Joseph Fomby III, a 26-year-old resident of Inglewood, California, tragically lost his life on November 8, 2021. According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner's records, Fomby was fatally shot near 644 E. Arbor Vitae Street in Inglewood. The incident occurred in the evening, and despite efforts to save him, he succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
The circumstances surrounding his death were initially unclear, prompting a thorough investigation by local authorities.
In the months following the incident, the Inglewood Police Department, in collaboration with the FBI, made significant progress in the case. Their investigation revealed that Fomby's death was part of a larger criminal scheme involving a planned robbery. Three individuals were arrested and charged in connection with the murder. The suspects, identified as Mateo Paul, Leandrew Raglin, and Iysis Elanore Smith, were implicated in a series of crimes, including the fatal shooting of Fomby and the wounding of another victim.
The investigation uncovered that the suspects had lured Fomby and the other victim to a location under the pretense of conducting a marijuana sale arranged online. Once the victims arrived, the suspects executed their plan to rob them. During the robbery, Raglin allegedly opened fire on the victims, resulting in Fomby's death. The suspects then fled the scene, but were later apprehended by law enforcement. The case against them included charges of Hobbs Act robbery and using a firearm in relation to a crime of violence.
As the legal proceedings unfolded, all three suspects entered not guilty pleas. Their trials were scheduled for late 2023 and early 2024. If convicted, they each faced the possibility of life in federal prison. The case highlighted the collaborative efforts of the FBI's Violent Gangs Task Force and the Inglewood Police Department in addressing violent crimes and bringing those responsible to justice. The tragic loss of Joseph Fomby III remains a somber reminder of the impact of gun violence and the ongoing efforts to combat it in communities across the nation.
