Son of Anti-Gang Leader Charged in Activist’s Killing

On November 6, Los Angeles County prosecutors charged Kody Townsend with murder in the fatal shooting of Reginald Foreman, a 51-year-old worker for the South Los Angeles violence prevention group 2nd Call. Prosecutors also charged Jeremiah James Abdelhameed, 25, with being an accessory after the killing. They described the murder as gang-motivated.

Foreman was shot on August 6 near Crenshaw Boulevard and 59th Place while working in the community. Police found him with a gunshot wound, and he died at the scene. The district attorney’s office alleges Townsend was an active member of a street gang and that the killing was intended to further the gang’s activities. Townsend also faces charges of conspiracy and possessing a firearm as a felon, and prosecutors allege he acted after lying in wait.

Foreman and Townsend were members of rival Crips factions, prosecutors said. Foreman was working with a 2nd Call team on a cleanup along Crenshaw Boulevard when he was shot. The nonprofit had honored Foreman’s work, which included efforts to improve the neighborhood and help make it safer.

The charges against Kody Townsend came days after police arrested his father, 2nd Call executive director Clifford “Skipp” Townsend, amid allegations of plotting a murder. Prosecutors declined to file charges against the elder Townsend, as well as three other people arrested in the case. His attorney said she welcomed the decision but questioned the arrest.

Kody Townsend’s arraignment is to be scheduled later. A conviction on the charges could mean a life sentence; Abdelhameed faces up to seven years. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said the killing had devastated the community and that his office would seek to hold those responsible accountable.

Charges in Activist’s Killing Raise Stakes for Anti-Gang Workers

The killing of a community violence-prevention worker has brought murder charges against Kody Townsend, but the arrest of his father, prominent intervention leader Skipp Townsend, ended without charges. The case highlights the risks faced by people doing anti-gang work—and the damage an arrest can do even when prosecutors do not proceed.

Prosecutors say 19-year-old Kody Townsend killed Reginald Foreman, 51, in a gang-motivated shooting on August 6. Foreman worked for 2nd Call and was helping a team clean up along Crenshaw Boulevard when he was shot. Prosecutors also charged Jeremiah James Abdelhameed with accessory after the fact.

Police arrested Skipp Townsend amid allegations of plotting a murder, but prosecutors declined to charge him or three other people arrested in the case. His attorney said she welcomed the decision while questioning why he had been arrested. A community law center leader warned the arrest and subsequent rejection of charges could discourage people with past gang involvement from becoming intervention workers and weaken cooperation with communities.

That concern matters in a case involving a worker whose job was to help prevent violence. Foreman’s nonprofit described his work as improving the neighborhood and investing in the community. Prosecutors allege his killing was meant to advance gang activity; Kody Townsend faces life in prison if convicted, while Abdelhameed faces up to seven years. The next step is Townsend’s arraignment, which will be scheduled later.

Prosecutors Pursue Murder Case in Gang-Motivated Activist Killing

A South Los Angeles community worker was killed while carrying out a neighborhood cleanup, and prosecutors are pursuing a murder case they say was driven by gang activity. Kody Townsend, 19, faces murder and related charges in the August 6 shooting of Reginald Foreman, a 2nd Call employee.

Prosecutors allege Townsend was an active street-gang participant and that Foreman’s killing was intended to further gang activities. They also charged Townsend with conspiracy and being a felon in possession of a firearm, and allege he acted after lying in wait. The district attorney described the case as a gang-motivated murder and said his office would seek accountability.

Foreman, 51, was shot while working with a 2nd Call team on a cleanup near Crenshaw Boulevard and 59th Place. He died at the scene. Prosecutors said Foreman and Townsend belonged to rival Crips factions. Jeremiah James Abdelhameed, 25, faces an accessory-after-the-fact charge.

The investigation also led to the arrest of Skipp Townsend, Kody’s father and the head of 2nd Call, amid allegations of plotting a murder. Prosecutors declined to charge him or three others arrested in the case. His attorney questioned the elder Townsend’s arrest, but the murder case against his son is proceeding.

Kody Townsend’s arraignment will be set later. A conviction on the charges could bring a life sentence; Abdelhameed faces up to seven years. The prosecution now has to establish its allegations in court.