John Westley Matthews, a 36-year-old man from Westmont, California, was tragically shot and killed on February 5, 2014. The incident occurred around 6:58 p.m. near the 8800 block of South Vermont Avenue. Matthews was walking near a church and had stopped to talk to a parking attendant when a man approached and opened fire. Both Matthews and the parking attendant, a 35-year-old man, were shot. Matthews was pronounced dead at 7:35 p.m.
at a nearby hospital, while the parking attendant survived and was listed in stable condition.
The gunman was described as a black man with a stocky build, approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall. He fled the scene on foot, heading westbound on West 89th Street. Despite the presence of Matthews' longtime girlfriend nearby, she did not witness the shooting. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Homicide Bureau launched an investigation into the murder, urging anyone with information to come forward. The community was deeply affected by the loss, with friends and family describing Matthews as a good friend, a believer in God, and a devoted father to his stepdaughter and teenage son.
The investigation into Matthews' death revealed that he was well-liked in his community. Friends recalled their last interactions with him, highlighting his caring nature and dedication to his family. Despite the efforts of law enforcement, the case remains unsolved, with no arrests made or suspects identified. The community continues to seek justice for Matthews, hoping that new information will eventually lead to the apprehension of the perpetrator. The tragic event underscores the ongoing issue of violence in the Westmont area, which has been noted as one of the deadliest neighborhoods in Los Angeles County.
