On July 20, 2024, at about 12:40 a.m., 15-year-old Sergio Villa was fatally shot during a street takeover near 54th Street and Western Avenue in South Los Angeles. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, Villa and another 15-year-old were attending the takeover when they witnessed a robbery. As the suspects ran toward a nearby vehicle they fired multiple gunshots, striking both teenagers. The victims drove themselves to a nearby hospital; Villa died of his injuries and the other boy was listed in stable condition.

The suspects fled in a vehicle and no arrests have been announced. The LAPD has not released detailed descriptions of the suspects or their vehicle and investigators are asking the public for help. Villa’s death has been memorialized online, with friends and family lighting candles and sharing memories. If anyone has information about the shooting, contact the LAPD South Bureau Homicide Division or Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.