Patrick Keaton, 19

Patrick Keaton, a 19-year-old black man, was one of two people who were fatally shot Monday, April 13, in the 1100 block of East 52nd Street in Central-Alameda, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

About 3:20 p.m., Keaton was standing on the sidewalk with a group of people when an SUV drove up and a person inside began shooting at the group, said LAPD Det. Richard Arciniega. Three people were hit.

Keaton was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead at 5:16 p.m., according to coroner’s records. Herman Owens, a 34-year-old black man, was also killed. Another man who was injured is expected to survive.

Patrick Keaton’s father, Derrick Keaton, said his son was due to pick up his little brother from a nearby school that day. Instead, his father got a call at work. A person in the neighborhood stopped by their home and told Patrick Keaton’s grandfather that Patrick had been shot.

Derrick Keaton said that Patrick Keaton was one of seven children in a tight-knit family. Patrick Keaton had an entrepreneurial side and worked with his grandfather on various projects. 

Derrick Keaton said that the family lives down the street from where the shooting occurred, west of South Central Avenue, and haven’t had any problems.

“We’re just stuck on the why, what happened,” he said. “We’re just trying to get some answers for that.”

Derrick Keaton said he has spoken to his sons in the past about how to dress in the area and how to travel from one neighborhood to the next. He said his son was not the type to "hang out at all times of night."

"He was a homebody," he said.

After Patrick Keaton’s death, community members held a memorial at the shooting site. Derrick Keaton heard from residents that his son was always polite and known as respectful. Strangers reached out to offer condolences.

“The community came together and supported my family,” he said. “The community is strong. When tragedy happens, people come together to kind of ease the blow.”

Still, Derrick Keaton says, his son's death was tragic and unwarranted.

 “People are tired of seeing these senseless, random acts of violence,” he said. “It needs to stop. It needs to stop.” 

-- Nicole Santa Cruz