2 sought in shooting death of father cooking at Summer Night Lights event in Wilmington

Two men are sought in the shooting death of a man who was cooking for a community event Thursday night at a park in Wilmington.

The shooting just after 10 p.m. was at a outside the Wilmington Recreation Center near Bay View Avenue and D Street during a Summer Night Lights youth activity event. Officers responding to a shots fired call found the man, identified by the coroner's office as 46-year-old Jose Quezada, suffering from several gunshot wounds.

The Carson man died at the scene what police called a devastating tragedy. Police said the victim is well known for giving back to the community.

"Tragically we lost the life of Mr. Quezada, by every account, a wonderful man," said Councilmember Tim McOsker. "Summer Night Lights is a program to combat violence, to make our community safe. We had 600 people doing absolutely the right thing. They were out enjoying the park, arm-in-arm with the community, with volunteers. We were

"And tragically, a wonderful person, a person who by all accounts supports this community, and who, through a tragic irony, is the guy who the community turns to to do the barbecues, loses their life through violence." A wonderful person. We were all doing the right thing last night, and tragedy, and violence, struck from outside of this circle of peace and joy. We have to grieve, we have to heal, but we also have to move forward."

He was apparently cooking at the event, which was winding down at about the time of the shooting, police said. Quezada had stepped away from the event when two men approached him and one opened fire, police said.

Witnesses said two men were seen running away from the scene after the shooting. Detailed descriptions of the attackers were not immediately available.

Police said the shooting appears to be gang-related, though Quesada has no criminal history or ties to gangs.

It is believed the victim's wife and two sons were at the event, police said.

“Last night a dedicated Wilmington Community member and someone who has volunteered with Summer Night Lights to uplift his community was killed in a horrific act of violence," Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said. "This community leader lost his life to the very type of violence he was working so hard to prevent. I join his loved ones in grieving his loss. 

“He was an active community volunteer, coach, father, husband and worked to ensure his community was safe, and to help those who had lost loved ones due to violence. He worked as a volunteer at the Summer Night Lights program in Wilmington, taking action to increase youth and family programming in our public spaces in order to help reduce crime rates. This incident is a tragic reminder that we must fight even harder to ensure that our communities have the tools that they need to stop this senseless violence.  

“My thoughts again are with the family, friends and community as they mourn this tragic loss.”

Summer Night Lights is a Gang Reduction and Youth Development program that launched in 2008. The initiative by the city of LA offers free meals, extended programming and sports leagues, recreation opportunities, community engagement, employment opportunities, and links to local resources.

Events take place in more than 40 Los Angeles area parks and recreation centers.  

McOsker said mourners were invited to gather at the park Friday night for a vigil to remember Quezada.

"It's also important that we let the world know that this is our park," McOsker said. "This is a safe, happy, and joyful place. And we're going to take back that safety and joy. That's going to start tonight."