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Public help sought in double murder investigation

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Several cars were seen leaving the area after the murders, but very little suspect information has been uncovered, detectives said. (Photo by ED FROMMER)
Several cars were seen leaving the area after the murders, but very little suspect information has been uncovered, detectives said. (Photo by ED FROMMER)
Authorities need your help in solving the murders of Nicky Packard (left) and Michael Sewell Jr.
Authorities need your help in solving the murders of Nicky Packard (left) and Michael Sewell Jr.

LANCASTER – Two men were killed after a party in Lancaster on Sunday, June 23, and sheriff’s homicide detectives are asking for your help with the double murder investigation.

Around 4:30 a.m., 33-year-old Nicky Packard and 22-year-old Michael Sewell Jr. were shot to death in the 44800 Block of Hanstead Avenue in Lancaster.

The victims were part of a group 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, which escalated into the shooting.

Packard and Sewell were shot multiple times in the upper torso and pronounced dead at the scene.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact sheriff’s homicide investigators O’Quinn or Schoonmaker at 323-890-5500.

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

Previous related stories: Men shot and killed after party in Lancaster

Filed Under: Crime/ Safety

29 comments for "Public help sought in double murder investigation"

  1. I sure wish those who claim to be looking out for our people of color would step up where they are truly needed. The AV-NAACP, TCAL, LULAC, Merit Commission, Nation of Islam HELPERS, One Way Up, and the DOJ? Why have they been so silent on this double murder of two young black men? There has been plenty of local media coverage. When are they going to hold a press conference to ask for the public to help in finding those who are responsible for these murders? When going to offer a large reward to entice those with information to come forward? Their silence in this case is screaming what they are truly all about. Shouting & proclaiming racism against the police is the new time honored mantra of these so called civil rights groups who claim to speak on behalf of all minorities.

    Maybe they are afraid to assist in the capture of those responsible because then they may have to claim that those who the police arrested are being wrongfully prosecuted by those same cops that they called racist? Interesting to say the least…..

  3. Nicky u will truely b missed.. God rest ur soul Bro… u was a good dude!! Ur wife & kids are allways in my prayers… God is Real… Please stop this… u left a woman wit no husband, kids wit no daddy, her the duty to explain this to their babies….. God is coming back… Get Jesus!!!

  4. Too bad you have to carry a gun to a party…unless your looking for trouble…If you have to take a gun to a party for PROTECTION…then don’t go….Trouble looking for trouble will always find trouble!!!

    Offer some $$$ and they would turn in their own mother for it!!!

    • Better yet,maybe all those “civil rights leaders” at the press conference today could do that since they are so concerned with what happens here.

    • Why wait for money? Why not do it because it is right? Why not do it to give closure to the families who Lost sons? Why not do it to prevent retaliation shootings so that others won’t lose life and freedom?

  6. What to do in a world so cruel, kids feel brave and go out an shoot, there is no holding back the violence that’s been built up in these kids hearts. Mothers and fathers is this the way you were taught? be in their lives show them love, because your the only ones that can change what’s inside of those hearts.

  8. This situation is sad..I hate that happen..Well it hurts me because micheal dewayne sewell jr. was my older brother we have the same daddy…i miss you n love you micheal.You maybe gone but not to me you will alwyas be here in my heart..my heart also go out to his kids.They are too young to understand anything.I hate that because he kids needed him and some low life took him away from him….He also had nices and newphews whom he wont get to see…Unfortunately he never met my lil boy and my adorable lil girl hisniece and newphew…They would have loved him and he would have too.Ive learn that loyalty is every thing.My brother was a loyal person if heis friend or family needed anything he was there forreal.Thats the honest truth.Ive thank you micheal for that and im honer that starting today if u cant be loyal to me then u got to keep it movin homie”..I wish to meet my newphew and nieces one day and big bro micheal R.I.P you will always be in our family hearts..

    • (Didn’t mean to post yet…. My phone froze up)
      ……… You all have heard what people who knew these young men are saying about them…. ALL GOOD THINGS!!! I knew Nicky and everything people have posted about him is TRUE!!! He was a good person, always smiling, an all around nice guy!!! I’ve seen all the positive posts about Michael as well!! These weren’t some young punk kids out causing trouble around the community. They were good men who didn’t deserve to die!!!! PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!!!!! If u know ANYTHING, please come forward!!! U can do it anonymously. Please let who did this pay for taking these men from their families and loved ones. If u don’t want to be a “snitch” or if u are worried about retaliation, and u don’t want to go to the police, then maybe u can mention what u know to someone else who can pass the info along. This crime CANNOT GO UNPUNISHED!!! These men deserve justice!!! Please…..

  10. Ive known Nicky and his family for years,very senseless and heartless act to take his and another life as well… My motorcycle club will be hosting a memorial car wash for Nicky today at “heads up” barber shop at 1330 W. Ave J.. All proceeds will go to the Packard family.. 11am until.

    Please come out and support,
    AV Rising sons

  11. I hope someone comes forward with some information. There was a group of partygoers. Someone had to have seen something. I knew Nicky and he didn’t deserve this. So many unfortunate stories we read yet no follow through. No bad guys caught. Hardly ever. Whoever did this needs to be brought to justice.

  13. CAN SOMEONE THAT KNOW’S ABOUT THIS, JUST TELL ME WHY THEY RANDOMLY SHOOT PEOPLE AT A PARTY? DON’T THEY KNOW THAT THERE COULD BE KIDS AND OTHER INOCENT PEOPLE THERE? THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME TYPE OF RESPECT FOR OTHER’S. EVEN PEOPLE THEY KNOW COULD BE THERE.. WHY???? WHAT HAPPENED TO A REGULAR FIST FIGHT? MAYBE THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE VIDEOS OUT SHOWING WHAT HAPPENS TO A FAMILY THAT LOST A FAMILY MEMBER TO GUN VIOLENCE. I HAVE A NEICE AND NEPHEW WHO WERE GUNNED DOWN AT THE SAME TIME, WHEN THEY WERE ON THERE WAY TO FAMILY FUNCTION. IT WAS MISTAKEN IDENTITY.

    • Welcome to modern culture.. Kids are watching crime movies, playing video games, listening to RAP music promoting violence.. Thats how we get crazy young kids with guns, killing each other, and whoever else is on their way. Nation is ill, and does not get any better.

  15. Open ur EYES people. The summer heat is here and the senseless killing is on the rise. Two young men of color senselessly gunned down in our neighborhoods that we ask our Sheriff’s to patrol and control. Five years ago we begged our Sheriff’s to send more deputies to help suppress all of the L.A. based gangs and parolees that relocated to our once peaceful neighborhoods. These thugs were burglarizing and terrorizing the AV. Most of us worked hard to afford a nice home and neighborhood to raise our families and we were seeing our quality of life, and our sense of security completely taken away from us. Crime rates had hit five year lows and were continueing on the right path even during tough economic times. Now some DOJ attorneys from 3000 miles away have issued a report condemning our brave Sheriff protectors as they answered the calls from a small group of activists as they screamed that our sheriff’s were unfairly policing certain high crime areas.

    Now our poor Sheriff’s have been beaten down by the feds and the media, and criminal loving lawyers will be lining up with their DOJ report in hand ready to sue any deputy for looking crossed eyed at a parolee.

    Calling all Law Abiding Hard Working AV Residents! We need to make our voices heard loud and clear that we appreciate the hard work that our Sheriff’s have done to make our streets, neighborhoods, parks, schools and business areas safe. We’ve come too far to let it slip back to 5 years ago and into the hands of the thugs that screamed for the DOJ.

    By the way, if you have any information on the murderers responsible for the deaths of the young men of color pictured above, please call the DOJ attorneys in Wash DC so they can tell our deputies how to locate and arrest these murderers without being labeled as biased racists. I’m sure the DOJ has the easy answers for that.

    OPEN ur EYES people. If you want to live in peace and security, Support Our Sheriff’s! S.O.S.

    • The main reason that the sheriff’s department doesn’t get much cooperation from the Black community is because of its valid reputation for being unfairly biased against Black people. They are represented as a legal street gang in the eyes of most of these young people. The department needs to represent themselves as agents of peace instead. Then they can be more effective in the work they are entrusted to do. The training that they get inside the county jail system prepares them with a “3000 Boys” gestapo type mentality and they high-five each other on brutality and improper conduct. I bet the ‘streets’ know well who is responsible. But no one has enough confidence in the sheriffs or judicial system to put it in their hands. Which, of course, means that the result will be retaliation and more tragic incidents like this one.
      Oh so sad, but oh so true.

      • Rome, who do you think shot and killed these young men at this party? I can 100% guarantee that it wasn’t an LASD deputy. I am willing to go out on a limb and speculate that the suspect or suspects responsible for these murders probably look a lot like the rest of those who attended this party. Go ahead and direct your misguided anger and hated at the police. I’m sure that will prevent future murders in our communities of color.

        Activist and DOJ, where are you in our time of need now?

        • You may be right that an LASD deputy did not pull the trigger. But I can tell you one thing you can not guarantee: They are part of the problem. If only you could see that there is no public trust of deputies anywhere in Los Angeles county. They are known as a corrupt organization. From the cliques, to the promotion of gang and racial unrest inside the county jail system. It is a long standing tradition of illegal practices predating Pitchess vs. Superior Court (1974) that this department uses Gestapo tactics because they feel that they are above the law. I would go further into proof, but you know what it is. You can call the devil a saint if you choose to. It’s your right.

          • I’m a white male in my 40’s. I’m 100% behind law enforcement. I have to admit Rome is spot on about the sheriffs department. I have personally witness younger LA County Sheriffs deputies abuse and harass blacks, latinos and poor whites. I have no trust in the LASD.

      • “They are represented as a legal street gang in the eyes of most of these young people.”

        And not just people of color feel this way. And not just young people.
        I do not fear gangs, as I haven’t ever been harassed by any members of any gangs.
        I fear LEO’s more because they harass with impunity. Your word against theirs could lead to long-term incarceration and a ruined life.