Gang Shootout Erupts in Parking Lot of Nightclub

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Sunday, June 25, 2000

"Gang Shootout Erupts in Parking Lot of Nightclub"

Los Angeles – On Sunday, June 25, 2000, at approximately 1:40 a.m., a shooting occurred in the parking lot of a nightclub located on the 4400 Block of Broadway Avenue. Numerous participants from the club were congregating in the parking lot when unknown suspects passing by the parking lot, and armed with a semi-automatic rifle, fired numerous rounds into the crowd.

An investigation into the incident revealed that several rounds were fired from both the direction of Broadway Avenue, as well as from the direction of the parking lot crowd. It has been determined that multiple types of weapons were used.

Six people sustained injuries from gunshot wounds. The seventh, John Henry Boyakin, 67 years of age, sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the upper torso and was pronounced dead at the scene. It is unknown at this time if Mr. Boyakin was shot by suspect(s) from the crowd where he was located or from the suspect(s) shooting from Broadway Avenue.

A 17 year-old male, a 19 year-old male, and a 27 year-old female were transported to the University of Southern California Medical Center (USCMC). A 19 year-old male, and a 22 year-old male, were treated and released from Martin Luther King-Drew Medical Center. Also, a 25 year-old male was transported to Long Beach Memorial.

The motive for the shooting appears to be gang related, and a possible retaliation from a prior incident. Individuals responsible for the shootings are still outstanding.

Newton Area Homicide Detectives Rudy Flores and Matt Spillane, are conducting the investigation. Anyone with information relating to this incident is asked to contact the Newton Homicide Unit, at 323-846-6556.

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

For Release 5:00 pm PDT
June 25, 2000