William Luther Leapart, 19, was shot and killed the night of August 13, 2026, in Compton. Deputies were sent after a vehicle crashed into a utility or telephone pole in the 14000 block of South Stanford Avenue near Santa Rita Street and Roy Campanella Park. When deputies arrived they found Leapart inside the vehicle with a gunshot wound to the head; he was pronounced dead at the scene. Witnesses reported numerous gunshots and screeching tires shortly before deputies arrived, suggesting the shooting and the crash occurred in rapid succession.

Leapart grew up in Compton before transferring to Tustin High School, where he played receiver and defensive back and graduated in 2024 with a reported 3.4 GPA. After high school he worked as a caregiver and was preparing to begin community college in the fall. People who knew him described him as hardworking and well liked. Some friends have claimed the shooter wanted Leapart’s hat, reportedly an Astros hat, but investigators have not confirmed a motive.

No suspect identity, description, getaway vehicle, arrest or charges have been announced. Does anyone with information about what happened on South Stanford Avenue that night have tips for investigators?