. They ordered pizza. Around midnight, Williams was in in the alley behind the home when shots rang out.

Kiesha Evans, Williams' girlfriend of 13 years, heard the pops. She ran outside and checked on Williams’ car. Then she turned around and found Williams slumped near another vehicle.

She ran to him and held him as her 8-year-old looked on and shouted, “Daddy, get up.”

“He was still breathing, though,” she said Monday night at a vigil across the street from the Nickerson Gardens housing projects.

Williams, 38, was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have not made any arrests.

Friends and family described Williams as a funny man who liked to visit with family.

“He kept a smile on everyone’s face,” said Patricia Mosley, his aunt.

His older sister, Rokeyba Bacon, said Williams often gave her 23-year-old son advice about the streets.

“He was always in his ear about making sure he was being safe,” she said.

At the vigil, Mosley stood near a table full of candles. Dozens of people surrounded her as she prayed. Green lanterns were lit and sent into the sky.

“Let this be an example that you never know what the next day is going to bring,” Mosley said.

Anyone with information is asked to call LAPD's Criminal Gang Homicide Division at (213) 485-4341. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

Update, May 16: The family of Calvin Williams is holding a car wash to raise money for burial expenses on Saturday, May 17 and Sunday May 18, starting at 11 a.m. at 11309 S. Alvaro St., (East of South Central Avenue & North of East 114th Street). Food will also be sold.

-- Nicole Santa Cruz

Photo, top: Calvin Williams' sister, Rokeyba Bacon, looks on as Patricia Mosley, his aunt, talks to a local television station at a vigil on Monday, May 12. Credit: Nicole Santa Cruz / Los Angeles Times

Photo, right: A recent photo of Calvin Williams. Credit: Rokeyba Bacon

10 reader comments

@ life decisions

I concur to a degree.

This young Man's premature loss of life is a tragedy no doubt. R. I. P.

However some simply don't have the means to relocate from such neighborhoods or simply don't want to. Would you abandon Big Mama, and all your other siblings without being able to take them with you? Not likely. But at the same time, this is still a free country and one should be able to go outside and do or go wherever they choose to so long as it's on public property. Just because one lives in public housing doesn't mean that they should not go outside after dark. If any of us are out after midnight in any neighborhood or community hanging out increases the likelihood of something criminal or sinister happening. Killers and Stealers operate usually under the cover of darkness.

Anyway, the debate should be about how to prevent these things from happening instead of blaming the victim. I hope they give him a good homecoming.

— Concerned Citizen May 27, 2014 at 8:47 a.m.

Its amazing that we are completely aware that we live in these crime riden neighborhoods but we wont acknowledge the danger. No one should be assaulted or shot anywhere for standing outside their home but lets face it, chances are more likely that you maybe shot, mugged or even robbed in certain neighborhoods because of the desperate circumstances and conditions people live in. Why place your self unnecessarilly in harms way? My heart goes out to this young mans family but I believe he gambled with his life. I see kids wearing gang colors in active gang areas all the time knowing they can be shot for what they're wearing. However, when you approach them and ask what's your motive for making yourself a target, their response a lot of times is, its a free world. Poor decisions lead to bad consequences.

— lifesdecisions May 21, 2014 at 4:46 p.m.

How bout he was a father tht was coming to get his kids making sure they make it home safe since when have it been a crime to stand out after a certain time when you are minding your own business...it has never been us as human beings should be able to come in go as we plz when ever we plz without having to worry bout looking over there shoulders besides the way the alley is setup no one tht doesnt have no business there has no purpose of even being in tht alley this was a loving man who life was tooking becuz some coward was bored if you tht bored with nothing to do go over in fight in the war where they want you to shoot jus becuz naw that ain't gonna happen though they to coward to do tht skrap your in a better place in May you rest in peace

— Hardworkingwomanalso May 16, 2014 at 8:40 p.m.

The Homicide Report

Calvin Williams, who survived a 2009 shooting, dies from another shot

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