The Antelope Valley Times

Your community. Your issues. Your news.

UPDATED: Man shot and killed in Palmdale

by •

The shooting was reported around 10:43 p.m. at the Courtyard Apartment Homes at 38665 11th Street East in Palmdale. (Photos by LUIS MEZA)
The shooting was reported around 10:43 p.m. Wednesday at the Courtyard Apartment Homes at 38665 11th Street East in Palmdale. (Photos by LUIS MEZA)

PALMDALE – A man was shot dead in Palmdale late Wednesday night (Feb. 27), authorities said.

The shooting was reported around 10:43 p.m. in the 38600 Block of 11th Street East in Palmdale, according to a press release from the Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau. Shortly after the incident, investigators blocked off the parking lot of the Courtyard Apartment Homes at 38665 11th Street East. Some deputies could be seen searching a Sport Utility Vehicle that was in the middle of the parking lot, while other deputies searched the parking lot with flashlights for clues.

The victim was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The victim was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The shooting victim was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead, according the sheriff’s department’s press release.

The man’s name had not been released as of 1:30 p.m. Thursday, and detectives were releasing little details on the incident.

Residents at the Courtyard Apartment Homes spoke to reporters Thursday morning.

“It’s scary,” said Melissa Flores, who said she just moved into the complex about two months ago.

When deputies arrived on scene, they searched an SUV in the parking lot at the complex.
When deputies arrived on scene, they searched an SUV in the parking lot at the complex.

Damen Mangus Dozier said he was in his bathroom late Wednesday night when he heard a single gunshot. Then someone began banging on his door, and the person was hysterical, Dozier said.

“I didn’t open the door,” he said, adding that he feared for his safety. When deputies arrived on scene, they began going door-to-door at the complex advising everyone to stay inside, Dozier said.

Trenene Deans, whose bedroom window overlooks the parking lot of the complex, said she became aware of the incident when she heard a sheriff’s helicopter overhead.

“When I looked out my window I could see the police, and I see the guy laying there but he was still moving and stuff,” Deans said. She said the person on the ground in the parking lot appeared to be a young, heavyset Black male.

Shortly afterwards, deputies knocked on her door and questioned her, Deans said.

“They were just trying to get witnesses and information and stuff,” Deans said. “I was afraid because I have two sons.”

Investigators suspect the killers many have resided at the complex, the apartment manager said Thursday morning.
The shooting victim did not live at the complex, the apartment manager said Thursday morning.

Apartment Manager Mayra Wright said deputies knocked on her door about 3 a.m., but she could not offer any information because she didn’t hear anything. Wright said the victim did not live at the complex, but deputies suspected the killer may have been living at the complex.

Wednesday’s shooting death happened about a block away from the site of another parking lot murder, which happened about four months ago.

Victor Miguel Enriquez, a confidential informant for the sheriff’s department, was stabbed to death on Oct. 17, 2012 in the parking lot of the Sonoma Apartment Homes in the 38500 Block of 11th Street East. (Read more here.)

Jonathan Duke, 23, and Alfred Crowder, 36, were ordered to trial for killing Enriquez.

Deans said she was aware of the stabbing death down the street, but there had been no such incidents at the Courtyard Apartment Homes in the three years that she had resided there.

“It’s pretty quiet here,” she said.

Anyone with information about this shooting is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. If you prefer to provide information anonymously call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

UPDATED @7:05 p.m., 2/28/13

This just in from the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau:

Investigators have learned that Palmdale Sheriff’s deputies responded to the location regarding an assault with a deadly weapon call in progress. When deputies arrived at the location, they found a male adult victim (resident of Long Beach) suffering from multiple gunshots to his upper torso. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Further investigation revealed that the victim was standing with another male adult near a carport area within the apartment complex. The suspect, who emerged from a walkway, which leads from a courtyard area to the carport area, fired multiple times at the victim, striking him in the upper torso. The victim ran a few feet and collapsed.

The suspect, described as only a male Black adult, fled on foot in an unknown direction.

The motive for the shooting is unknown at this time.

UPDATED 3/1/13: The man shot and killed has been identified as 47-year-old Christopher Ragland of Long Beach, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office.

–

Filed Under: Crime/ Safety

19 comments for "UPDATED: Man shot and killed in Palmdale"

  1. HHHMMMM?
    HAVE THE SHERIFFS EVER GIVEN A MOTIVE FOR THE SHOOTING?
    IS THERE A SUSPECT?

  2. I’m late on finding out chris has passed away one thing I do want to say is chris got it right with God before his death I know this because he shared that with me I’ve known chris for over 20 years..I’m so blessed that he came down to san diego made peace with me trust me our god is an awesome god before he was called home chris made his life better here on earth.I’m sure many of woman loved chris that’s just part of the charm he had may all of you find peace in your hearts and smile when you think of chris….xoxo love baby always will

  3. its funny how easy get guns in av ,its like go store for candy what a shame,and instead provide more security,goverment worry about budget deficit,and look find way save money .let all garbage out,child molester and rest ,let them move to av ,like we dont have enough own [removed] here,damn.

  4. it’s sad that this days you have to watch your back,yes person got killed on that street,innocent soul gone,regardless what life that person been living ,its only for him to know,like old saying be said(you made your bed and you lay in it),so people when you read this please show some understanding for this people upcoming,remember not everybody given things in life on golden spoon,some of us working hard to get it,and some of us dont come from healthy famillies either,and who we are judge others nobody, we can’t judge those who live on that street,and try keep up roof over there heads and there familys,and we dont have rights call them low lifes or getto people,its a good people up there ,its just unfortunate they happened they lived there and facet other people [removed],and just because few delinqueds created problem up there,good people have to suffer.Life hard enough,lets not point fingers on each other,not judge each other .

  5. First of all this article is about my step-father who was murdered on Wednesday. He was not a gang banger, nor did he live or was he from the area. He was trying to help someone. You go and help someone and end up murdered? The sad part is that no one stopped to help him after he was lying on the ground shot. All I know is that you reep what you sow and who ever killed my step-father will have to answer to God!

    • Ashley,Thank you for giving us more information about the victim of this senseless murder. My condolences on the loss of your stepfather. It seems the good ones are always taken from us too soon. Hopefully, they’re able to find his killer quickly and you can get some justice. God bless.

  6. I’m not surprised about this taking place on 11th St. East. I once knew people that lived on that street and they were all a bunch of scumbags. So glad I don’t know them anymore!

    • First off I live on 11th st E. Secondly do not classify all of us are “scumbags” because I am a non-gang banging single working mother with two kids. I am also a part-time student studying law. Most of us are people that work and hope for better for our families. The fact that we are in that neighborhood does not identify the type of poeple “we” are but rather a temporary means to keeping a roof over our families heads at a price we can afford.

      • just want make corrections,on few comments,some people leave in that neighborhood because maybe be they not finnancially stable,people who live there not because they have to,its jast some of us sametimes dont have choice be there until better oportunity come,better be there then be homelless special if you got kids,and i am so sick and tired when people put rest of us to category “scambags” besause it happened were we live,i am single mother of two and i never partisipate in gangs,i live there because i unemployed and only in this housing rent range i can afford until i be back on my feet.

  7. What about the update on reed keith? the murderers timothy johnson and jinea ingram? i want to hear about that! i am his ex-wife and he was my first true love.. i want to know.. as i just found out yesterday he was murdered!!! almost a year.. on the 28th.. same day my dad passed away of Cancer…. so please give me an update.. thank you.

  8. lol i like how they say its pretty quiet here lol lol so quite that the ppl who live are scared to come out

    • That’s because it’s not Shocking anymore. Gang Bangers killing each other is just Life in the AV since the 80’s…