Four people in Los Angeles killed by gunfire in 12-hour span

Four people across the city were killed by gunfire in a 12-hour span, police said today.

One person was found dead about 7 a.m. in Glassell Park, and three people were killed in separate shootings Saturday night in Gramercy Park, West Adams and Hyde Park, authorities said.

Los Angeles police said the man who was found dead early today, in the 3400 block of Drew Street, appeared to be about 35. He had a gunshot wound to the head and was pronounced dead at the scene. He has not been identified.

The first of Saturday night’s three shootings occurred at 8:10 p.m. in the 1700 block of West Century Boulevard when Samuel Leonard walked out of a liquor store to go to his car and was confronted by another man, said Officer Norma Eisenman of the Los Angeles Police Department.

Leonard, 22, was shot multiple times without provocation and tried to flee on foot. He collapsed at a nearby McDonald’s. The suspect fled in a red pickup truck, Eisenman said. Leonard was taken to a hospital, where he died, Eisenman said.

About 10 minutes later in the West Adams district, a man was shot and killed as he approached the front door of a home in the 2900 block of Rimpau Boulevard, police said. Larick Matheson, 58, was apparently trying to pick up a car key from someone in the home, police said. The suspect was standing in the driveway when Matheson came to the home with a friend, Eisenman said.

When Matheson got out of the car, the suspect approached him and shot him multiple times before fleeing on foot, Eisenman said. Matheson was taken to a hospital, where he died.

Another man was shot and killed just before midnight in Hyde Park, police said. In that incident, three people were standing outside in the 6400 block of 7th Avenue when someone emerged from a vehicle and began firing a rifle at them.

One man, Brandon Jamal Perry, 17, was shot in the face. He was transported to a hospital, where he died. A second victim was shot in the back and a third was shot in the leg, Eisenman said. Both were receiving medical care at the same hospital.  [UPDATE: Police said a fourth person was also shot and was treated at the scene and released. The second and third victims were expected to survive, police said.]

-- Ari B. Bloomekatz

Related: The Homicide Report

Comments

[thecanimalshusband]

What about the children?

[West Valley Dave]

Where's the Alcalde, Greasy Tony? Where is he to try again to convince us that crime is down? Since he was sworn in as Alcalde again he's disappeared on us going on this vacation or that one... I doubt he's even working the 11% of the time he was during his last term.

Alcalde, you and Sir Boston Billy have failed us. He's resigned. Now its your turn.

[Carol]

I thought Drew St. was supposed to have been cleaned up. Maybe if The Times can give us periodic updates, keep the street and its residents in the news, then I can stay nicer, safer.

[Lexy]

Matheson Matheson Matheson--does a copy desk even see this stuff before it's published? Or is that a real name of someone in the story?

[John]

Stores like this are why I am sad that Chief Bratton is leaving and why I hope ability and talent trump all other criteria in the search for his replacement.

[jack]

when are you guys going to ban guns, i really don't understand the USA, do you people like reading these headlines?

[Dodger Tony]

All you need to say is Drew Street.

[Christoper White]

just goes to show you we as a society can not rely on police to somehow be everywhere at once to protect us. too bad those who died were not lawful gun owners or the out come may have been different.

[Edward]

Thats why our Chief Bratten left, he new that a wave of crime is about to hit LA and in our world! We are in the last days read the bible.

[dorothy]

WHAT HAPPEN TO THE CRIME IS DOWN ?

[obama s Mamma]

The brothas is crazy

[Maria]

I hope our City Mayor (Antonio V.) receives a lot heat in the coming months for attempting to reduce police officers and Firefighters from our City streets. Crime will go up and when the State releases about 27,000 criminals back on our streets. The Mayor needs to stop the forloughs on police and firefighters!

[Lexy]

Man, seriously? Then you don't even edit the "Matheson Matheson Matheson"?

[D]

First of all, its very sad that this stuff continues to happen.

For everyone that is yelling "what happened to crime is down", it is down. way down in fact. no one said crime has disappeared. you cant point to a couple instances and say, see crime is up. If you look at it as a year to year, crime has gone down every year since Bratton was appointed (almost 7 years). Homicides are down 20% in LA city this year and we are going to finish the year with the lowest number of homicides since the early part of the last century, somewhere around 300 murders. To put it into perspective, Philadelphia, Detroit, Houston, Baltimore, all much smaller cities, will have about the same number as LA will, NYC and Chicago will have more, closer to 500 for each. In terms of per capita, LA has a lower crime rate than most big cities, including SF.

[Ameryah]

I heard the gunshots of Samuel Leonard's death. The police questioned us a few minutes later to see what we'd witnessed. There were so many shots that i believed that they were firecrackers. These events are devastatingly awful and have left me skeptical of everyone who passes my house and afraid to leave the safety of my own home. I wish that i hadn't been born within these times.

[ariel payne]

i knew brandon perry he went to my school and we just graduated i pray for hid family ,he was a good kid may he rest in paridise

[Leslie]

I am trying to picture who Brandon Perry is??? Alot of people I know knew him....What school did he goto??

[Mykalah Long]

there is a picture of Brandon J . Perry , that i put together .
he graduated from L.A.C.E.S on June 18, 2oo9 .
he would have been 18 years old on September 20, 2009 .
he was more than a brother to me , he was a outstanding individual that i cherish , & will always miss .

i love you B !
'smile for me ' !

[Mykalah Long]

sorry the link didnt post .. here it is ..

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ib3NtWaxcX8/SpSSbm4qwvI/AAAAAAAAAoY/QmemOpPrNOY/s1600/Brandon4.png

[Nicolas Silva]

i knew the 17 year old brandon perry. he was such a great guy and didnt have any haters. i hope he rets in peace

[Billy]

Very disappointing....just sad.