Los Angeles man found guilty of murder in death of USC film student

A Los Angeles man was found guilty of second-degree murder today in the stabbing death of a USC film student last year during a street fight.

Travion T. Ford, 25, who sometimes worked as an usher at USC football games, faces 16 years to life in state prison in the Sept. 18 slaying of Bryan R. Frost, 23, outside Ford’s mother’s apartment near the university. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 29.

The jury of seven men and five women found Ford not guilty of first-degree murder, which would have required more evidence of premeditation. But the jury clearly did not believe Ford’s contention that he was acting to save his own life in the brawl when he stabbed Frost, a former West Point cadet who grew up in Idaho.

In what testimony portrayed as a random encounter, Frost and two friends were rowdily walking down the street after a night of drinking and Frost, on a whim, slammed shut a gate at the apartment building.

That led to an argument and fight with Ford.  Prosecutors said he ran into the apartment to grab a kitchen knife and returned to stab the student in the heart. Frost’s death shocked the campus and heightened fears about students’ security on nearby streets.

Jurors declined to discuss their deliberations.

-- Larry Gordon

Photo: Travion Ford appears in court Wednesday. Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times

Related:

The Homicide Report: USC area: Student, 23, is fatally stabbed

Comments

[common_sense]

moral of the story: dont slam gates in the hood.

[Xenu]

Obviously Travion (is that even a name?) felt that his front gate was more important than another person's life. Happy salad tossing!

[Jerry Winstein]

Justice. Thug nation needs to stay out of USC areas. I know thug nation may have been there before USC, but USC makes the area livable. That area needs USC more than USC needs the area.

[CAVIAR420]

USC students have shown complete disrespect & disregard for the residents of campus-bordering neighborhoods for as long as I care to remember. The death of this student, while tragic, may serve to remind the student body that it simply cannot disrupt the peace & expect no consequences. This kid did not deserve to be killed but he likely would have never met his murderer had he not instigated a confrontation while publicly intoxicated.