Daisy Samual Gorden

On a late Thursday evening in Los Angeles, a dispute in a parking lot ended with the tragic death of Daisy Samual Gorden, a 39-year-old Black woman whose life was stolen by gunfire on March 5, 2020. Her murder remains a painful and unsolved chapter for her loved ones and the Harbor Gateway community.

The final hour of Daisy’s life began to unfold shortly before 11:30 p.m. in a parking lot on the 500 block of West 127th Street. According to police reports, Daisy was involved in a physical altercation with a group of individuals. The specific details of what led to the confrontation are not publicly known. After the fight concluded, Daisy began walking back toward her home, a short distance away. It was during this walk that her life was violently taken. An unknown assailant fired at her, and she was struck by the gunfire.

Los Angeles Police Department officers and paramedics rushed to the scene following reports of the shooting. They found Daisy with critical injuries, and despite their efforts, she could not be saved. The Los Angeles County coroner’s office later confirmed that Daisy Samual Gorden was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:42 p.m. Her death was officially ruled a homicide, sparking an investigation that continues to this day.

The case was assigned to LAPD’s Harbor Division, with detectives, including Nathan Kouri, tasked with untangling the night's violent events. Investigators determined that the person or persons who shot Daisy fled immediately after the crime. In the critical early stages of the investigation, detectives worked to gather evidence and appealed to the public for witnesses to come forward. The area was canvassed for any security cameras that might have captured the initial altercation, the shooting itself, or the escape of the suspect.

Harbor Gateway, a narrow, 2.5-mile-long residential strip connecting the main basin of Los Angeles to its port, is a neighborhood of immense diversity but also one that has historically contended with high rates of violent crime. Unsolved homicides like Daisy's can cast a long shadow over a community, breeding fear and mistrust while leaving families without closure. Each year, dozens of homicides in Los Angeles go unsolved, leaving a trail of unresolved grief.

In the years since Daisy Gorden's death, her case has grown cold. There have been no arrests, and no suspects have been publicly named. The silence surrounding her murder is a heavy burden for those who knew and loved her. Without new information, the path to justice remains obstructed. For a family grieving a loved one, the absence of answers can be an ongoing source of trauma, a wound that cannot begin to heal until justice is served.

The investigation into Daisy Samual Gorden's murder is still open. The Los Angeles Police Department continues to ask for the public’s help, emphasizing that even the smallest detail could be the key to breaking the case. Anonymous tips can be provided to Crime Stoppers, offering a safe and confidential way for individuals to share what they know. Until that crucial piece of information surfaces, Daisy’s story remains one of a life cut short and a lingering quest for accountability on a quiet street in Los Angeles.