Phillip Franklin Niles Jr., a 25-year-old man from Daytona Beach, Florida, was tragically shot and killed on June 25, 2016, in Glendale, California. The incident occurred around 4 a.m. in the 1600 block of The Midway Street. According to the Los Angeles County coroner’s records, Niles was shot multiple times and managed to run a short distance before collapsing on the front lawn of a nearby home. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 4:32 a.m.
Investigators spent considerable time canvassing the neighborhood for leads, initially facing a challenging "whodunit" scenario.
The events leading up to the shooting began earlier that night when Niles was out with friends and met 18-year-old Dezerea Lyons and her friend. The group eventually moved to an apartment in the 1700 block of North Verdugo Road in Glendale. At the apartment, Lyons felt insulted by comments made by Niles. She reportedly told him, "You don’t know me. You don’t know what I’m capable of," before sending text messages and making phone calls. Shortly after, two men, Laquan Dontae Parker, 24, and Brandon Jamal Perkins, 26, arrived at the scene. Lyons and her friend left the apartment, and Niles walked them out. As they reached the car, Parker and Perkins confronted Niles. Neighbors reported hearing multiple gunshots, and Niles was found dead shortly after.
Following the shooting, Parker, Perkins, and Lyons fled to a Comfort Inn in Monrovia, where they had rented a room. Lyons' friend, who was not involved in the attack, was held against her will but eventually made it home. The trio was arrested later that day after investigators spotted them leaving the hotel. Police recovered two handguns from their car. Parker and Perkins were each charged with one count of murder, possession of a firearm by a felon with priors, and carrying a loaded, stolen firearm. Both men pleaded not guilty and were held on $3-million bail. Lyons, initially arrested, was released from custody on June 28 after authorities determined there were insufficient grounds for a criminal complaint against her.
The case drew significant attention, with investigators urging anyone with information to contact the Glendale Police Department or Crime Stoppers. The tragic death of Phillip Franklin Niles Jr. highlighted the devastating impact of violence and the complexities involved in solving such cases.
