Verner James Keene, 25

April 19, 2010, 10 a.m.

Verner Keene, a 25-year-old black man, was shot and killed Sunday, April 18, in the 800 block of East Grand Avenue in Pomona, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Officers responded to a call of a shooting victim at a liquor store about 3:50 a.m. and found Keene shot several times, the Pomona Police Department said.

Keene was taken to L.A. County-USC Medical Center, where he died at 5:56 a.m., according to coroner's records.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Pomona police tip line at (909) 620-2085.

-- Corina Knoll

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22 reader comments

This is sick smh, he got killed at that 711 right there off Grand by Washington Park. Its a area controlled by 12th street Sharks eses. Its predomenatly hispanic south pomona, they hate blacks especially in that area. Thats like the epitomy of where a black man should not be. I use to work over there and use to go to thats 711 everyday. In the day time its quiet but in any given second you can go from seing Nothing, to 15 eses within seconds! ive been banged on but i had no problems, i use to buy weed across the street from that 711 from eses but i use to have to go thru someone cause they didnt like blacks. The 12s have a click called "NK" "ni%%er killers" they developed a Hate for blacks from the war theyve had with "South Side Pomona Village crips" its Been alot of documented Killings Between the 2 Gangs, since the early 90's to this day, but the south side village crips is not active like they were (due to fbi drug bust in 2008 also deaths & jail bids etc etc) The pomona 12's (hispanics) been trying to rid all blacks in south pomona. whatevers left off south pomona village crip area im sure still has black residents even tho osme say they lost there hood...but where ol boy died is hispanic hood, kinda the heart of it. and honestly the 12s run south pomona, just like the 357 crips run west pomona, and north pomona is 456 island bloods located of the 10 indian hill

— deino western May 4, 2010 at 1:19 a.m.

Imy cuzn..man u was the bidness..we all loved u dearly..iono why ppo do shyt for no reason. life is too short to thinken about taken someones elses life smilen around like its the thing to do..no its not..god see's everything and he will surley punish whoever killed my cuzn for there actions..(good luck).. verne was a good person and everybody loved him..he made everybody smile and gave no problems...he was very sweet and jus thinken about him draws tears to my eyes... he was there for me wen i needed him and i will never forget that day!! he was too good of a person to leave his family and kids behind..also his friends were devastated.man its just soo many memories backed up..all i can do is smile at them...i know my cuzen wanted us to be strong and happy for him....his sister (my cuzzen) im trynna keep her strong and hold it down..but inside she isnt doen too well.... u were her only brother and now she lost that, but not in her heart..none of our hearts.. ya mom she hangen in there. she gave u to the lord and he accepted u..ya bm and m dogg..man its all bad for them..there trying to hang in there. we all have to b strong for ya kids.....ya lil gurl talyah knows wat happen and she trying to hang ion there..Cuzzn jus know u left behind the ones that love u and will always love u..u will truly b missed pookie..we all love u and say hi to dont'e for me..love u man..

— lil cuzzo bre April 22, 2010 at 4:48 p.m.

Its so sad 2 see ppl lose there lives over the dumb acts of other ppl. Jus b/c ur a different race, u have 2 be shot and killed? That doesn't make no sense! Its 2010 and the mexicans aka the southsiders are still tripping. When are we goin 2 stop! U can't even walk 2 the store n make it back home in one piece.

Verne was a sweet quite guy who always had a smile on his face. It didn't matter what the situation was he always seemed 2 be happy. Ima miss him popping up saying 'cousin I need 2 rest my eyes 4 a minute' u don't kno how much a person meant 2 u until they are gone. Verne stayed 2 himself most of the time. He loved his children so dearly n it hurts me 2 see him go n leave his kids w/o a father. He didn't have 2 lose his life this way. I jus hope n pray that everyone has gotten a wake up call from this, life doesn't have an end date on it.

The streets of Pomona aren't safe as being a blk male especially on the southside. Now days u don't even have 2 bang, jus being @ the wrong place @ the wrong time n that could be ur last day on this earth.

Verne u will be missed dearly n ur smile will never be 4gotten! Don't worry ur mom is holding up better than what most thought she would. Ur sis man! Watch over her, she isn't taking this 2 well. And Dogg smh...dude u left b4 ur time n left behind so many ppl that loved u.

— That Chick April 20, 2010 at 11:24 p.m.