Kenneth Johnson, 48

Kenneth Johnson, 48, a black man, was killed in the same double homicide that took the life of Theodore Giddens, below. It happened at 42nd Street and Broadway just south of Martin Luther King Boulevard at about 3 a.m. Friday, July 13. Johnson came to Newton station sometime after the shooting to tell police he had been shot. They called an ambulance for him, and he went to California Hospital, where his condition worsened, and he died at 5:27 a.m. Saturday, July 14.

A Latino man, Armando Sandoval, 29, was arrested almost immediately after by Newton officers responding to the radio call; he faces double-murder charges. Sandoval had a gun, which police seized, said LAPD Newton Det. Eric Spear. Officers Jose Arrellano and Rodrigo Lopez asked questions, got a description of the suspect, put out a broadcast. Officers Sharlton Wampler and Officer Dana Grant saw a man who fit the description in a driveway about block away. As they were talking with him, they noticed a gun like the one described on the ground nearby. They arrested Sandoval. It is the second time this summer that uniformed LAPD officers have nabbed a double-murder suspect, saving detectives the trouble. Nine Newton officers working the incident that night got commendations, said Lt. Mike Menza.

Spear, the detective, said Sandoval argued with Johnson and Giddens, then pulled out a gun and shot both men. Spear said police aren't sure what the argument was about, but various people who frequent this street corner, pictured below right, said they thought Sandoval may have been on the hunt for drugs. Sandoval was a documented gang member. Neither Giddens nor Johnson had criminal records. Johnson's mother declined to be interviewed. A neighbor said he had lived in the vicinity at least 25 years.

The Homicide Report has earlier covered the issue of gang intimidation, and how it discourages cooperation with police. This double-homicide offers a case in point: After Johnson and Giddens fell bleeding from mortal wounds, gang graffiti on curbs and walls surrounding the murder scene broadcast gloating sentiments. One graffiti message, scrawled under a nearby mural of the Virgen of Guadalupe, bragged of the killer's acts, and profanely warned a wider world against doing anything about it.

Comments

[Kevin]

Los Angeles is indeed a sad place. The streets in the City of Angels seems to be ruled by Satanic forces. Such a murderous city. Second only in the world to Jamaica

[Casa Morning Glory]

I am a very good friend of Kenny's I helped to arrange his funeral, was
actally thought to be able to make it until his heart failed on him,,,God bless you Kenny,,,we miss you,,,,and also no to mention the Heroic effort he made to save his friend and himself, he was shot by "nan0" a HOB gang coward,,,who will now fry! thank God! but to tell you all that I heard the shooting when it happened and noticed , a screeching car had passed by or house and when I looked to see who it was, I saw no one,,next day we found out from detectives that Kenny drove him self to the station, and stated that he was shot,,,and as the paramedics on central ave right across fromthe police station, came to put him on the grney he,,told the officers that also his friend was down, please go and help him,,before he passed out, he described the assailant to the tee..and he was arrested the idiot! killer,, was so coward he shot him in the back, but Kenny you lost your life but, you suceeded in helping get the assailant the death penalty.. I am so sorry you did not get the chance to drive your car, that you had just purchased and sorry, you did not get to move in your new place that you paid for,,,but now you are moved in with the lord,,,GOD BLESS, and GOD bless the detectives and LAPD for all the hard work that was put in by your newton station,,,we appreciate it , thanks to the reporter who allow voices from south central to be heard,,the Killings must stop!

Love Kenny's family

[Tracee (MUIRFIELD)]

I am so happy to hear that the killer was caught and sentenced to the death
penalty.....but I am also very saddened that this man did not get to live and see the killer take responsibility for what he did. It is alright because you are now in heaven looking down over your family and you are also able to see that the killer was caught. You are a hero for what you did for your friend but God said it was time to come home. R.I.P. May God bless you.