William Clay Settle, a 22-year-old man from Lancaster, California, was tragically shot and killed on August 13, 2016. The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning, around 1:30 a.m., in the 1700 block of East Avenue J-4. Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies responded to a call about gunshots in the area and found Settle lying on a walkway outside an apartment complex. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 1:35 a.m., having sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
The circumstances surrounding why Settle was at the apartment complex remain unclear, as he lived in another part of Lancaster. No witnesses reported seeing the shooting, and initially, there was no description of the gunman.
Settle was an aspiring firefighter, actively training with the California Conservation Corps (CCC), a state-run organization that provides young people with vital skills in conservation and firefighting. His untimely death left his family and community heartbroken, especially as he was looking forward to advancing his career in firefighting.
The investigation into Settle's murder saw significant developments when Myron Urssery, a 29-year-old man, was arrested and charged with the gang-related killing of Settle. Urssery was apprehended by gang detectives on September 22, 2016, and subsequently charged with one count of murder, including gang and gun allegations. He pleaded not guilty to the charges, and his bail was set at $2.09 million. Urssery's arrest came shortly after a $20,000 reward was offered by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for information leading to an arrest in the case. It remains unclear if the reward money directly contributed to Urssery's capture.
The case against Urssery proceeded with a preliminary hearing scheduled to determine if there was sufficient evidence to require him to stand trial for Settle's murder. The community and Settle's family continued to seek justice and closure for the loss of a young man who had a promising future ahead of him. The investigation highlighted the ongoing issues of gang violence and the impact it has on communities, as well as the importance of public cooperation in solving such crimes.
