Felton Millage Jr.

A profound tragedy unfolded on what should have been a day of family mourning for Felton Millage Jr., a 47-year-old Black man whose life was violently cut short on August 7, 2014. That morning, Felton was preparing to attend the funeral of his nephew, Irvine Barner Jr., a somber gathering for a family already in pain. Instead, grief was compounded by fresh horror when Felton himself became a victim of homicide in the Vermont Knolls neighborhood of South Los Angeles.

The attack occurred in the driveway of a two-story home on the 500 block of West 74th Street. Felton was standing outside with a group of other men when the tranquil moment was shattered by gunfire. According to Los Angeles County coroner’s records and police reports, a young man, described only as a Black male in his early 20s, approached the group and opened fire without warning. The sudden chaos left two men wounded.

Both Felton and a 38-year-old man were struck by the bullets. Emergency services were called to the scene, and the victims were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. Despite the efforts of medical staff, Felton succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 8:50 p.m. that evening. The second victim was reported to be in critical but stable condition following the attack.

The gunman fled the scene immediately after the shooting, reportedly running east on West 74th Street and disappearing. The motive for the attack was not immediately clear to investigators, leaving a painful void of unanswered questions for a grieving family and a shaken community. The scene of the shooting bore the grim aftermath of the violence, with bullet holes marking the side of the home where Felton had been standing. A woman named Tisha, who was present at the property, later recounted the harrowing task of cleaning the blood from the scene the following morning.

The Los Angeles Police Department’s Criminal Gang Homicide Division was assigned to lead the investigation. Detectives appealed to the public for any information that could help identify the suspect and bring him to justice. They urged any witnesses who were in the area or who might have details about the shooting, no matter how small, to come forward.

In the years since Felton Millage Jr.'s death, his case has remained unsolved. No arrests have been announced, and no suspects have been publicly identified. The lack of resolution leaves his loved ones without closure, grappling not only with his sudden absence but with the unknown reasons behind it. The case is a stark reminder of the lasting impact of gun violence, which in an instant transformed a day of family remembrance into one of double tragedy. As of today, the investigation remains open, and the search for answers continues.