West Adams: Man shot in apartment courtyard

William Chapman, a 32-year black man, was shot to death in the 4500 block of Rodeo Lane in the West Adams neighborhood of Los Angeles about 2:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 1.

Chapman was in the courtyard area of an apartment building when he was struck by rounds fired by  unknown suspects, who promptly fled the area, Los Angeles police said. Chapman died at a hospital.

Anyone with information is asked to contact South Bureau homicide Dets. Charles Geiger and Richard Gordon at (213) 485-1383.  After hours or on weekends, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number: (877) LAPD-24-7 or by texting CRIMES (274637) and beginning the message with the letters "LAPD."

--Richard Winton

Comments

[pam]

when will it stop? i knew both of these men. good men, men. i was really hurt, still am. my sincere condolances to their families and our circle of friends. i used to braid "will's" hair. his daughter took her first steps the day of his funeral. you will be truly missed "dollar". as for johnny he was a really nice person, always friendly. the person who did that could not have known him.

[snatchog]

Why do blacks and latinos keep on killing each other? If it is not because whites are simply just better people in every way, then what IS the real reason, I want to know, because this is not happening in the white communities.

[linda]

I knew this boy as a child; I went to school with his mother and aunt; he was home just months ago when his first cousin was buried, also a victim of gun violence. There has too be other alternatives; when will it all end. GOD BLESS!

[Robert P]

END NOW the FAILED DRUG WAR

The drug war has failed. It’s Victims come from all walks of life with one thing in common: the drugs they chose to use are illegal. We need to shift our "attack" from Persecution to Education & Treatment.

There has been NO Significant Decrease in drug use since this miserable program was enacted in 1971. And the cost… $50 billion a year (Prevention + Enforcement + Legal Adjudication + Correctional Facilities) For 36 year we have been punishing our citizens, sending them away from their loved ones; their families, their support groups. I ask to what end?

Law Enforcement’s View = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LayaGk0TMDc

We need to start an honest discussion with ourselves and most importantly the young people in this country. “If you do this drug, this will happen” “If you get behind the wheel when drunk/high, this will happen” “If you take too many prescription pills, this will happen” “If you drink too much, this will happen” and most importantly “Yes, marijuana is a drug, but it’s effect is much less that other

Is full decriminalization the answer? I’m not sure, but lumping marijuana in with Heroin and other harder drugs doesn’t make sense to me. Also, Mandatory Minimum sentencing has proved to be a bad policy… go ask any Judge.

Here is one idea of mine: Take the drugs off the street and make them available at drug stores. In order to purchase you will have to take a course to educate yourself on the dangers of drug use. Once you have completed the course you will get a stamp on your driver license’s permitting you to purchase drugs. The license will only be valid for a set number of years at which time you must take a refresher course…. (Politicians; think of the Tax money you can make)

I ask you my fellow Americans to please give this issue a new Fresh, Honest, Look.

[Alice]

This gentleman on Rodeo Lane was killed not far from the the gentleman killed on Muirfield. They are both in the Baldwin Village area.

My condolenses to the friends and family.