Robert Hoover, 23

Robert Samuel Hoover, a 23-year-old black man, was shot and killed in the 900 block of West 62nd Place in South-Central L.A. about 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 14.

According to LAPD Det. Carlos Velasquez, Hoover's niece, a 17-year-old girl, was sexually assaulted by a man at an apartment building at this address shortly before the shooting. She escaped, and ran to tell her mother and Hoover, her uncle.

The girl, her mother and Hoover then went to the apartment where she had been assaulted, and confronted the sexual assault suspect in the courtyard of the apartment building. The suspect pulled out a gun and shot Hoover. The girl and her mother ran away. The suspect also then fled. Hoover was pronounced dead at the scene. Anyone with information is asked to call LAPD 77th Street Division Det. Chris Barling at (213) 485-1385.

-Jill Leovy/LAT