Nathaniel Grace, 45

Nathaniel Grace, a 45-year-old black man, was shot and killed Monday, Feb. 19, in the 12000 block of South Willowbrook Avenue in the South Los Angeles community of Willowbrook, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records. 

Grace was inside his apartment with six other friends around 3:45 a.m. when a man knocked on the door, said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. Joe Mendoza.

The people inside the apartment told investigators they couldn’t identify the man, although they had seen him approaching through the window, Mendoza said.

When they didn’t open the door, the man outside began shooting, Mendoza said. The bullets struck Grace, who was standing on the other side of the door.

Witnesses told investigators they saw the man, described only as black, run toward a white sedan, which sped away. It’s not clear whether the shooter got into the car, Mendoza said.

Grace was pronounced dead at the scene at 4:04 a.m., according to coroner’s records. No one else was injured in the shooting.

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.