Samuel Frederick Theard, 16

Nov. 28, 2011, 10:02 a.m.

Samuel Theard, a 16-year-old teenager, was fatally shot Saturday, Nov. 26, in the 3400 block of West 59th Place in Hyde Park, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Ed Winter, spokesman for the coroner's office, said Theard was the victim of a drive-by shooting.

Theard, of Los Angeles, was shot about 8:10 p.m. After the incident, he was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead at 10:03 p.m.

Winter had no other information about the case.

Anyone with details about the shooting is asked to contact the Los Angeles Police Department at (877) LAPD-24-7 (877) 527-3247. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (800) 222-8477.

-- Los Angeles Times

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23 reader comments

I met Sam in the 1st Grade . He was the tallest boy in our grade lol . & from 1st grade our friendship grew . I’ll never forget after we Graduated 5th grade I thought I would never see him again . But then he checked into Orville Wright & are friendship began again . Even though he wasn’t there for that long . & after that I never thought I would see him again . Until 9th grade when we both started at Westchester . There our friendship definitely went through some roller coasters lol . From us dating to me breaking up with him because to me our friendship was waaay more important . Relationships can end messy & I didn’t want that to happen to us we were too close . The night I found out he was murdered my heart literally fell into my stomach . I felt like I couldn’t breath . My childhood friend was gone . I couldn’t & didn’t want to believe it . But I had no choice it was right there in my face . I love you always & forever Sam & I miss you even for then that ! #RestInPeaceMyFriend

— Zanae Flowers Aug. 29, 2021 at 8:57 a.m.

I'll never forget the phone call I received that night on my way to 59th to link up with you & my Twin . . it still devastates & haunts me to this very day!!

You were my Brother, friend, R.O.D & much, much more! I miss being around you & the talks we had. There aren't too many genuinely Loyal people in this world and I thank God that I was blessed to have such a loyal & loving person in my life. The Ups and the Downs, I miss them ALL! From pressing you about going home, to school & the choices you'd made, to the love and support you showed me in my decisions when everybody else turned their back or didn't support me at all. I'll never forget the day you tried to be funny & told me, "If you make the same mistakes I did, you'll end up just like your dad (referring to yourself) & I won't tolerate that. Get it together buddy or I'm a get Don to discipline yo a**." Patting me on my shoulder, looking me in the eye, then both of us dying laughing but me still knowing how serious you were. Lol, I used to love your words of encouragement to me, because not only did they brighten my days, they also gave me motivation to do better. Words can't express how much I truly miss you bro, like damn... Never questioning God but just saying I wish you were still here. Not a day goes by that you aren't on my mind. Even though you aren't my biological brother, blood can't make us any closer and can't nobody tell me anything about it! I love and miss you extremely Sam :-* #ForeverMyAngel

— T-Li Jan. 28, 2015 at 1:23 p.m.

sam was a good kid and like all teen weagers his age we all wanted to be older so we could smoke and drink becuz it looked cool/fun. we stayed in the area together and even though i am a lil bit older than he was, we would talk. i would ask him did he go to school he would say "only for a little bit" and i would tell him jus finish high school sam...or when i would see him at my friends home tryna hang with the older crowd drinking, i never wanted to embarrasse him so i would give him a little nudge saying thats enough lol,....we would talk sometimes about the people we both know, telling hum this gangbanging sh!t is not cute n how my friends are jus dying off jus being in the hood day or night. but the brics is where u decided to go the day God called u home. it hurt me even more hearing those that we with you that night show off where they we shot, and laugh n joke with they friends thinking they hard or they feel like they earned there stripes in the hood. smh brings tears to my eyes. you are missed dearly sam..n though your life ended suddenly hopefully ur story will save many more lives. love you sam

— anom June 2, 2013 at 7:02 p.m.

There is no logic in cold blooded murder! The only way for people to wrap their brains around senseless violence is to question the motivation(s) of the victim...in this case, Samuel. Samuel's father and I have been childhood friends for over 35 years, and he nor his wonderful wife would EVER subject either of their children to life threatening situations, or banging behavior. That bullet had no one's name on it, and could have easily entered any of our bodies, or perhaps it symbolically did. My thoughts continue to be with the Theard's, as they preserve the memories of Samuel's life, the tall kid I used to see riding a skateboard and playing with remote control cars. I ask that they be blessed with the strength to continue to parent Tabitha, as well as continue the pressure on investigators to bring the perpetrator(s) to justice, immediately! It's pathetic that any of us even have to post comments here. STOP THE VIOLENCE!

— Dr. Troy Davis Jan. 13, 2012 at 12:10 a.m.

OMG, I can't believe he is gone. That big ole teenager that used to eat cereal and watch The Family Guy on the couch is really gone and it hurts.
All through out the day in short pangs it hurts. First thing in the morning it really hurts. His mom, little sister and myself loved him dearly and it burns. There is not an inch of our home or a square foot of our beloved Los Angeles, California that doesn't remind me vividly of him. I enjoyed his sense of humor and being in his company. He was cool to hang out with. He was mischievous and got in to lots of trouble but he was not destructive. Self destructive would be the best description and no, he did not gang bang. The person that shot him obviously knew not what he was doing lest he wouldn't have done it. And this cliche stop snitching philosophy prevails again. NOBODY SAW SH*T!

Murder Is Disgusting
-Emile

— Emile Theard Dec. 27, 2011 at 6:05 p.m.