Jhonathan "Poppy" Jasean Oliver, a 32-year-old man, was tragically shot and killed on June 21, 2016, in the Westmont neighborhood of South Los Angeles. The incident occurred around 9 p.m. on the 1400 block of West 102nd Street. According to reports, Oliver had recently returned to Los Angeles to assist his 91-year-old grandfather. On the evening of his death, Oliver had gone to a nearby liquor store to get some juice for his children. Witnesses stated that as he was walking back, a man exited a white SUV parked along the curb and began shooting at Oliver, hitting him multiple times. The gunman then re-entered the SUV and fled the scene. Oliver was pronounced dead at the scene at 9:31 p.m. with multiple gunshot wounds.
Oliver's partner, Camille Hubbard, who had flown in from Chicago with their two young sons, recounted the harrowing moments leading up to and following the shooting. She heard the gunshots and, after unsuccessfully trying to reach Oliver on his cellphone, discovered him lying on the ground just two houses away from where they were staying. Hubbard believes that Oliver tried to lead the gunman away from his family's house, sacrificing his life to protect his grandfather and children.
The investigation into Oliver's murder revealed that the gunman was described only as a male, and no further details about his identity or motive were provided. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department conducted the investigation, but as of the latest available information, no arrests had been made, and the case remained unsolved. Oliver's death left a profound impact on his family and community, highlighting the senseless violence that continues to plague many neighborhoods.
