Robert Alexander Sosa, 19

Dec. 21, 2010, 12:02 p.m.

Robert Sosa, a 19-year-old Latino, was shot and killed Tuesday, Dec. 14, in the 3800 block of South Broadway Avenue in Historic South-Central, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Sosa was driving his car about 11:40 a.m. when he was shot, said Ed Winter, a spokesman for the coroner's office. Authorities were called and Sosa was taken to California Hospital Medical Center, where he died at noon.

LAPD Newton Division Det. Tommy Thompson, who is handling the investigation, said the incident was a drive-by shooting. Witnesses described the shooter as a Latino in a gray sedan.

Thompson said the shooting was possibly gang-related.

Anyone with information about the shooting or the identity of the assailant is asked to contact Thompson at (323) 846-6556. Those wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Sarah Ardalani

Share a memory or thought about Robert Alexander Sosa

Before you post, here are some answers to frequently asked questions:

Remember, all posts are approved by a Times staffer. Profanity and personal attacks will not be approved.

44 reader comments

JAG:

Apathy:

1. lack of enthusiasm or energy: lack of interest in anything, or the absence of any wish to do anything

2. emotional emptiness: inability to feel normal or passionate human feelings or to respond emotionally

Thanks for your definition of prejiduce.

Looks to me like you don't care at all what happens in these communities. Black and brown people are being killed by the score and the only thing that you are concerned about is to cry prejucdice!

Nearly 90% of the murders being commited in these communities is black on black, and brown and brown, and all you are concerned about is calling someone prejudiced.

You aren't part of the solution,

YOU ARE THE PROBLEM!

Just keep on telling yourself, aint nothin wrong here!

— Mark Jan. 6, 2011 at 9:02 p.m.

Hoodteacher,
You are not open to change, unless that change is approved by you. You want to offer opinions however strong on the military and call them killers and yet you go to funerals of those that were killed by the same people that you support. You want change like most people in low income areas but you are not willing to give anything up in exchange for that change. Why are the other people in California responsible for those in low income areas and how much more money do we need to give to these area's? Keeping in mind that I grew up and lived in a low income area and know the welfare fraud that goes on in these areas. So how much money would make these areas better? Of course you don't really have to answer that question because this is the same conversation that we will have in 10 years and the same one that we had 20 years ago. Since non of us can actually decide how much money gets poured into these areas that would make people happy see in 5 years to bring up the same out questions. After all there will always be the givers and the takers. Have a Merry Christmas and good New Year.

— I teach too Dec. 24, 2010 at 10:43 p.m.

First of all Robert was a great friend, a loyal friend, one who will never turn his back on you. And just because he was a 19 year old male does not mean he was a gang member. He was an actual man who stand out from all those little boys who decide to be in a gang. For those who tried try to insinuate that he was in a gang well let me tell you, you are wrong. And if you dont know what actually happen then stay out of this and keep your comments to your self. To let everyone one know Robert was just another person attacked by actual gang members. Please respect the memory of Robert by staying out of this....

P.S Robert my dear friend I will always miss you, you will always be in our memory and hearts. Remember that Diamonds Are For Ever.!

R.I.P Robert aka Fatboii
1991-2010

— Honey Dec. 24, 2010 at 7:21 p.m.

Syscom3 and others who assume a deceased Hispanic was a gangbanger is nothing but a prejudice ignorant fool. Syscom3, you claim you are not racist or prejudice, but yet all your negative comments are only posted in the Hispanic and black victim blogs. You and Meck must have had a really bad experience with a gangster or probably bullied by one that you now hate anybody that even looks like one. Now your way of getting back to whomever scarred you for life is by posting belittling comments and knowing the family of the deceased will most likely read them. If you hate gangster so much, man up and tell them in their face. You have no knowledge about the streets and you assume a victim was a gangster when someone leaves a comment such as "homie". I'm not a gangster and never was and a lot guys called me homie. You just don't have the insight knowledge about living in the hood. One important thing you should know is the vast majority of people that live in the hood are not involved in gangs. Sorry to burst your bubble, but you are not as smart as you think are.

— JAG Dec. 23, 2010 at 2:13 p.m.

Hoodteacher,

What school did you go to? What did you get your degree in? When did you pass the CBEST? I know those questions might not seem important to you but they are too me, they will save me much time and effort and will help me decide if following up this blog entry is worth my time and effort. Just because you teach does not make you an authority about people in the hood any more then being raised in the hood teaches one about life. So since you want to put it all out there let me know...and I'll debate the issues with you. As for me. After high school worked my butt off and went to ELAC for two years from there I went on to USC and then UC Berkley to further my education. From there I started working in LAUSD while in school as a teacher's assistant, then went on to teach full time for a few years until I had enough. From there went on to law school and did that for a few more years. When I grew tired of law I then went on to get this work for CDC I know I couldn't believe it either. So from the lost ones in school to the found ones in jail I have seen and heard it all. And yet I still do not consider myself an authority on those in gangs or in the gang life style do I have empathy yes at times, because I understand what the family is talking about when they refer to loving gang family members...but then I see the crime photos or read the court documents from the crime and realize that in everyone of use there is some sweet but in a large majority of gang members their is also the gang mentality of butality and blood and just plain meanness. Alone 50% of the gang members that I have come across wouldn't have the ability to do the crime but put together with just the right mix of idiots and guess what that same 16 yr old that would sit for hours playing with the kids just pulled a gun on some store clerk for $50.00 and blew her brains all over the wall. Remember this was all over $50.00! So befor I go on state your credentials and then I will debate this issue with you some more.

— I teach too Dec. 23, 2010 at 2:39 a.m.

syscom3 I've Never Met Such An Ignorant Person in My Life .. I Guess u Don't Hear Ur Self Talk Like My sister Said My Dad Was Innocent &nd U Have Noo Right To Even Speak Of Him My Dad is Too Precious too Be in Ur Mouth I Guess ur Mother Didn't Show U How Too Respect the Dead U Have Love Ones that Are gone Are They Gang Member Too I guess U Haven't Heard of innocents Getting Hit By Street Bullets &nd My Family Still Trying too Cope Wit Our Lost and It Infuriates me Too read Comments this Ignorant .. Robert Was Also An Innocent Person Kille By Dumb People Thinking they Have the right to take someones life I Just Know My Dads Murderer is Already Behind Bars &nd I Can't wait till the day The Ones that did this too Him are also Behind Bars .. May U Rest in Peace Daddie &nd Fat Boii

— Jenny Dec. 23, 2010 at 1:48 a.m.

@syscom3 - are you trying to interrogate this young person online? Who are you to ask these questions? And why should she answer this questions? Just because it is in public space? What other details do you know of this case to know that Robert Sosa put himself in a situation? The only other source I found (http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_16857150) suggested that it was a car to car shooting. That does not suggest that it was gang related or that it was his fault. Unless you were there, you really wouldn't know. What message do you hope that Gabby gets from these questions? Be direct with her so she can judge if you message is worthwhile instead of provoking her. You are making assumptions - read it more carefully - she "hopes" justice is served. Isn't that what most family and friends hope for? What is unnatural about that?

Let me guess - you believe Robert was a sociopath and she is promoting a culture of death and destruction. There was a military mission in Afghanistan today that killed 12 - is the U.S. military sociopathic? Is that somehow different because it is state-sanctioned violence?

— hoodteacher Dec. 21, 2010 at 9:13 p.m.