Deontae Deshon Ruffin, a 24-year-old man from Los Angeles, California, was tragically shot and killed on February 29, 2016. The incident occurred in the 1500 block of West 57th Street in the Harvard Park neighborhood. According to the Los Angeles County coroner’s records, Ruffin was sitting in a car when a light-colored sedan approached. A person exited the front passenger side of the sedan and fired into the back seat where Ruffin was sitting.
The shooter then got back into the sedan, which fled north on South Denker Avenue. Ruffin was pronounced dead at a hospital at 2:26 p.m.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) detectives investigating the case described Ruffin's killing as a case of mistaken identity. Detective Chris Barling, who heads the 77th Division homicide squad, indicated that the homicide was gang-related in the sense that the suspects were believed to be gang members. However, Ruffin himself was not a gang member. The investigation into Ruffin's death was handled by the Criminal Gang Homicide Division, and the LAPD urged anyone with information to come forward, offering anonymity through Crime Stoppers.
Despite the efforts of law enforcement, the case remains unresolved. The LAPD has not publicly identified any suspects or made any arrests in connection with Ruffin's murder. The investigation continues, with detectives seeking any leads that could help bring the perpetrators to justice. The community and Ruffin's family continue to seek answers and justice for the senseless killing of a young man whose life was cut short by violence.
