Azzaam Stallsworth, a 31-year-old man from Hawthorne, California, tragically lost his life on July 16, 2014. The incident occurred around 12:50 a.m. when Stallsworth was driving a gold sedan with his girlfriend in the passenger seat. They stopped in an alley near her home on Prairie Avenue. At this moment, a dark-colored SUV approached them slowly. Without warning, someone inside the SUV opened fire on Stallsworth.
Despite being shot, Stallsworth managed to drive forward a few feet before crashing into an iron gate. He was rushed to Harbor UCLA Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 1:38 p.m. His girlfriend, who was in the car with him, was unharmed.
The investigation quickly led to the arrest of Donte Bay McNeil, a 22-year-old man from Gardena. McNeil was apprehended by the Hawthorne Police Department later that day. It was revealed that McNeil had a prior relationship with Stallsworth's girlfriend, which likely motivated the attack. McNeil was charged with one count of murder, with additional allegations of lying in wait and discharging a firearm. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was held on a $1 million bail. The case was set to proceed in court, with McNeil due back for further hearings.
The community was deeply affected by Stallsworth's death. He was remembered as a father and a friend, leaving behind a young daughter. Stallsworth had a background in sports, having played football at West LA College and SUNY Buffalo. At the time of his death, he was managing music artists for a record company he co-founded. The senseless nature of the crime and the loss of a promising life left his family and friends devastated. The investigation into the murder was thorough, with authorities urging anyone with additional information to come forward to aid in the pursuit of justice for Stallsworth.
