Jamiel Shaw Jr., 17

Jamiel Shaw Jr., 17, a black youth, was shot in the head and back at 2150 Fifth Ave. in Arlington Heights at about 8:40 p.m. on Sunday, March 2. According to police, Jamiel was walking home when two Latino men jumped out of a white car and approached him. He was asked what gang he belonged to;  when he failed to respond quickly enough, they shot him. The men sped away in the white car north on Fifth Avenue, according to Officer Kate Lopez of LAPD's media relations office. Jamiel's father heard the shots and ran out. He stayed by his son until medical personnel arrived, Lopez said. He was transferred to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead at 9:55 p.m.

More in the Los Angeles Times story.

Comments

[Jordan Halsey]

I am so sorry for this senseless act and give his family all my love; I wish you the best in the future and hope hat some how something good comes from this for you.

[John]

Another act of racial violence. 17 and get shot for being black.The second time in a month where a black football star is gunned downed for nothing.something nedds to change

[ASterling]

My thoughts and prayers are with Jamiel's family and friends. I am stunned by the other young people who have been killed. When will the violence end?

http://asterling.typepad.com/incipit_vita_nova/2008/03/jamiel-our-hear.html

[DK]

I cannot begin to tell you how deeply sorry I am for the loss of such a special young man.

[Joanna]

This is only two streets from my house. And last night there was another shooting...a month ago, a rape. The recent gang activity has turned what was a family neighborhood into a place where no one walks on the streets.

[blessed beauty]

my heart goes out to this young mans family I know how it feels to lose someone to a senseless act of violence I pray all the time for us to stick together someone has to break this cycle of race issues gang issues we all have to live here so we might as well learn to love and respect each other

[Vivid]

When will this type of violence end? Senseless racial murders. I'm a tax paying citizen with two young boys and I hope this type of stuff never crosses my family.

[AGordon]

In a city with so many murders, this one really stands out. The sheer pointless and racist nature of the act against such a promising and upstanding member of the community has destroyed my faith in this city's ability to maintain law and order. Many young people put themselves in dangerous situations by who they hang out with and by being out at all hours. Jamiel was coming home from the Beverly Center at 8:30 on a Sunday night to a relatively low-crime neighborhood. When is it going to stop? How many more innocent children have to die in the streets? My thoughts go out to the family and friends of Jamiel Shaw...may he Rest In Peace.

[shelia]

I have a son 18 years old and when it was time for high school i moved him away to Arizona, so that he could live his life like a kid should. I don't care how we raise our kids we cannot protect them from the streets. we can teach them to do the right thing, but the parent who did not teach there kid can come and destroy somebody else family that is trying to do the right thing. my heart goes out to the family, I could not even begin to feel what they are going through. GOD BLESS AND BE STRONG

[Evette]

I am in Colorado and read this blog frequently. Today I cannot hold back the tears. I am so sorry for your loss. I am a mother of 4 teenage boys and I cannot begin to comprehend your grief. Please know that your family is in my prayers and that our Good God never fails us. Call out to him now in your time of need and let him give you strength. God Bless You.

[Sophia Craig]

I am so, so sorry to hear about the senseless murder of this fine young man. I myself have 2 sons who are 17 and 18 and it would absolutely devastate me if they were to lose their lives this way. I will keep his family in my prayers, and hope that they turn to God for comfort in their grief.

[Ray]

This kind of senseless violence makes me worry about the future for my own 10 year old son. We need to get the guns off the streets. My heart aches for this family. We black and brown people must renounce violence against each other.

[leevern03]

This breaks my heart and I dont even know this family. But as a mother of a 17 year old son. I am constantly praying for his safety. One can never know when tragedy will strike, but you are never ready for it and it totally turns your world upside down. My prayer is that the family will draw closer to Jesus and allow him to comfort you all in this very difficult time. We dont know when a loved one is going to leave us but the beauty in this is that He was a fine young man that had made his family proud. And you can thank God for that. Your memories will be ones that you will smile about. And last but not least. Know who really is control of all our lives and if you dont know him get to know him, I is imperative to be one of His (Jesus). He loves you. and is able to see you there.

[S]

To the family and friends of Jamiel, I am so sorry for your loss. This story breaks my heart..I feel as if I have known this young man all his life. I pray that your family will find comfort in knowing that God will bring these ruthless murderers to justice. RIP Jamiel

[Ariana Aguilera]

My only question is, when is all the gang violence going to stop? Seems that now more than before we hear about crimes being committed more often. From what I heard in the news, Jamiel Shaw Jr. was a hard working, caring person. Nobody deserves to have a death like this in which they are killed, for no good reason. Although I might not live in a place where there is as much violence as there is in other places, I still don't feel safe walking alone anywhere. Anything can happen, and like they say you can be at the right place at the wrong time, or be at the wrong place at the right time. I don't feel too safe knowing that there is violence all around us, whether we're able to see it or not. The killings of innocent people have to stop asap!

[sandra mathews]

I can very well relate with you on this issue because I had a nephew by the name of Antwan Cole who was gun down Feb 8th on 135th st and main because of his color. He was standing at the bus stop at 11:23Ppm , when a car went latinos in it drove up to him and shot him multiple times, he was just getting of work, you can read up on him on this site under ANTWAN COLE, just stroll down until you see his name, may God bless and be with you all............s.cole

[canitbe]

I pray for this family for strength, hope and comfort.

Please, if anyone has knowledge of the people responsible, tell the police so that these hateful men will not be free to do this again, ever.

[PACO]

Such a Great Loss for everyone whO ever met this youngman, who had a great future TAKEN away from him, before he could show the world who and what he would become. They SHOULD start making the PARENTS of these so called lowlifes RESPONSIBLE, for everything they have done , when they are ARRESTED and CONVICTED, the PARENTS are RESPONSIBLE for these 'kids" ACTIONS, I think that if the "Person" responsible for these "Deaths" are under 18, that the SO CALLED PARENTS ALSO BE CONVICTED IN SOMEWAY. I DON'T CARE IF THEY HAVE MORE OF THIS "SCUM" AT HOME, ALL THEY WILL GROW UP TO BE ARE "KILLERS"

This young mans Parents are responsible for his "Great Upbringing", yet now they are now left to bury "all their Love and Hard Work" many years too soon. I don't know this young man, but I applaud him and all that were in his life that brought him to such "GREATNESS" IN SUCH A SHORT TIME. HOLD PARENTS ACCOUNTABLE, FOR WHAT THEY BROUGHT INTO THIS WORLD. AND START NOW. In this young gentlemans HONOR.

[Tiffany from Compton]

I can only dream of having a son as beautiful (and handsome too)as this mother has. As a black woman it makes me think should I save myself the stress, pain, and grief of having any more kids because all I ever wanted was a son. But I cant bear just the thought of losing a child. It doesn't matter if they are 17 or 6 years old!!!! We have two sisters in a matter of 3 days (BY THE WAY, THESE ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT MADE IT TO THE NEWS!!!)that have to bury their children whom died because of the color of their skin. Jamiel's mother was leading by example she is off serving a war and here it is one in her own front yard that killed HER child!! Can you imagine what she must feel? Because I can't!
Something has to be done! I don't care what color you are if you ever birthed a child or have the desire to these stories are heart wrenching at the thought of if it was your child. I dont know what needs to be done or even where to start....but I know if we can't do anything else we CAN pray and support these sisters

Jill/Rueben can you post the story about the 6 year old black boy that was shot in the head and killed yesterday?
Thanks

To anyone who has the info with the account info for Jamiel can you please post it because I would like to contribute to his fund.

[Cecília Vencovsky Penha]

I am a Brasilian, resident of São Paulo. Unhappily losses as life of that young Jamiel cannot be described with words. To destroy a life that just began. To impede, to violates a youth's rights that he wanted to live, to grow, to love, to still be loved plus, to do more friends, to do plans, to accomplish them further on, to know the woman of his life, to ask her in marriage, to have a son, to cry in the sad moments and mainly in the happy moments, to thank to God everyday for your family, your life. Those dreams and many others were pulled of this young boy and of your family. As we spoke here in my earth, that God comforts the heart of you family and friends and that illuminates the competent policemen in the resolution of this cruelty.
To read and to think..
"The Lord is my shepherd, anything I will lack...
..Although I walk for the it is worth of the shade of the death, I won't fear any badly, because you are with me."
(Psalm 23)
God blesses all the relatives and be in Peace.

[Star]

It's very sad to hear so many shooting and innocent people get killed daily. No matter what race people are or color, no one be killed just because a SO CALLED GANGSTER OR WANNA BE THUG CAN FEEL THE POWER TO DO SO. I don't live in L.A but I read the news daily it breaks my heart to see how many get killed.

I stick to having GANGSTER BE SENT TO THE WAR. Then they can really use their skills they believe they have...

I pray for the family to get through this very hard time. Very sad to see a young man killed by non-sense.

R.I.P Jamiel Shaw JR,.

[KWinn]

To the family and friends of this obviously gifted young man my prayers go out to you. May those responsible for this senseless death be bought to justice soon. This is just another example of people having no conscience and it's destroying the Nation.

[Laterian's Uncle]

I was first told of this story by my wife because it hit very close to home and later heard the story on the news for myself. I would like to express our condolences to Jameil's family and know by experience that there are no words that can begin to take away the pain that I know you are feeling. My nephew, whom I raised, Laterian Tasby was gunned down in a similar manner on October 26th 2007. He too played football as well as basketball and had a bright future ahead of himself. I was deployed in Iraq at the time as was Jameil's mother. I am deeply sorry for your loss and hope that your sons killers are brought to justice.

[Mitzi Parker]

I'm praying for this family. I don't reside in Los Angeles but I grew up there and it makes me sick/sad to read when another life it taking because of racial violence.

[jo]

I live in Arizona and we do have some gang killings, but nothing like LA. Something extreme has to happen to stop all this madness. How idiotic to shoot someone because their skin color is different or they don't belong to your gang. Where are the parents of these gang bangers and why don't they have any control of their damn kids. If I were a black teenager I would be scared to death to live in LA today. How sad.

[Tony]

First, to the family of this young man, may God bless you and give you all the strength and support you need with this terrible loss. This doesn't sound like a racially motivated act but just more stupid gang violence. I think they would have shot him no matter what color he was.
they are heartless and and lack souls. Gangs are truly the cancer of all good societies. I wish for the gangs and especially the gang leaders all the worst that life has to offer.

[David Grigsby]

My heart goes out to you, my precious Little Princess Emily Grigsby was murdered on 2/15 after she exiting the car she was riding in may it to a small party of friends who graduated from Quartz Hill High School in the Antelope Valley. She was texting a girlfriend that night that she was nervous because she had never been that far away from home to a party, and it was just a small party of kids who graduated in 2005 - 2007. One of the kids lived there with his great grandmother and was going to college at UCLA or USC. My baby was a 19 year old preschool teacher and was carrying her Hello Kitty purse that my wife got her for Valentine Day. She grew up in a very rural area 75 miles from where she died, and she did not desreve to have her short beautiful life end this way. I have told my girls for years that even with they are 80 years old they will still Daddy's lLittle Princesses.

[captainjohnboyd]

I don't think the police are telling the full story about this one......

It's not racial at all. It's a gang thing. It just so happens one of the gangs is black, and the other hispanic.

[a concern mother]

First off my condolences goes to the parents, family and friends, I know it's hard to lose someone especially such a inocent life but God will take care of you. I have a young son myself and it scares me that even thou he is not into all the bad things in life like gang banging and he is into sports that someone will have the nerve to just take that away. I pray for you and your family and our streets that God will take care of us all and make this world somewhere special to live. Keep your head up and continue to keep God first.

[A. Smith]

I just keep asking why? I don't know Jamiel or his family, but I feel a fraction of their pain. I cried when I saw the story on the news. Life seems to have little or no value anymore, especially the life of a Black male. We have become prisoners in our own neighborhood; in our own homes. My husband and I are afraid to drive through certain neighborhoods at certain times of the day. What kind of quality of life is this when you are scared to walk down the street on your own block? To the Shaw family: My family will continue to pray for your deliverance from this painful circumstance. Find your strength in the Lord.

[Stephanie]

To the family of Jamiel Shaw, I am so sorry for your lost. May the Lord be with you and give you strength and peace.

[Universal Love]

My prayers go out to his family.

It just makes me UPSET and ANGRY about all the killings that have been going around for the past couple of months. Latinos killing blacks. vice versa.. This has GOT TO STOP!!!! We need a movement of unity to stop the violence. I personally feel that "they" don't care what happens in our communities. I work in the Beverly Hills area and one day I was getting out of work. There were about 5 police cars and 2 motorcycle cops in the alley to remove a homeless person who was just sleeping by the park. Does that make sense??? Where I live we are used to seeing homeless people walking around, graffiti on the walls and thugs walking the streets intimidating people who are minding their own business trying to do something with their lifes.

I'm a Latina and my husband happens to be black. We are constantly getting dirty looks from both sides. WHY?
I believe as minorities living in L.A. in the "US" for that matter we should come together as one and not hate eachother for being a few shades darker or lighter.

The violence has got to STOP now!! I

[K Jenkins]

To the Shaw Family, stay strong and I'm sorry for your loss. I grew up in LA myself, and have experienced the deaths of many freinds due to senseless violence. I consider myself lucky to be alive, because I realized at the age of 21 I had to get out of LA. Now in my mid 30's. LA is not the place for young black people to grow up. It's ridiculous that the gov. is doing nothing to combat these gangs since the police seem pretty much powerless. There is no other way, but get your children to safer enviornments. It's ridiculous, for us to have to live like this.

[K Jenkins]

To the Shaw Family, stay strong and I'm sorry for your loss. I grew up in LA myself, and have experienced the deaths of many freinds due to senseless violence. I consider myself lucky to be alive, because I realized at the age of 21 I had to get out of LA. Now in my mid 30's. LA is not the place for young black people to grow up. It's ridiculous that the gov. is doing nothing to combat these gangs since the police seem pretty much powerless. There is no other way, but get your children to safer enviornments. It's ridiculous, for us to have to live like this.

[concerned citizen]

First, to the family, I am so very sorry for your loss. I pray that the peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds stayed on Jesus Christ.

Second, I want to say to the community that someone saw something; someone knows who did this; someone’s silence means they acquiesce and agree with what the murderer did. By turning a blind eye, someone is allowing this person the physical freedom to commit more heinous and hurtful crimes.

Please. Please. Come forward and tell the law what you know. Chances are this person has told several others because of the false sense of bravado he feels in having taken this young man’s precious life.

This was a young man with a promising future that his parents and family mapped out for his life. His was a life that was centered in Christ and he is now with the Father receiving his rewards. This young man valued what matters: God, his parents, friends and himself. He was surrounded by those who had the wherewithal to point him in the right direction and prop him up, thus making the lurid life of gangs, drugs and fast money look just like what it is: a complete and total waste of life.

If you witnessed this incident, please go to the authorities anonymously. You are not snitching. You are being a concerned and caring human being; you are proving to yourself and others that you think highly of life, yourself and of the giver of life.

In a few weeks, we will be celebrating the Resurrection of Christ. I pray that the Lord will move in the heart of all who witnessed this incident and that they will be fully persuaded that what God has promised, He is able to perform.

To the family: may blessings and peace surround you as you move forward in spirit and in truth.

[re: Laterian's Uncle]

To the family of Jamiel Shaw, my deepest and heartfelt condolences for your loss.
To Laterian Tasby's uncle and family, I am so sorry that the perpetrator(s) of your nephew’s death are still at large and as yet have not been apprehended. I continuously pray for your family and that those at the party will still find the courage to come forward.
I am so upset about the continued and senseless deaths befalling our young Afro American men. It grieves my spirit to know that our young men are not safe anywhere! I pray that God will grant us favor, all of us, and turn this situation around.
What young Afro American and Latino males do not take into consideration is that your women cannot procreate without you, so what you are in essence doing is killing yourselves off as a race of people.

[WONDERING]

how come when a suspected gang member, or even a known gang member murders someone, it is called gang related? this is so unfair to put this label on every one of these senseless killings of innocent people. call it what you want. we have our own little iraq here in los angeles and the gang members doing this is the new and improved terrorist cell (s). .black, brown or green.doesn't matter. something needs to be done.since the politicians knoe it's gang related, every time. get the gangs.get the military in here to do something!!! this is sad and scarry. god bless everyone!! pray daily!!

[David Grigsby]

Tonight marks 3 weeks since we lost our Emily. The post I wrote the other night was done at approx. 2am my wife and I still haven't figured out how to get a good night sleep. I grew up in Pacoima back in the 60's moving to Valencia in 1971, and finally up to the Antelope Valley in 1986. Emily was so full of life and had a bright future ahead of her. All this violence is useless and pointless. I wish they would start up the draft again at least we can get some of the people comitting these crimes off the streets and in the trenches where people shoot back. Why are our Brave young men dying so worthless low lifes can take the lives of innocent people.

[rene lara]

1st my deepest condolences for there family and friends of the young man who life was taken i have been threw similar pain may he live in eternal peace, but to the ignorant person who typed that all there will be to grow up is killers your very wrong for typing that , and in fact this sensless racial killing does have to cease i walkt that walk of street life and frm deep experince we all got to stop all street violance brown on brown and black on black non of us grew up with a silver spoon in r mouth, again peace and very sorry to his loved 1s, typed by a brown mind.. peace

[buz]

If this black kid had been gunned down by two shaved headed white guys there would be major, major repercussions. If not huge riots then big time demonstrations with Jesse, Al Sarpton, the works. Am I wrong? But brown shooting down blacks and spray painting racist graffiti is "basically" accepted. Sure there will be a prayer vigil or two and a few articles in the paper but this weekend the cycle will continue without missing a beat. I do not understand the double standard.

[Will]

why cant people be blind-
to the colors inside thier mind
black-white- yellow- red - or blue
does it matter ?when madness like this ensues?
so much anger, so much hate.........
this power to devastate
the lives of others whom you may not know or care
senseless tragedies, unspeakable caused despair
i ask myself why? people have to die in ways like this
is there something they missed?
for the differences we all share
why cant people learn
that this gang lifestyle is absurd
youth will always be youth
but that is not an excuse
my thoughts and prayers go out to this family
my thoughts and prayers call out for HUMANITY!

[Tiffany from Compton]

I want to clarify something I recently posted, the morning I read this story about Jamiel and the six year old that was shot in the head the article stated that he died, and he is still alive but on life support so let's continue to pray for him and
Jamiel's family. I understand that God's plan is greater that ours but it's the human side of me it doesn't make since that a mother buries their child..........

[Vida Donnevan]

Here is the burial information for Jamiel Shaw:

A public viewing will be held on Monday, March 10th at Inglewood Cemetery Mortuary, located at 3801 W Manchester Blvd., from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. A funeral service will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the West Angeles Cathedral located at 3600 Crenshaw Blvd.

Even though I did not know Jamiel, I was deeply moved by the story of this promising young man, and I plan on attending his funeral to show solidarity with his family.

My prayers are with the family. This city has a racial problem and a gang problem, and it would be disingenuous not to acknowledge the intersectionality.

http://www.dysfunctionaldiva.net

[Alan Curtis]

Guns are for the weak and the cowardly.

[KIMBERLY SMITH]

I HAVE A SIX AND THREE YRS OLD GRANDSONS IF IT IS THIS TERRIBLE NOW HOW WILL IT BE ONCE THEIR OLDER. WE AS PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS MUST BEGIN TO PICK SIGNS WHEN WE SEE OUR CHILDREN GRASPING ONTO ANOTHER UNFAVORIBLE LIFESTYLE SUCH AS DRESSING DIFFRENTLY, WALKING DIFFRENTLY, CROWD OF FRIENDS AND THE CHOICE OF FRIENDS CHANGING THIS GANG VIOLENCE IS AMONG ALL OUR CHILDREN AFRO AMERICAN LATINOS ASIANS BUT US ADULTS NEED TO RECONIZE THE CHANGES. BECOME MORE INVOVLED IN OUR YOUTHS LIFE AND NOT AROUND THEIR LIFE MEANING VISITS THEIR SCHOOLS, SEE WHAT TYPE OF WORK THEIR DOING, BE A PARTICIATE IN THEIR LIVES START LEARNING ABOUT OUR CHILDREN WHAT THEY LIKE INVOLVE OURSELVES IN GOING AND DOING THINGS WITH THEM.THIS GANG VIOLENCE IS AFFECTING ALL OUR LIVES AS A COMMUNITY AS A HUMAN RACE. AND IT MUST STOP. PLEASE FOR THE SAKE OF MY GANDSONS COUSINS NEPHEWS FIENDS AND NIEGHBOR .

[TeeWilla]

This has got to stop. They can not have my twenty-month old grandson. God help us please. Family God Bless each and every one of you this hurts me.

[tony]

I heard Jamiel’s father say on the news that this murder was a gang problem and not a brown/black racial problem. I commiserate with the Shaw family deeply but I disagree with the notion of just a gang thing. There is a segment of Hispanics that wants to efface Blacks from Southwestern United States. Let’s not be in denial! Hispanics are starting to murder blacks more frequently. Even Hispanic cops are killing blacks and Hispanic thugs are killing black cops. This segment is trying to engender some type of genocide. Police Chief Bratton is calling these murders anything but hate crimes. His explanation is a bit abstruse and entails more denial. The most conspicuous part of this is Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s taciturn behavior. I guess he is too busy campaigning for Hillary or something. Antonio’s silence speaks loud and clear. Paraphrasing Kanye West post Katrina: “Villaraigosa don’t care about black people.” Villaraigosa and Bratton’s peculiar styles are exacerbating the problem for blacks. This is an analogous to early 20th deep south when whites were lynching blacks unabated while authorities did nothing.

Unequivocally this is a small portion of the Hispanic segment which hates blacks. However we must still accurately identify that many Hispanics have entrenched bigotry with darker folks. This many times entails prejudice against their own darker culture. We can not allow gang excuses to obfuscate the racial element. Jamiel and the kid shot in Harbor City were innocent boys. One was a high school football star and the other a kindergartner. In closing, authorities led by Antonio Villaraigosa appear to be conniving true issue of innate racism in his culture. The answer is to denounce and reject Hispanic hate crimes toward blacks. Hypothetically if this is truly a gang problem then expunge gangs in California with draconian laws. For instance joining gangs should equate to 20 years imprisonment. I concur with Mrs. Shaw when she said gang members are terrorist.

[AT WAR]

This is a problem That has existed for some time now,It is now on the front line and will continue to happen as long as culture continues to change,Let's just face it Gangs aren't going any where it's like a plague that america does not want to fix.You take away Education and you build more prisons.You take away Jobs and you open more liquor stores.You say you have no more funding for after school programs,but you get over budgeted for this screwed up highway system.I am 38 years old and have seen many of my friends die in Gang warfare.I was 15 when my first homeboy from my hood was murdered and here I am 38 and still losing friends and young homies.How do we fix this do we give our kids guns and say the first mexican that approaches you
blow his head off or will I have to continue to lace up my chuCks and stay on the frontline and Battle this war that AMERIKA continues to Ignore.
WEST ADAMS

[KG]

First of all, God bless the shaw family my heart goes out to you. This is a scenario thats been repeated time and time again. I was born and raised here in LA and this kind of violence and senseless gang stuff has gone on for years. It was latino's who gunned down this young man but the gang culture and the gang violence has all of our prints on it. Black on Black or brown on brown, all of these scenarios exist becuase were too afraid to do anything about it. Lets stand together and save our communities.... Black and Brown have co-existed for years in LA. Why now is this happening?

[Carolyn]

I just want to offer condolences to Jamiel's family. It is such an unbearable tragedy and my heart is breaking for you.