Reward offered in shooting that killed Long Beach college football player

A $10,000 reward is being offered in the July 23, 2015, shooting that killed a former Long Beach City College football player. 

Kejon Wayne Atkins, 22, was shot just before noon as he was walking down East 126th Street at Wilmington Avenue in Willowbrook, a short distance from where he lived, said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Det. Theo Baljet. 

Witnesses saw two cars veer toward Atkins — a gold, four-door sedan and a two-toned maroon and grey Pontiac Aztec, Baljet said. 

A black man in the rear, driver’s side seat of the gold car leaned out the window and fired at Atkins multiple times, Baljet said. Atkins collapsed on the sidewalk and the two cars sped away, heading south on Wilmington Avenue and then west on El Segundo Avenue. 

Witnesses told investigators that the gunman was shirtless and had tattoos across his back, Baljet said. 

Atkins was taken to St. Francis Memorial Hospital in Lynwood, where he died four days later. The shooting occurred next to Cesar Chavez Continuation High School, and some students were standing outside, Baljet said, but no one else was injured. 

“The victim was just walking by himself, when these two cars pulled up and somebody blasted him,” Baljet said. “We don’t believe [Atkins] was a gang member, but it’s highly possible the suspects were gang members looking for people in a rival gang area to shoot at.”

Atkins played football at Mayfair High School in Lakewood and was a running back on the Long Beach City College football team in 2013, his freshman year, according to information on the school’s website. 

Family members said Atkins hoped to play with the team again during the 2015 season, Baljet said. 

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a reward on May 9 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the people responsible for the killing. 

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Baljet or Sgt. Troy Ewing at the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau, (323) 890-5500. Those wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477. 

Photo: A Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department poster features surveillance photos of the two vehicles investigators believe were involved in the July 23, 2015, shooting that killed Kejon Atkins.