In the late hours of a Wednesday night in Los Angeles, 45-year-old Kareem J. Newton, a Black male, was fatally shot while sitting in a vehicle in the downtown area. The incident occurred on April 8, 2026, at the intersection of East Fifth and South Crocker streets. An unknown man approached the car where Newton was seated with a female companion and opened fire. Newton was struck by the gunfire, and the assailant fled the scene.
The woman in the vehicle was not physically harmed.
Responding to the call just before midnight, Los Angeles Police Department officers arrived to find the chaotic aftermath of the shooting. Paramedics from the Los Angeles Fire Department quickly transported Newton to a local hospital. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, he succumbed to a gunshot wound to the abdomen. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's office later confirmed his death as a homicide. His formal pronouncement of death was made on Thursday, April 9, 2026.
In the wake of his sudden and violent death, family members remembered Kareem Newton as a loving and devoted father to his seven children. His sister, Jasmine Jones, initiated a GoFundMe campaign to assist with funeral expenses, sharing that her brother had a passion for music and fashion. She acknowledged that while some may have known him for a life on the streets, those who truly knew him understood he had a good heart. Another source indicated that Newton had a significant criminal history in San Bernardino County, with past arrests for various offenses including stalking and robbery.
As of the latest reports, the suspect in the shooting remains at large, and the Los Angeles Police Department's investigation is ongoing. No arrests have been made, and a motive for the shooting has not been publicly released.
