Earl Smith, 59, was fatally shot on December 18, 2023, in the 13400 block of Kornblum Avenue in Hawthorne, California. Hawthorne Police arrived after reports of gunfire around 8:04 p.m. and found Smith and another man with gunshot wounds. Smith was pronounced dead at the scene; the other victim was taken to a hospital in stable condition.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner pronounced the death, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau is assisting Hawthorne police. No arrests have been announced, and authorities have not released information about suspects or a motive. Investigators are asking anyone with information to contact the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500 or submit anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS or via lacrimestoppers.org.

Does anyone in Hawthorne have information about activity on Kornblum Avenue that night or saw anything that could help investigators?