'He wanted to be independent'

Twenty-five year old Emitt Love Jr. knew struggle.

At the age of 8, Love's mother left. His father was in prison. Love's grandmother took him in.

A year later, his mother took him back, but it only lasted a few months. She left again, and Love was placed in a foster home. Then his father was released from prison and Love moved in with him at age 10.

Six years later, his father lost his job and house. Love moved in with his aunt in Bellflower. He attended Bellflower High School and ran track, said the father, Emitt Love Sr., interviewed by phone.

After high school, Love moved in with his older brother. A roomate skipped out on rent, and the brothers were evicted.

From then on, Love roamed from house to house. He wanted to be independent, the father said. Love worked for a year at CVS, the drug store chain. He was trying to make it as a hip-hop/rap artist, the father said. He had a rap group called Street Roamers with his two cousins and friend. His music moniker was "E-Nuff."

Love was at the bus stop on Century Boulevard near Vermont Avenue waiting for his girlfriend to pick him up late on June 1, according to Love's friend. Authorities said a black man approached and shot Love at about 10:45 p.m., then fled in a dark-colored vehicle south on Vermont Avenue.

Photo: On Monday afternoon Love's cousin and a friend, kneeling, made a short stop at the bus bench in Athens where Love had been sitting before he was shot to death.

Comments

[Derrick]

Like I have said before, if you are young and black, you can't be on the streets late at night in the Athens district. The man was just minding his own business at a bus stop and he gets gunned down, incredible. Now, another family is grieving the death of a love one.

[Shaun]

My condolences

[Greg]

My condolences to his family and friends.

That was such a sad story.

[KD]

I grew up in the Athens area and it seems I moved out just at the right time cuz people started getting killed over there like crazy...I miss the area but the killings are way outta control and some way random

[A.LONG]

Who would've ever thought. Man "E" we just said, Hi, now Im not saying goodbye but see you later. I still cant believe it, but while you were on earth alot of people loved you deeply and you truly will be missed. Ebony held you down from day one and still is.

P.S. Tell Jay I said I Love Him.......

R.I.P. E-NUFF

[walker woodard]

Emitt was my best friend like a litle brother to me and he will be missed.

[Shawn]

Condolenses to the family of this young man....and i think theres been a mistake here, but I have lived in the neighborhood where this young man was shot and I have never heard it referred to as, "Athens". Century and Vermont is an intersection in South Los Angeles....if my assumption is correct.....Athens is in Compton right?

[steven]

I used to make music with E, he was amazing with words, insanely gifted. Can't find the words for how I feel, this is awful.

R.I.P. E-NUFF

Bless
Steven

[J-Holla]

E-NUFF ---It was like yesterday we was a "B" house trying to throw a party....Or at Mo-Mo house plaing dominos...Streat Roamers!!! R,I,P. E....Your life will be celibrated

[S. Hudson]

Crossroads Christian Center sends its love and condolences to the Family. Ebony, we love you and are here for you!
S. Hudson
Crossroads Christian Center

[Tamara]

My prayers go out to Emitts family and most of all his girlfriend and my baby sister. I hate that he's gone and that he had to leave this way. I'm sorry sis that the Love of your life is gone but beleive me he is better off now then we are. He doesn't have to struggle anymore or deal with the crazy things of this world. Emitt was a good guy and I will definately miss him. And although it may seem like we don't want to go on because he is gone we have to keep living. So to all of Emit's family and friends don't cry for him cause he is now alright. Cry for yourself especially if you don't know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and savior, cause we still have to deal with the evils of the world and he is the only one that can save us.

God Bless
Starr

[dp]

my condolences to the family of this young man.

[afather]

As a Black Man & Father, I am truly worried about the future of my Sons. Young Black Men are being hunted by our owen and no body is conserned. Are Community should be up in arms. Lets hunt the gang bangers?

[concerned citizen]

Im so sorry for your loss I too lost a loved one this year and I know what your feeling everyday I pray that the violence will stop,yet it seeems to still continue but as christain people we have to pary, pray, pray for our people as well as our enemies.Because the devil hears our prayers just like the lord does I pray we come together as a community and as a whole and make our streets safe for our children our mothers and everyone.

[BN]

Condolences to this young man's family and friends. I saw all the balloons and candles today.
Shawn, this area is Athens. Look at the signs the County put up, it says "welcome to Athens/Westmont."

[Ebony Love]

Baby words can't explain the love I have for you. You loved me when I couldn't love myself. Not only were you my man but my best friend, protector, and most of the time my ONLY shoulder to cry on. God really blessed me to have chose me to be the woman in your life and to have such a great man in my life, NO ONE loved me the way you did. You told me I was beautiful every day and would go off on someone if they upset me or hurt my feelings. I remember the day we first met and you were so focused on the T.V. at Mike's house that when I finally stood in front of you and stuck my hand out to introduce myself you looked up at me and stopped dead in your tracks and our eyes locked for what seemed like forever. Like we told each other with our eyes we are soul mates and we have been inseprable since that day and that was 3 years ago. I don't know what my life has in store for me now that your gone but I will always remember your strong faith in God and will use that to keep me going. I know there were times you felt unloved in your life because of the harsh childhood you had, but I would always remind you that I love u more than life itself and by the look on your face I know that pain you felt for a short moment would ease away. I LOVE YOU!!! and know God is protecting you my beautiful Emmit.

Yours always,
Ebony Love

[susie]

when will the killings stop, enough is enough how
many more families have to go through this.

[Annnie]

My Dearest Friend- You have no idea how many people you have touched....We all love you and will never forget our moments with you.....We shall see you again..... Love, Annie

[LaMar]

I miss u E, i got 3 years wit u but from da tyme i meet u, it seemed like we've been fam forever, i had my sports, u had ur rap, we both had a great women to have our backs in wutever we did. It hurts that ur not here but its easier to know that God has ur back now, i will alwayz remember da tymez we had. I love you E, i'll be gettin that Presidente and Long Island Ice Tea for you homie, Ebony stay up gurl, thank you for bein that stabilizing factor in his life, our father has him now.

[Denise Smith]

I Love U Lil Emmit.....When Lil Emmit was a baby me & his father moved in for the first time on Dotie Ave. in Inglewood Ca..big Emmit would never be at home with me & Lil Emmit, me as a young mother and quiet ,I never did think nothing of it ,but he would always be downstairs all night with the neighbors smokin crack cocaine, & also pcp. I would have to catch the bus with my son by myself with Lil Emmit with his stroller to get groceries for the house. I think we stayed there for maybe 2 months or so . Then we moved to the Watts Arms, across the street from my mom.,at this time we had stayed together untill Big Emmit I don't remeber if he went to jail or not but we did stay togther over there to long because he would stay gone all the time then and be smokin that crack & pcp ....I remember one time Big Emmit stayed out all night & I went to open the front door & their he was laided out on the front porch high off of the drugs. I also remember one time when I went to the store or somewhere and lleft my son with his father, & I came back big Emmit had gfell off the balcony & the ambulance was there & big Emmit was blowing blood spit bubbles out of his mouth , he did know what or where he was at . So this is what I khad to put up with when Lil Emmit was a baby. I think that was during the time Big Emmit went to jail cause he endangerded his childs life. Then I met Von and I had Chavon my daughter Lil Emmits sister and me and von moved in together & we stayed together for about a year or 2 then this is when my kids had gotten taken away cause Chavon was a baby and Lil Emmit was 5 then my mother got custody of Lil Emmit for about I'll say 6 months or so to a year cause I had to go through parenting classes, so I didi that all the while visting my son bringing him clothing everytime he needed clothes., Lil Emmit was never abandoned as big Emmit tried to say he was. he may be trying to say when I moved to Moreno Valley that I abandoned my son which was not the case either .And also Big Emmit said my son lived with his aunt in Bell Flower he lived with me in Bell Flower , get it right Emmit......and Lil Emmit did not run track Lil Emmit played baseball & also soccer as a child so, Big emmit stayed high so much that he don't know what he is talkin about ...then we move to Gardena after I got Lil Emmit back the first time and we live over ther for about 2 yrs. so see he lied on the statement he maided. And then Lil Emmit got taken away Again see I didn't know who was doing this to me at the time and then I finally found out who did it the first time and the second time . Which was my sister Lataunya, she told my son to call the police on my .....because I had whipped Lil Emmit for dnot doing something like I told him to do ......Lil Emmit was a stubborn child a very stubborn child he didn't want to do his home work when I would tell him to he would sit there form the time he got home from school till 12 midnight doin some easy homework . so my sister listen to Lil Emmit and Lil Emmit not telling the whole story she beleived him anyway because I beliieve my sister is jealous of me. So we went through it again and Emmit came back to me again and we went to counseling & got through it .big Emmit may be trying to say I abandoned Lil Emmit when I moved to Moreno Valley . Lil Emmit came out there with me to , but like Lil Emmit always think he can run somebody grown in their house ,he ran up the old mans phone bill when he first got here with me and didn't want to clean up when I told him to he would tell me to wait , you are the child & I am the parent Emmit was about 17 at that time so I told Lil Emmit he had to go.Because he disrespected a grown persons house and didn't care what ha[ppened.......But Lil Emmit RIP.....mamma still loved you.

[ebonynsouthla]

First I want to start off by saying that this is tragic and hurtful. I don't know the young man that was murdered but it still hurts. I live right down the street and I pass by more than twice a day, its so sad. My prayers go out to the girlfriend and family. I know its going to take a long time to heal and remember to take one day at a time. I couldn't imagine the pain you have . I don't know the mother of the victim but I do not think this is a place to post the comment you made. I believe you posted that out of anger and something is tormenting you. Sometimes when we lose a loved one and we feel we have not had a good relationship with that person we have lots of emotions. From what you have posted it seems you have some anger and blame in your heart. It is very inappropriate to say such petty things about your murdered child. It does not matter about a phone bill or having a father on crack anymore. It doesn't even matter that you may or may not have been with him to support and nurture him as a mom. The point is is he isn't here anymore and some things just don't have to be said. You need to do some soul searching . I hope you dont say things like that around his girlfriend. I know if I was a family member or significant other I would have hit the roof when I read that . I dont know you but you still seem to not want to take responsibility for yourself. I thought all that was going to be about your baby that was murdered but you made the whole thing about the dad and his faults. That was very disrespectful and just damn uncivilized. You need to check yourself. You need to pray and ask God to take away some of those bad feelings you have. RIP Emitt

[cheryl]

as a mom who lost her son i feel the mom's pain i raised my son by myself for 18yrs 362days and he was murdered 10-2-06 3 days before his 19th birthday so mom if you need to vent about your son go ahead for whom ever left you a comment on what you said never mind them you know in your heart what you have done and only god can judge you my son was also called LiL "E" his dad was a good dad and we all have our faults so dont you worry only another mother in your shoes will know your hurt and pain if you are caring for your other children please take care of them and love them like no other can i am sure your son is watching over you he is your angel now and make no mistake what other people say wont effect you now because the biggest pain you can ever have is the here and now i allways say now that cant no one hurt me the way i was hurt on 10-2-06 believe that. who are they to say what you can say about your child shame on them another family member may not like what you said but tell them to walk in your shoes for a day and then they will see. i am really sorry for your loss and i would not wish this on my worse enemy because the pain is so great if you are strong you will stand tall if you are weak then you will fall flat on your face, so i say to you mom keep praying and doing right by your other children and it will be ok, i found it really helpful to go to church and that was a way to start healing my broken heart every child is not perfect but i tell you i would give up everything in this world to have him back believe that. who has the right to tell you what you can say about your child and what you cant say about him lady say what you want god bless you and his father and the rest of your family. peace to you. to a mother from another mother who knows the pain.

[Valerie Smith]

I'd like to start by saying that my heart go out to both mom and dad. I can only imagine your pain right now. I know that it's been a long time since I saw or talked with either of you, so you can't begin to understand the pain that I as an aunt feel finding out about my nephew in the news. Everyday since I found this article has been but a struggle for me. This is another indication that life is precious, and should never be taken for granted, family is important. We should be greatful for every day that God gives us to spend together.
Lil Emmit, just know that even though I lost touch with the family, I do love you, and I know that I will see you again, until then, R.I.P angel.
To Mom, if you view this message, please contact me via Madison Middle School, in North Hollywood, CA. If I'm not available please leave a message and a contact number, or e-mail me if my address can be viewed here.