Charles Harris, a 68-year-old man, was tragically shot and killed on March 23, 2017, in the South Los Angeles neighborhood of Westmont. The incident occurred around 5:48 p.m. when Harris was conversing with three friends near a pickup truck parked outside Eddie’s Jr. Market and Liquor at the corner of South Western Avenue and West 108th Street. Two men approached the group, pulled out guns, and began shooting, striking three of the four men.
Harris, who was standing behind the truck, was shot in the head and later succumbed to his injuries at a nearby hospital on March 24, 2017.
The shooting also resulted in the deaths of Jeremiah Andres Lewis, 23, and Julius Brown, 43, who were pronounced dead at the scene. Lewis died from multiple gunshot wounds to the head, while Brown was shot multiple times in the torso. The fourth man, who was sitting in the back seat of the truck, was uninjured. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department investigated the case but did not have a clear motive for the shooting or a detailed description of the gunmen, other than that they were black. The victims were not believed to have any gang affiliations, and the incident appeared to be a senseless act of violence.
Despite the efforts of law enforcement, the investigation faced significant challenges due to the lack of witnesses willing to come forward and the absence of surveillance footage capturing the incident. The community was urged to provide any information that could lead to the identification and apprehension of the suspects. The case remains unsolved, with no arrests made or suspects identified. The families of the victims continue to seek justice and closure for their loved ones, hoping that someone with knowledge of the crime will eventually come forward.
