Samuel Earl Burge: Shot where he grew up

Samuel Earl Burge was raised by his grandmother on West 74th Street in Vermont Knolls, a neighborhood with single-story homes and grassy lawns. He’d spend balmy summers with his cousins and neighbors, cooling off with the garden hose in the front yard or playing cards and dominoes on the porch. 

On Sunday, June 2, West 74th Street became the place where he was killed. 

Around 7:30 p.m., Burge -- age 21 -- left his cousin’s house to get a haircut. On his way back, a 29-year-old man walked toward him and began shooting, according to police officials. The gunman ran into a waiting car, which was driven by a woman, police said. 

Burge was taken to a hospital, where he died at 7:56 p.m., coroner’s records show. 

Cedric Carpenter, Burge’s cousin, thought of him as a younger brother. Carpenter said the last time he saw Burge, known for his deep dimples and outgoing personality, was over Memorial Day weekend -- less than a week before he was killed -- at a family gathering at his grandmother’s gravesite.  

“We just had a really good time,” Carpenter said. “We were reminiscing and capturing the moments.” 

Laketa Kemp, another cousin, said she last saw Burge at church a few Sundays before his death.

“He saw me and gave me a big hug and kiss and talked to me for a few minutes before he had to go,” said Kemp, 31. 

Her favorite memory of Burge was from an annual family trip to Magic Mountain about seven years ago. The family stayed at the park from open to close. For the first time, Burge was tall enough to go on the rides with his older cousins. In photos, he excitedly flashed his trademark smile – complete with the dimples. 

“It looked like someone put a pencil on the inside of his cheek,” Kemp said.

Burge was on probation for a marijuana sales conviction, but that was unrelated to his death, Los Angeles Police Det. Sal LaBarbera said.

Burge was remembered as artistic and athletic. He played basketball and baseball in middle and high school. He had a love for music. He also loved to draw. He was recently taking classes at El Camino College in Torrance, Carpenter said. 

It is hard for Carpenter to believe that the cemetery where he had laughed with Burge would be the last place he saw his cousin alive. Now it is where Burge is buried.

-- Nicole Santa Cruz

Photo: Burge's family at Inglewood Park Cemetery over Memorial Day weekend. Burge is third from right. Above: Samuel Burge Credit: Burge family