Julius Brown, a 43-year-old man from Westmont, California, was tragically shot and killed on March 23, 2017. The incident occurred in the 10800 block of South Western Avenue in the South Los Angeles neighborhood of Westmont. According to reports, Brown was conversing with three male friends around a pickup truck parked outside Eddie’s Jr. Market and Liquor at the corner of South Western Avenue and West 108th Street.
At approximately 5:48 p.m., two men parked their vehicle in an alley west of the store and approached the group. Without warning, the assailants drew firearms and began shooting both inside and outside the truck, striking three of the four men present. Brown, who was standing outside the truck, sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the torso and was pronounced dead at 5:57 p.m. Another victim, Jeremiah Andres Lewis, 23, who was seated in the driver’s seat, also died at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds to the head. A third victim, Charles Harris, 68, was shot in the head and succumbed to his injuries the following day at a nearby hospital. The fourth man, who was seated in the back of the truck, escaped unharmed.
The investigation into the shooting revealed no immediate motive, and the gunmen were only described as two black males. The victims, including Brown, had no known gang affiliations, leading investigators to believe that the attack was not gang-related. Despite the lack of a clear motive, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department continued to pursue leads and urged anyone with information to come forward. The case remains unsolved, and the identities of the perpetrators are still unknown.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the community of Westmont was left in shock and mourning. The senseless violence that claimed the lives of Brown, Lewis, and Harris highlighted the ongoing issue of gun violence in the area. Law enforcement officials have continued to appeal to the public for any information that could help solve the case and bring justice to the victims and their families. The investigation remains open, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department continues to seek any leads that could provide answers to this tragic event.
