Photo by Alexander Nguyen
A reputed gang member was charged with murder Monday in the fatal shooting of an expectant father outside a South Los Angeles barbershop.
Tyrone Foster Jr., 22, is also facing gun and gang allegations stemming from the death of 27-year-old Robert Ellis, who was shot about 2:15 p.m. March 25 in the 5500 block of South Vermont Avenue, according to authorities.
Ellis died at a hospital, said Detective Shawn Svoboda of the LAPD’s Criminal Gang Homicide Division.
“It was tragic,” Svoboda said. “He had just learned that he was going to be a father.”
Relatives said Monday that Ellis’ girlfriend suffered a miscarriage after his death.
Foster was arrested Thursday at a hotel in Hawthorne, police said.
Ellis was standing outside the barbershop with a large group of people when the suspect walked up and opened fire, according to Svoboda. The shooting apparently was gang-related, although Ellis was not a gang member, police said.
The Los Angeles City Council offered a $50,000 reward for help in solving the case, and detectives released surveillance images that included the suspect’s face.
Ellis’ mother, Lenell, thanked the community for its help contributing to the arrest.
“My family and I would just like to thank everyone,” she said. “We’d like to thank the 77th Street police division for all their hard work. We’d like to thank the people in the community that were total strangers that responded, called in, gave tips. We’re very, very, very appreciative.”
— City News Service
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