Merlin Santana, a 26-year-old actor known for roles on The Steve Harvey Show and The Cosby Show, was fatally shot on November 9, 2002, while sitting in the passenger seat of a car in the Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw area of Los Angeles. Santana and fellow actor Brandon Adams were leaving an acquaintance’s home when a shot fired by 19-year-old Damien Andre Gates entered through the trunk, penetrated the right-front passenger headrest, and struck Santana in the head, killing him instantly.

The killing was reportedly triggered by a false accusation from Gates’ girlfriend, 15-year-old Monique King, who claimed Santana had made sexual advances; King later recanted. Law enforcement arrested those involved. Damien Andre Gates was convicted of first-degree murder and attempted murder and received three consecutive life sentences plus an additional 70 years. Brandon Douglas Bynes pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and assault with a deadly weapon and was sentenced to 23 years. Monique King was convicted of second-degree murder and attempted murder and received an eight-year sentence in a California Youth Authority facility to be served until she turned 25.