Authorities today released the name of a young man fatally shot outside the Comedy Store yesterday in West Hollywood.
The attack, reported at 12:49 a.m. Wednesday, occurred outside the club, which is at 8433 Sunset Blvd. near Olive Drive. No arrests have been reported.
Richard James, 23, died at a hospital, said coroner’s Assistant Chief Ed Winter. His home town was not known.
Sheriff’s Lt. Steve Jauch told reporters on Wednesday that the victim was shot in front of the club by someone who wore a dark-hooded sweatshirt and ran from the scene.
“I was on the balcony smoking a cigarette and I heard like several gunshots,” a witness told Fox11. “We got out to the front just as cops were showing up and there was a person laying down, and that’s all I saw.”
Sunset Boulevard was closed between La Cienega Boulevard and Sweetzer Avenue for about nine hours while an investigation was conducted, snarling traffic in the area throughout the morning rush hour.
Anyone with information on the crime was urged to call the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.
@90069 Weho is Not anti gun:) You know nothing about what others possess behind closed doors. Just sayin 😉
sure bans guns, and offer free abortions too, kills future democrats, all the more reason to fund pp clinics on every corner.
Great line from Jon Stewart that seems apropos:
“So you’re telling me it is too soon to even have a conversation about it? You’re telling me that to discuss the epidemic of gun violence in this country, for that, there is a waiting period. Yeah, I guess you’d hate to go into a conversation about guns all hot-headed and say something impulsively you’ll never be able to take back.”
My condolences to the family.
@WehoFan Why is it inappropriate? When is a better time to talk about guns than after the shooting death of an individual? Politicize, schmolitize.
I’m very happy Weho is anti-gun! We do not need these weapons flooding the streets. The 2nd amendment clearly states a “well regulated militia” what about our current state of affairs says well regulated militia when crazed losers can shoot up elementary school kids as easily as getting a starbucks coffee!? Is Weho going to make some noise about this so we can see real political change? Maybe banning fur should be our only moral issue we should focus on…
The proliferation of guns IS political.Political decisions created the crisis, and it can only be resolved with political solutions.
I’m OK with that SE—–whatever will help!!
WehoFan: cal it what you want, but SE’s basic point is true: The ubiquity and ease of access to firearms results EVERY year in this country in several times the deaths caused on 9/11; and several times the battle deaths sustained in 14 years of war in TWO countries…and yet our GOP-controlled Congress does NOTHING but sing the NRA’s tune and make it easier for kooks and crooks and kids and conspiracy nuts to gain even more access to a product that is DESIGNED to kill. I spend more time trying to access my HIV meds than I would have… Read more »
@SE It’s inappropriate to immediately politicize this man’s death in order to push an anti-gun agenda
Likewise condolences for the tragic loss of life.
It is significant that in a city of 36,000 at the epicenter of LA Co metro area, this is the first homicide in over a year. That puts us at the extreme end of safe urban area.
That doesn’t minimize this young man’s death or meant to suggest this shouldn’t be taken seriously. But context is important – it doesn’t indicate any signs of a crime wave having an impact on our daily lives.
Another victim of terrorism sponsored by the NRA and supported by Congress. My condolences to the family – no one stands a chance as long as guns are easier to access than medical care.