Watts: Father shot as he walked to store

Dennis Brown Jr., a young black man, was shot as he was walking to a store near Century Boulevard and Central Avenue in Watts just before 1 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 1.

He died a short time later at St. Francis Hospital in Lynwood. Police said Brown was not a gang member. He was going to night school. In his wallet were pictures of his 1-year-old son. Brown had recently registered to vote for the first time. He was reading a book by Sen. Barack Obama in the days before the shooting, family members said.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Los Angeles Police Dets. Mark Hahn or Natalie Plascencia at (213) 485-4341.

--Richard Winton

Comments

[BRENDA]

I SEE MY CITY HASN'T CHANGED MUCH. HOW SAD. HERE IS A PLACE WHERE YOU JUST ABOUT HAVE EVERYTHING YOU CAN IMAGINE AND YET YOU CAN'T EVEN ENJOY IT, CAN'T FEEL SAFE, DON'T KNOW IF IT'S YOUR LAST DAY TO LIVE. MY GOD HOW SAD FOR ALL. EVEN THE ONES DOING THE KILLING

[Jasmine]

D Saxon: I'm truly sorry about your cousin, he sounded like a wonderful man and father. Too many young men end up with their lives cut short. This story was especially poignant in that he was trying to be there for his son and now he'll grow up without a father, just like Barack. I sent this article to the Obama people because we need a President who'll bring about some legislation in combating gang activity and gun crime. I hope you and your family find solace.

[ron]

that's. Sad not safe to be outside that's when all the bad people come out

[D SAXON]

I WANT EVERY BODY TO KNOW DENNIS EVEN THOUGH HE HAS DEPARTED HE LIFT US WITH COMFORT IN OUR HEARTS THAT HE WAS ON A TURNAROUND WITH HIS LIFE ON SUNDAY IN OCTOBER 2008 DENNIS WOKE UP ON THAT GLORIOUS MORNING AND DECIDED THIS WOULD BE HIS SUNDAY TO TURN OVER HIS LIFE TO THE LORD HE WENT WITHOUT ANYONE TELLING HIM TO GO TO CHURCH WHAT HE DIDN'T REALIZE WAS THAT HE WAS GOING TO AN INVITATION THAT ONLY GOD COULD GIVE TO HIM DIRECTLY PREPARING HIM FOR A HOMECOMING.......I LOVE YOU COUSINS

[D SAXON]

HE WAS A DECENT GUY HE WAS MY COUSINS HE LOVE EVERY BODY THE BAD THING ABOUT IT HE JUST MOVED OVER THERE 3 WEEKS AGO TO TAKE CARE OF HIS FIANCE AND SON THAT JUST TURN 1 THAT WENSDAY BEFOR HE GOT KILLED NOW HIS SON IS LIFT WITH OUT A FATHER SO I HOPE WHO EVER KNOW ANY THING ABOUT WHO DID IT PLEASE CALL THE POLICE.......

[Rick]

From what the article stated, he sounds like a decent guy trying to do the right things with his life. How many times have these type of shootings occurred where a victim was walking from the store or friends house in the early morning hours and gets gunned down. I hope whoever gunned this young man down like this are caught.