David Towns, 36, was murdered on September 23, 1986, in Los Angeles. His killing was one in a series carried out in Skid Row by Michael Player, known as The Skid Row Slayer. Player’s spree began on September 4, 1986, and included ten victims; Towns is reported as the seventh.

He evaded capture for several weeks before a witness placed him near a crime scene; an interrogation produced a confession and Player was charged and later convicted, receiving life without parole.

David Towns’ death drew attention to the vulnerability of Skid Row residents during that period and the risks faced by people living on the streets.