With Football Player's 2015 Murder Still Unsolved, Reward Renewed

For the third consecuitive year, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors renewed a $10,000 reward Tuesday for information that leads to the apprehension of the assailant who gunned down a 22-year-old former Long Beach City College football player from a passing car in Willowbrook in 2015.

Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas recommended extending the reward, which was set to expire Saturday, in the shooting death of Kejon Atkins. It will now be available for at least another 90 days.

Late on the morning of July 23, 2015, Atkins, known as Wayne, was walking along the 1800 block of East 126th Street when a gold or silver four- door sedan going east crossed into the westbound lanes. As the car approached, a man opened fire through the rear window.

Atkins, who was shot in the head, died four days later at St. Francis Medical Center.

Ridley-Thomas said Atkins had been planning to re-enroll in school and get back on the football team in the fall semester.

The gunman was in his late teens to early 20s, with several tattoos on his back. Two or three other men were believed to have been in the car, which was last seen going west on El Segundo Boulevard. Surveillance cameras captured images of the car as well as a two-tone, maroon/gray SUV, possibly a Pontiac Aztec, which might have been following along.

Ridley-Thomas urged anyone with information to call Detectives Theodor Baljet or Troy Ewing at (323) 890-5500. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477).

Copyright CNS - City News Service
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