A story for every victim

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

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

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