Beloved community activist shot dead in South LA
LOS ANGELES - A community is in mourning following the death of a beloved community activist in South Los Angeles on Thursday afternoon.
What we know:
Officers with the Los Angeles Police Department responded to reports of a shooting at the intersection of Crenshaw Boulevard and 59th Place around 3:15 p.m.
At the scene, police found a 40-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound. He died at the scene, police said. The suspect took off before police arrived.
Social media posts identify the victim as Reginald Foreman, a prominent local activist celebrated for his work mentoring troubled youth and assisting former inmates.
The non-profit organization 2nd Call, which works closely with high-risk individuals, posted a tribute to Foreman following the news of his death.
"It's with pure sadness for the 2nd Call family and the Foreman family in regards to our brother our loved one.. Prayers for those that have been ill affected by all violence.. Rest well.. Baby Ant 🐜," the post read.
What we don't know:
Investigators have not yet established a motive behind the shooting.
A description of the suspect was not released.
What they're saying:
2nd Call's post announcing Foreman's death has drawn hundreds of comments from community members paying tribute to the latest activist.
"This is truly senseless. People are taking away the very people who stayed to do what they could to make a better life for those under them," one person wrote.
"He did so much for his community why is this negativity happening so much? Make it make sense," another said.
"Unbelievable. My sandbox friend no more good laughs and arguments getting ready to fight then tomorrow act like it never happened. never thought I’d see sh*t like this after 51 years of living. Our every morning group chat will never be the same my friend," another wrote.
What's next:
The LAPD homicide unit is actively investigating the shooting. Anyone with information regarding the incident or the suspect's whereabouts is urged to contact local authorities.
The Source: This report is based on preliminary operational details provided by the Los Angeles Police Department. Community details and victim identification were gathered from public social media tributes posted by the local non-profit organization 2nd Call and comments from community members.