Confrontation Outside Eatery Leads to the Shooting Death of a Man

Los Angeles – On Saturday, June 24, 2000, at approximately 8:50 p.m., Victims James Milton Lawson, male, 21 years of age, and a friend Jerome Lopez, male, 19 years of age, were standing in front of "Tom’s Jr. Burgers" located on the 5300 Block of South Vermont Avenue. Two unknown male suspects approached them on foot and became involved in a verbal confrontation. The suspect(s) produced a handgun and shot Lawson and Lopez multiple times in the upper torso.

Lawson died at the scene and Lopez was subsequently transported to a local hospital where he is listed in stable condition. The motive for the shooting has not been determined.

77th Street Homicide Detectives Blair McCormack and Hugo Baeza is conducting the investigation. Anyone with information concerning this incident is asked to call 77th Street Homicide Detectives, at 213-485-1383 or 77th Street Watch Commander, at 213-485-2389.

This press release was prepared by Officer Trevion Stokes, Media Relations Section.