Man allegedly killed by wife, a CHP officer, is identified

Authorities have identified a man allegedly killed by his wife, a California Highway Patrol officer. Marcus Lavar Lemons, 31, of Los Angeles died Saturday night after being shot in the upper body, said Operations Chief Craig Harvey of the Los Angeles County coroner’s office. Lemons and his wife, who was off-duty, were in the 400 block of Amantha Avenue in Compton when he “became verbally and physically combative,” said Deputy Aura Sierra of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

“She was able to retrieve a firearm and shoot the suspect,” Sierra said.

Lemons was pronounced dead at the scene, and the shooting is being investigated as a domestic violence incident, she said. The officer’s name has not been released, and Sierra said she did not know if the wife was taken into custody.

-- Corina Knoll

Comments

[noelle copp]

I know Tamika. She is a lovely person and would never hurt anyone unless absolutly necessary. i was her bartender and i knew her and her husband. they just had a new baby not that long ago.they seemed happy. god bless them in their time of need.

[Leticia]

Noelle Copp
Do you consider a drunk, or someone who has changed the story many times since it has happened, or even better a person who shot their husband in the head a lovely person? You were her bartender...WOW doesn't that say enough. She had her own bartender. She should pay for what she has done to him, his family and his children. He was a lovely person not his murderer.

[Leticia]

Oh by the way Corina Knoll he was shot in the head at close range from the side of the head coming out the top and NO she hasn't been arrested. But I guess that is what happens when youare on that side of the fence. No suprise that they are covering her back. Domestic Violence was she hospitalized because from what I heard was she went straight to her Moms house afterwards. Wonder if she had another drink to calm her nerves.

[Chill]

To have a gun handy and use it is questionable at best. Was'nt she trained in domestic violence issues? Was there any documented history of this abuse? The way she handled this given her training was Murder. There could be a million reasons for her actions. But there is nothing like a woman scorned. If he is to be called the suspect then Tamika should be called the perp

[ANONYMOUS]

FIRST OFF I WOULD LIKE TO SEND MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES. SECOND, TO COMMENT ON THE POSTS THAT I HAVE BEEN READING. HOW CAN YOU JUDGE A SITUATION THAT YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT? NO ONE LIVED IN THAT HOUSEHOLD NOR WERE YOU IN THAT CAR. JUST BECAUSE SHE IS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT DOESN'T MEAN THAT SHE IS NOT HUMAN. I MYSELF WORK IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND AM TRAINED IN VARIOUS AREAS BUT THE "OFFICER" ME IS DIFFERENT FROM THE "OFF DUTY" ME. I DEAL WITH MY FAMILY, FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE I HAVE AN EMOTIONAL CONNECTION. EMOTIONS CAN CHANGEWHAT OTHERS SEE TO BE NATURAL HUMAN REACTIONS. DURING MY CONTACTS AT WORK I CAN BRUSH OFF OR LET GO OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN BECAUSE I HAVE NO EMOTIONAL CONNECTION. (DON'T GET ME WRONG I'M NOT JUSTIFYING HER ACTIONS IF THEY WERE INDEED IN MALICE, BUT THATS NOT MY JOB OR PLACE TO MAKE THAT JUDGEMENT CALL, ITS GOD'S) AND AS FAR AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, EVERY SITUATION IS DIFFERENT. WHO'S TO SAY THAT BECAUSE SHE'S A COP ITS NOT POSSIBLE? IF YOU LOVE SOMEONE YOU SOMETIMES MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE NOT BEST FOR YOU(LIKE STAYING IN A SITUATION). JOB STATUS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. ITS LIKE SAYING A DOCTOR SHOULDN'T GET SICK BECAUSE HE'S TRAINED TO KNOW HOW TO STAY WELL. ALL I'M SAYING IS LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE INSTEAD OF JUST A PORTION. A LIFE HAS BEEN LOST AND MANY OTHERS ARE AFFECTED. JUDGING ISN'T GOING TO MAKE IT GO AWAY. JUSTICE WILL BE SERVED EITHER WAY, FOR HER AND HER FAMILY OR FOR HIM AND HIS FAMILY.

[chill]

Anonymous
As we try to understand this tragic killing I would like to remind you that a off duty barber does not carry a gun. But she did and we know that law inforcement covers law inforcement. This is why you have not heard anymore news reports on this case. Sweep it under the rug by calling it domestic violence. If she was so emotionally connected to Marcus why not take her daughter and leave? If the job and your life lead you to drink I think you should reconsider both.

[just me]

WOW...how can the "person in law enforcement" say that her job had nothing to do with it. Please....look if you are an officer you have a different intake on things and are trained to handle things differently. My brother became a Officer in 1999 and his outlook on certain things changed...not just in his job with family to...you know why because he had to. As an officer you don't just have to be aware at work..you have to be aware 24/7. So yes her job played a part and yes she's human with human emotions of which she "as an officer" should know how to control. This is why they choose certain people...thinking that they choose the 'elite' that knows how to handle not only a weapon, but most if not all situations. In your interview, they ask you....if you were off duty and saw a situation going down...how would you handle it...what answer do you think they want to hear? They don't want to hear no mess about you being off duty...when you are a cop you are always on duty, that mentality is always there if you had it to begin with. However, as we all know from time to time someone "not so stable" slips through the cracks. I'm not saying that she is but I am saying that as a officer she is expected to handle things a little differently.

[John]

Is there any new information regarding this case. I seems as if it has disappeared from the public eye; like it is being swept under the rug. Has this officer that has sworn to protect the public been put above the law and gotten away with murder?

[EZ Bail Bonds]

I own EZ Bail Bond Agency and EZ Traveling Notary Service in Compton, CA. I see people put in jail for less then this. God Help all of us.
325 W. Compon Blvd. Compton, CA