Semaj Miller was a 14-year-old basketball player from Compton who was shot and killed on July 29, 2020. At 6 feet 6 inches, he had been a local youth standout preparing to start freshman year at Compton High School. He was found in a courtyard outside a residence in the Broadway-Manchester area of South Los Angeles and was pronounced dead at the scene; Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner records state he was shot inside an apartment following a dispute.

The shooting occurred at about 2:20 p.m., and reports say the motive is unclear but is not believed to be gang-related. The community reacted with grief, coaches noting the loss of a promising student-athlete and raising concerns that pandemic-related shutdowns of youth programs left fewer safe options for teens. A 17-year-old suspect was arrested and charged with murder; the suspect’s name has not been released because of age.

Did anyone in the community know Semaj or have information about that afternoon?