Lamont Leroy Farmer, a 42-year-old resident of Lomita, California, tragically lost his life on November 12, 2018, in a shooting incident that occurred in Koreatown, Los Angeles. According to the Los Angeles County Coroner's records, Farmer was one of two victims shot at a marijuana dispensary located at 447 S. Western Avenue. The other victim was identified as Manuel David Corral Jr., a 36-year-old security guard from South Pasadena.
The shooting took place in the early hours of the morning, around 4:20 a.m., in the waiting room of the dispensary, which was operating outside of its legally permitted hours.
The incident was described as a robbery attempt that went awry, resulting in the deaths of both Farmer and Corral. The suspect, Deondrae Farmer, who was identified as Lamont Leroy Farmer's brother, was arrested and charged with the murders. Deondrae Farmer was apprehended at a motel, although the exact location and date of his arrest were not disclosed by the authorities. The Los Angeles Police Department's West Bureau Homicide Unit, led by Detective Herman Frettlohr, indicated that the investigation was ongoing, with additional suspects still being sought.
The dispensary, Koreatown Exotics, was not listed as a licensed marijuana dispensary by the Los Angeles Department of Cannabis Regulation, and its operation during the time of the shooting was in violation of city ordinances. The building had previously housed a different dispensary, and there had been no reported issues at the site prior to the incident. The Los Angeles City Attorney's Office confirmed that there were no complaints or criminal filings pending against any dispensary at that address.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the Los Angeles Police Department urged anyone with information about the murders to come forward and assist with the investigation. The case highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in regulating and monitoring marijuana dispensaries in the city, particularly those operating illegally. The tragic deaths of Lamont Leroy Farmer and Manuel David Corral Jr. underscored the potential dangers associated with such establishments and the need for stricter enforcement of existing regulations.
