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Men shot and killed after party in Lancaster

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Several cars were seen leaving the area but very little suspect information has been uncovered at this point, detectives said. (Photo by ED FROMMER)
Several cars were seen leaving the area but very little suspect information has been uncovered at this point, detectives said. (Photo by ED FROMMER)

LANCASTER – Two men were shot to death early Sunday morning after an overnight party in Lancaster, authorities said.

The homicides happened around 4:30 a.m. Sunday in the 44800 Block of Hanstead Avenue in Lancaster, according to Sgt. Rich Peña of the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau.

Detectives have learned that the victims were part of a group of men that had just left a party and were congregating in front of a house down the street. A verbal argument among the group turned into a physical altercation, Pena stated.

(Photo by ED FROMMER)
(Photo by ED FROMMER)

An eyewitness said he was in a house nearby when he heard a lady screaming for everybody to ‘get in the house!’

“Maybe like a minute later, I heard maybe like six [or] seven gunshots. [I] came outside and saw a guy chasing another guy,” said Gary, who did not give his last name. “I didn’t see exactly where he chased him to, I just seen him trying to get away.”

An unknown assailant shot the two men multiple times in the upper torso, Pena stated.

Several cars were seen leaving the area but very little suspect information has been uncovered at this point, detectives said.

The incident is still under investigation and homicide detectives are asking for anyone with information concerning this crime to call detectives at 323-890-5500.

To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-tips (8477).

UPDATED @ 6/24/13: The men shot and killed in Lancaster early Sunday morning have been identified as 33-year-old Nicky DeWayne Packard of Lancaster and 22-year-old Michael Sewell Jr. of Lancaster, according to the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office.

 

Filed Under: Crime/ Safety

53 comments for "Men shot and killed after party in Lancaster"

  1. its a shame how black people are not protected like white people.sorry to hear ur loss.may god be with your family and shield u in the right detrection.theres no need for revenge for god has your back.whoever did crule crime god will not let him out of his sight.but he will have to answer on judgement day.prayers up for the whole family .just pray togather and stay togather til the one person is bought to justice.

    • What do you mean blacks are not protected?! It was a black man that killed two black men. So basically you’re inferring that blacks need to be protected from blacks?

  2. Don’t worry everyone. The AV NAACP, TCAL, LULAC, Merit Commission, Nation of Islam HELPERS, One Way Up, and the DOJ are going to hold a press conference to ask for the public to help in finding those who are responsible for these murders. I believe they are also going to offer a large reward to entice those with information to come forward. Be patient, I’m sure our civil rights groups will step up when and where they are really needed…… Im sure….

    • I sad u have to offer a reward just to speak up i hope that someone find it in they heart to speak up for whats rite reward or not just please speak up…

    • NAACP or TCAL? When are you going to announce your efforts to help these families find justice? They need your help in this community. Please make this part of your AGENDA!

  3. This is wrong whoever did this needs to be caught… Mybestfriend was niky wife im so angry at the fact that ppl would rather keep quite than speak up and do what’rite someone at that party no who did this s and its wrong please come foward and give my bestfriend closure.. My nephew now has to grow up without his father behind dumb ppl that rather take a life than fight… Rip niky u will live on threw nas u didnt deserve this but ur home now watch over my sis and nephew.

  4. What happen to my bestfriend Nick of 16 years was bullsh** its so sad, I wish I could have spent more time with him in the last 2years, I love you man… Something needs to be done, sense the death of Nick, its been 5 deaths in the AV in one week, this has got to stop.This is to the coward that picked up a gun instead of taking a fade, If I was the old me I would say I hope the cops get to you before me punk a** ni**a, but two wrongs don’t make a right. R.I.P. Nick I know your in a better place. Deezzzzy….

  5. My cousin nicky didnt deserve this anyone who got any information email me or get ahold of my family members will be kept between us just wanna figure out who did this too many people for noone to have seen or know anything

    • Yes…… Please come forward!!! Whoever did this to them deserves to be punished!!! I didn’t know Michael but I knew Nicky and he did not deserve this!!!! He was good!! Whoever shot him is a coward!!! They don’t need to be walking around the streets!! Don’t let this get swept under the rug!!! Do what’s right for these two!! Help bring closure to their families!! Rest in peace Nicky!!!

  6. Why do people have to pull out guns ? Why Dont they just knuckle up like the good ol days? That’s how REAL men delt with beef!

  7. RIP Michael this was a very respectable young man with a heavenly voice God bless his soul I enjoyed his presence as a neighbor much love to the fallen

  8. So sad. 3 deaths in 3 days. And all on the east side. Tells you a lot about how safe we really are. I wonder how many calls were made before anyone actually responded to the party. And what about the danger to the surrounding neighbors.

  9. I wonder how many noise/party complaints had been called into the Lancaster Station and were ignored, resulting in these 2 deaths. Not causing the deaths, but they certainly are the result of non-response.

  10. Rip lil cuzzn ill miss you man… U in a betta place … My mom is in heaven to welcome u home … Gone but not forgotten

  11. My prayers are with both the famileys that lost there loved ones over something so dumb may they rest in peace n the person who did this i hope gets cought im sorry

  12. Mo’keepitreal tht not why it happen cuzz some people dnt give a damn about Taking another life like they god but hell is waiting on them true and belive me they going and i cant wait until the World is free from it

  14. A clear indication that Rex needs to go.
    Lancaster needs a leader that will put the peoples interest above his own.

    • Rex pulled the trigger? I just tuned to CNN and haven’t seen any breaking news regarding the Mayor of Lancaster CA being arrested for a double homicide … ?? Nothing on the local news either … Interesting …

      • Rex needs to go a long time ago. He cares nothing for the people. He has expressed this many times. When asked about what he would do for the homeless in Lancaster, he said by them a ticket out of my city. I’m so anti-Rex! But in regards to this incident, Lancaster PD had developed a special task force to respond specifically to noise Complaints. Wonder where they were last night?

        • This happened at a quarter to five. They probably were the same place most of us were. How many people do you think didn’t call until the shots were fired.

  16. Parris is the reason the crime is so high. It wasn’t like this under Henry Hearn. He didn’t play that.

  17. I remember Nicky as a hard working man for as long as I’ve known him. I remember him coming into the store I used to work at over ten years ago. I ran into him a few times over the years out here in the AV. The most recent last year at AVC. He was taking classes. I can’t believe this happened to him. He was always smiling when we would run into each other and quick to say hello. Never thought I’d see his picture under such a tragic story. RIP Nicky. My sincerest prayers and deepest condolences to your family. Still can’t believe it…

  18. Anyone that knows any information about who did this, please come forward!!!! Nicky was a good person!! Whoever did this to him deserves to pay!!!! My deepest condolences to the familys of these men.

    • I went to school with this guy! Damn man! He truly was cool. Always smiling. RIP bro! Justice will get served!

  19. Smh im sick of the nonesense out here… that was my friend son that lost his life. R.I.P Nicky.. it seems lime its worse up here nowadays… I moved up here to get away from this sort of nonsense

    • He really was a really nice guy!! So sad to hear that this happened to him. :( Such a senseless tragedy……

  21. As a young black man, I’m so sick and tired of this! That was my friends son that lost his life. God bless the Packard family and love one’s. But its all nonsense and it really needs to stop! I moved out here to get away from this sort of nonsense…

  22. This comment is to the [removed] wanting to be men…. put down the guns and try fighting like real men. Seriously, you’ll are trying to bang in Lancaster(the desert). Get a life! Step up and become real men in your homes and not in the streets. You wanna kill someone try fighting for your country like real men do and not like some weak [removed]

  23. Every summer. School lets out, the young ladies are out more, nothing productive offered for young people to do, long days and late nights. This type of thing happens every freakin summer!

  24. GIP michael!!! we had our disagreements but we nvr went too far. God bless ur family children n my bestfriend who has tha last piece of u

  25. LORD OUR HEARTS BLEED FOR THE LOST OF LIVES AND SOULS….LET US NOT GIVE UP IN TRAINING OUR CHILDREN IN THE RIGHT WAYS THEY SHOULD GO…HOUSE PARTIES ARE NOW JUST….KILLING GROUNDS…

  26. I can’t believe that while reading the news I would come across a picture of someone I knew. I can’t believe this happened to you. RIP…

  27. God Bless everyone involved. Now with that being said… where is Rex’s spy in the sky.. This is the perfect time to put it to use… All the money that is being spent on this useless piece of crap is ridiculous.

    • He ‘s too busy spying on Palmdale while his own city is going down the drain. 3 homicides this weekend in Lancaster.

    • where is Rex’s spy in the sky.. This is the perfect time to put it to use… All the money that is being spent on this useless piece of crap is ridiculous.

      ——> I am not a supporter of the “Rex Eye In The Sky” space program either but using “King Rex” and his plane as a scapegoat for a double homicide is a shallow statement. Obviously the scumbag who pulled the trigger is the one at fault, not the mayor or his expensive toy. I don’t ever recall the mayor touting that the plane was equipped with a crystal ball with homicide prediction technology. Some may argue that for the amount of money being spent on this plane, it should have a device with such technology, but let’s be realistic.

      The real prevention and solution is simplistic and starts with the responsibility of the ‘host’ of the party. It’s usually the same circumstances again and again when it comes to a homicide at a party. Someone throws a party, uninvited guests show up and it never ends well. The host claims they didn’t know the bad guy, that they just wanted to have a little party with some friends and things got out of control. After the dust clears, the fingers get pointed in the wrong direction; the mayor, the Sheriff’s Dept, etc.

      The mayor, the plane, the pilot – They didn’t pull that trigger. There was homicides before the maiden flight of Rex’s sky spy, and at the rate the AV is headed into the sewer (again) there will probably be plenty more.

      Two youngsters are deceased because they went to a party. It’s tragic, it’s senseless, and it’s sad; my condolences go out to their family and friends. This didn’t have to happen.

      Sadly, however it happens everywhere, every weekend, in other cities too that don’t have spy planes or Rex in office. I’ve been to very few parties that didn’t end with some sort of fist fight or ruckus. The only difference was at least back then people used their fists instead of bullets.

      What Lancaster and our County Supervisors need to fund is more air support from the LA County Sheriff. We need to fund additional night air support via helicopter, not a crop-duster. The LA Basin has air support nightly til about 5am because it is a vital tool. It doesn’t predict homicide either, but the presence and support of a quick response from a helicopter probably has prevented plenty of homicides, and at the very least, aided in the apprehension of the shooter. The AV is lucky to even have that helicopter past 10pm on a weekend.

      The problem goes way beyond Rex’s throne; the AV is LA County’s red-headed stepchild and we are treated as such by the supervisors and other powers that be. We have all of the crime and other problems associated with ‘down below’ – yet we get the scraps of scraps when it comes to resources. Why? Most of the people that control LA County don’t even know where the hell the AV is. They’ve never been here. To them, Lancaster is just a place on a map, far away from Los Angeles, but ‘still’ in LA County; a convenience that has served them very well and turned our cities into a septic tank in the process.

      Regardless, from a logical standpoint, King Rex and his plane is not to blame when two people get gunned down at a party. In fact, Rex took a proactive stance regarding these parties two years ago when a 14 year old was gunned down and murdered at a party under similar tragic circumstances. If I recall he authorized funds to implement party abatement cars for the Sheriff’s Dept to specifically respond to parties and shut them down before violence broke out. The problem is there are too many parties to deal with, and word of mouth spreads like an epidemic via the power of social networking, and no way to predict which party will end in bloodshed.

      • THis is why I think we need our on police department out here. What does Baca know about the AV

      • The Peasant Rex is no king… ha.. and his plane from what I remember can capture a 3 mile radius. So no he does not have a crystal ball, but damn can he get a clue. How long does it take to get the plane in the sky to start scanning. I mean I see the plane flying around every night wasting fuel and doing nothing. It just seems that when crime happens the plane is no where to be found. He’ll you think with three homicides we should have been able to deploy that plane and catch somebody.
        Wake up people Rex knows what he is doing. He wants all the old settlers here who are still alive to think he needs all of these things to keep them safe. Face the fact your not safe and he make it safe for us.
        Listen if the one of the worst cities in the United Stated like Los Angeles doesn’t have this plane, why do us little ole folks in Lancaster need it, when we have so many other things to spend the money on.

  28. Wow sorry to hear, wish things like this wouldnt happen prayers to the family