Lester Scott Virgil, a 45-year-old operations supervisor at Los Angeles International Airport, was tragically shot and killed on August 5, 2016, in the Westmont area of Los Angeles. Virgil was at a friend's house, watching his son practice basketball drills, when a car pulled up and a man in his 20s, wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, exited the vehicle and began shooting. Virgil, who was sitting on the porch, was struck multiple times in the upper torso and pronounced dead at the scene.
His wife, Trekesha “Kesha” Virgil, arrived moments later to pick up their son and found the aftermath of the shooting. The incident left the family and community in shock, with friends and coworkers rallying to support them through fundraising efforts.
The investigation into Virgil's death revealed that there was significant gang activity in the neighborhood at the time, although neither Virgil nor the family he was visiting had any known gang affiliations. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department suggested that the shooting might have been a case of mistaken identity or an attempt by gang members to prove themselves. Despite these theories, the exact motive behind the shooting remains unclear. The authorities released photos of the suspect's vehicle, a white sedan with tinted windows, in hopes of generating leads, but no arrests have been made.
In the wake of the tragedy, Virgil's family and friends have been vocal in their plea for justice. A $10,000 reward was offered by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for information leading to the arrest of the shooter. Virgil's brother, Johnny Virgil, described him as the glue that held their family together, a man with a hearty laugh and a big heart. His daughter, Kashira Virgil, spoke at a news conference, urging the community to stop the cycle of violence and reach for success instead of guns.
The case remains open, with investigators continuing to seek any information that could lead to the identification and apprehension of the suspect. The community's support and the family's determination to find justice for Lester Scott Virgil highlight the profound impact he had on those around him and the ongoing struggle to bring his killer to justice.
