A $50,000 reward was offered Tuesday in the case of a 21-year-old man who was shot and killed in January in the Hyde Park area of South Los Angeles.
Gerrick Mykul Thomas was shot about 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 25, at 54th Street and Ninth Avenue, where he was found wounded on a sidewalk, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Thomas was later pronounced dead at California Hospital Medical Center, according to the county coroner's office.
A news conference announcing the reward was held Tuesday at the LAPD's 77th Street Station, where city officials were joined by family members seeking justice for the slain young man.
"The preliminary investigation revealed that Thomas was returning to his grandmother's house from the store when he was approached on foot by a lone male suspect,'' according to a police statement.
Surveillance video captured the suspect's vehicle, a 2014-2016 silver or gray Chevrolet Camaro with a black convertible top, being driven in the area prior to the shooting.
The vehicle can be seen eastbound on 10th Avenue, then stopping at a red tri-light signal on 54th Street, police said.
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"Thomas is seen crossing the street, walking towards Ninth Avenue," according to the LAPD. "The suspect's vehicle follows Thomas, and the suspect exits the passenger side of the vehicle.
"The suspect walks towards Thomas and shoots him multiple times before running back to the vehicle and fleeing southbound Ninth Avenue."
His family issued a statement a few weeks after the killing challenging people in the area to step forward and identify the killer. The family also condemned the code of silence that stops potential witnesses from cooperating with police to bring killers to justice.
"As a community we cannot sit back silently while our young people are being gunned down on the streets of a city that is named after angels. We can not allow persons to sit in silence knowing that this murderer is running loose on our streets," the family wrote at the time.
"We shout and hold rallies when our kids are killed by police officers but won't speak up when our own are killing each other," the family added.
Anyone with information about the suspect -- described only as a young male who was wearing a baseball cap, tan jacket, dark pants and shoes -- was urged to call Criminal Gang Homicide detectives at the 77th Station at (323) 786-5113. After-hours and weekend calls should be directed to (877) LAPD-24-7.
Anonymous tips can be provided through Crime Stoppers by calling (800) 222-TIPS or texting the letters "TIPLA" plus the tip to the number 274637 (CRIMES). Anonymous tips can also be provided at lacrimestoppers.org.
