Four arrests were made last week in the shooting death of 22-year-old Lorenzo Smith, who was killed while at a party in a recording studio in the 1600 block of North La Brea Avenue on April 17.

Octavia Smith, mother of murder victim Lorenzo Smith, appealed to the public for information that will lead to the arrest of the remaining suspect. (photo by Jose Martinez)

Known gang members Glen Wagner, Miguel Estrada, Brittany Jackson and Paul Benoit were arrested on May 5 for the murder. The LAPD is currently seeking one other suspect, Kevin Anthony White, who is believed to be in the Compton/Lynwood area.

According to LAPD homicide detectives, the gang members began to argue and confronted Smith, who was not a gang member, at approximately 3:12 a.m. before drawing their weapons and firing numerous shots. Smith died at the scene, and another man was seriously wounded. Detectives believe the argument led to the shooting.

“Words can’t even describe how I feel today,” Octavia Smith, the victim’s mother, said. “I know in my heart that Lorenzo didn’t have a clue what was going to happen that night. I assure you, this incident was totally unprovoked. Justice will be served in this case. I’m so grateful, I was promised from the beginning that [the police would] do their job and they did.”

Following Smith’s murder, a multi-agency investigation was launched by homicide detectives from LAPD’s Hollywood Division, LAPD gang and narcotics officers, gang deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Los Angeles County Probation Office and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

“These individuals that come to Hollywood to commit violence will be diligently pursued and brought to justice, until the victim’s families receive the closure they deserve,” said Captain Beatrice Girmala, commanding officer of the Hollywood Division.

The investigation led to 11 search warrants and 14 parole/probation compliance checks in Compton and Long Beach. Last Thursday, detectives made eight arrests and recovered evidence related to Smith’s murder.

During a press conference Wednesday at the Hollywood Community Police Station, Councilmember Tom LaBonge, 4th District, comforted the victim’s mother, who is a city employee.

“On behalf of the city council, we extend our love to you and your family for your loss,” LaBonge said. “We remember your son on this sad day. It could happen to you, it could happen to anybody.”

Officer Brett Goodkin classified the fatal shooting as a “senseless gang murder.”

Hollywood investigators spoke to several witnesses at the scene, and were aided by video surveillance footage they were able to show the sheriff’s department investigators, who were familiar with the suspects because their jurisdiction covers the areas where the gangs operate.

With one suspect still at large, the victim’s mother didn’t mince words in a message to Kevin White.

“Turn yourself in,” Smith said. “Your days and hours are numbered.”