Kevin Celestine, 59, was shot and killed in Compton on the night of September 1, 2023. Deputies responded about 10:19 p.m. to the 1200 block of South Whitemarsh Street and found Celestine with multiple gunshot wounds to his upper torso; he was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:45 p.m. Investigators say the shooting followed an argument between Celestine and an unidentified male who produced a handgun, shot Celestine multiple times, then fled northbound on Whitemarsh Street in a vehicle.

No description of the suspect or vehicle has been released and no arrests have been announced. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau is handling the case and asks anyone with information to contact (323) 890-5500 or submit anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or lacrimestoppers.org. Celestine had prior law enforcement encounters in 2011 and 2015, but it is unclear whether those are related to this homicide.

Does anyone in the area have information about that night or about who was driving north on Whitemarsh Street?