Reward offered in drive-up killing of 33-year-old security officer

Officials on Monday announced a $30,000 reward in the shooting death of an off-duty security officer for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department who was killed in July after dropping off his son at a relative's home.

Los Angeles police officers responded to the 1000 block of West 76th Street in Vermont Knolls about 8:30 p.m. on July 29 and found Calvin Eugene Gray, 33, in the driver's seat of his dark-colored SUV with multiple gunshot wounds. Gray had just picked up his 8-year-old son from a basketball game and was dropping off the child at a relative's home. He died at the scene.

Police said that at least two people in a vehicle pulled up and a passenger opened fire. Detectives, though, still have no description of the vehicle or shooter.

“This is one of the crimes where we need the public’s help,” said LAPD Det. Tim Marcia at a news conference Monday.

Though residents in the neighborhood have been cooperative, police said they still need more information.

“There was nobody out on the street,” Marcia said. “When they heard the gunfire, they sought cover.”

Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas also encouraged the public to speak up.“The public can make a difference,” he said. “The fact of the matter is, somebody knows something.”

Gray, who had worked for the sheriff’s department since 2010, was a security officer with the County Services Bureau. He was ethical and hard-working, said Richard Barrantes, an assistant sheriff of Countywide Services.

“He was recognized as a professional,” Barrantes said.

Gray’s mother, Margaret Gray, held up a photo of her son at the news conference. Calvin Gray’s 8-year-old son wore a T-shirt that read “RIP Daddy."

“All the people who came into contact with him loved him,” Margaret Gray said.

Her son, whose was just days from turning 34 when he was killed, volunteered monthly with his church to feed the homeless on skid row.

“He loved to help people,” she said.The reward is sponsored by the Los Angeles County Professional Peace Officers Assn. and the county Board of Supervisors.

Anyone with information is asked to call the LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division at (213) 486-6890. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Nicole Santa Cruz

Photo: Margaret Gray talks to the media at a news conference Monday. Credit: Nicole Santa Cruz