His death was a robbery, that's how the family of Clifton Hibbert sees his murder on March 28, 2008.
"They robbed me big time. They robbed me of the fruit of my labor," said the victim's mother Donna Brown.
Brown looks back on the day her son was killed eight years ago and still can't form the words to explain how it changed her life forever.
"I realize that love does not die. That's why I'm standing here now, seeking justice for him," Brown said.
Hibbert grew up in Santa Monica. He was home for Spring Break from California State University, Northridge -- where he was about to graduate in just two months -- when LAPD detectives say someone stole his future.
"This wasn't just a regular birthday party or something going on, this was a double murder," said Det. Jason Turner.
Turner, who works in LAPD's South Bureau Criminal Gang Division, is the lead on what has now become a cold case -- eight years after 22-year-old Hibbert and 23-year-old Kenneth Patterson were shot at point-blank range in the 4200 block of South Figueroa. The identities of the two killers, a man and a woman, remain unknown.
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Crime scene photos show shell-casings scattered on the pavement, blood trails that show one of the men tried to run for his life. Detectives say they believe the woman involved may be a prostitute who worked in the area, but they are still waiting for the clue that helps close the case.
"This is Kenny when he was little," said Shelia Kines as she points out photos.
Kines, who is Patterson's mother, has never spoken publicly about her son's murder until now.
"Right today now, I know exactly who did it," Kines said.
Kines has a theory on the shooters and thinks one of them even attended her son's funeral.
"Come walking up to me and I said this is my son's killer. He hugged me," she said.
LAPD has not been able to link any evidence to that, though, still hoping for someone to come forward -- claim a $75,000 reward -- that eight years later remains active.
Clifton's family and friends lean on his memory.
"The world lost an amazing person that would have made a difference in this world," Brown said.
