Jaydin Lewis, an 18-year-old known for a smile that could make anyone feel welcome, was a young man with a kind spirit and a bright future. His family remembers him as a happy, loving, and gentle person who brought joy to everyone around him. A high school senior, Jaydin was a beloved son, grandson, nephew, and friend. He had a twin brother, Jaylen, and a younger brother. Jaydin loved music and anime and held a deep fascination with the ocean, dreaming of one day becoming a marine biologist.
His aunt, Tara Lewis-Maxwell, recalled him as the life of the party and a "beautiful soul."
On the night of Friday, October 2, 2026, Jaydin was at the Artist Lounge, an event venue in a strip mall on the 18000 block of Nordhoff Street in the Northridge neighborhood of Los Angeles. The space, located near the Cal State Northridge campus, was hosting a crowded promotional party and music launch for an up-and-coming artist, with an estimated 100 to 200 people inside. Just after 11 p.m., officers from the Los Angeles Police Department responded to a radio call about a loud party at the venue.
According to police, as officers arrived and began making contact with the event's organizer to shut the party down, gunshots suddenly rang out from within the crowded room. Cellphone video captured the ensuing chaos as guests screamed, ducked for cover, and scrambled to escape the sudden violence. Amid the panic, the gunman managed to flee the scene. When officers entered the venue, they discovered Jaydin Lewis and another partygoer, 19-year-old Kimberly Pastor, suffering from fatal gunshot wounds. Paramedics with the Los Angeles Fire Department arrived, but both Jaydin and Kimberly were pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation was taken over by detectives with the LAPD's Robbery-Homicide Division, Valley Bureau Section. In the immediate aftermath, police detained numerous partygoers for questioning as they worked to piece together what happened. Investigators began reviewing surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses, but a motive for the shooting remained unclear. Authorities stated they were searching for a male suspect, but a detailed description was not released to the public.
The loss of Jaydin devastated his family. “We’ve never had this type of tragedy in our family, and this is just so hard for us,” his aunt told reporters. The family created a GoFundMe page to help with funeral expenses, remembering Jaydin as a young man who "simply found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time." A vigil was organized by the venue's owner on Sunday, October 4, but Jaydin's family released a statement clarifying that they did not endorse the event, asking for privacy and urging the public not to attend under the belief that it had their support. Kimberly Pastor, the other victim, was the mother of a 2-year-old son and was remembered as a good student who was working toward a better future for her child.
As of October 2026, no arrests have been made, and the person responsible for the deaths of Jaydin Lewis and Kimberly Pastor remains at large. The case is still an active investigation. Jaydin's family is pleading for justice and for anyone with information to come forward. "Turn yourself in, because it's the right thing to do," his aunt said in a message to the shooter.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the LAPD's Robbery-Homicide Division, Valley Bureau Section at (818) 374-9550. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls can be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.
