Jimmy Khounchanh

Jimmy Khounchanh was 21 years old when he died early on Monday, May 7, 2007, in Covina. According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner, he died of stab wounds at 1414 N. Azusa Ave., the address of a movie theater. His death was ruled a homicide, and it is listed as a case of the Covina Police Department.

The Los Angeles Times Homicide Report said that Khounchanh, "a young Asian man, was stabbed multiple times at 1414 N. Azusa Ave. in Covina, and died at 2:25 a.m. Monday, May 7." San Gabriel Valley newspapers filled in the rest. Khounchanh, who lived in Baldwin Park, and his girlfriend were leaving the AMC Covina 30 after the last showing of "Spider-Man 3" when he was attacked by a group of men. A 2015 San Gabriel Valley Tribune story said he was stabbed "in the chest, shoulder and back several times." His girlfriend and another man got him into a car, and they escaped the parking lot "in a hail of gunfire," police said. No one was hit by the shots. He was pronounced dead at Citrus Valley Medical Center's Queen of the Valley campus in West Covina.

Witnesses described a group in the theater that seemed to be looking for trouble. "They were sitting right in front of us," one moviegoer told the Daily News. Detectives said witnesses were slow to come forward out of fear of retaliation. "We need people to do the right thing and come forward," Covina police Detective Ric Walczack said. Police reviewed a videotape from the theater that did not show the killing itself. "It's solvable," Sgt. John Curley said. "But, it's not going to happen overnight."

In June 2007, Covina police arrested a man and booked him on suspicion of murder. But the 2015 Tribune story reported that "the District Attorney's Office declined to prosecute because of a lack of evidence," and the case has remained open.

Khounchanh was an aspiring actor. He had minor roles in "Gridiron Gang" and "Freedom Writers," two films about young people overcoming gang violence, and he also sold car accessories online. He graduated from Sierra Vista High School in Baldwin Park in 2005. Family members said he was not involved in gang activity. "He said to me, 'Auntie, in a couple years I will get paid a lot,'" his aunt told the Tribune. "He had a big dream."

Covina is a city in the eastern San Gabriel Valley, and North Azusa Avenue is one of its main commercial streets, lined with shopping centers, restaurants and the large multiplex where Khounchanh spent his last evening.

Hundreds of people are killed in Los Angeles County every year, and a large share of those killings end without an arrest.

No criminal charge, conviction or court case connected to the death of Jimmy Khounchanh could be found in news archives or public records. More than 18 years later, there is no public sign that anyone has been held responsible. Anyone who was at the AMC Covina 30 for the late showing of "Spider-Man 3" on the night of May 6, 2007, or who has heard someone talk about the attack in the parking lot, may hold information that could help. Even a small detail, such as a name overheard, a vehicle seen nearby or a conversation remembered, can help detectives move a case forward. Anyone with information can contact the Covina Police Department, or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).