Help us Solve The Murder of Lentrail Hicks
Detectives and Family Members Seek Help from the Public to Solve The Murder of LeNtrail Hicks; Detectives Announce $20K Reward
On Thursday, March 24, 2022, Homicide Bureau Detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department held a press conference to announce a $20,000 reward in exchange for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the murder of Lentrail Hicks. The reward was sponsored by Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Second District.
Shortly before noon on November 7, 2020, deputies from the Century Sheriff Station responded to a call at a residence in the area of 66th Street and Compton Avenue, in the Florence-Firestone area of Los Angeles County. Upon arriving at the location, they located Victim Lentrail Hicks suffering from a single stab wound to his abdomen. At that time, Hicks was unable to give deputies any information that would assist them to identify or locate the suspect(s). He was also unable to provide the location of the incident.
On Monday, November 9, 2020, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Investigators were notified that Victim Lentrail Hicks had died from the injuries he sustained on November 7, 2020.
Upon obtaining and viewing surveillance footage, Investigators observed an incident involving three male Hispanics walking southbound on the west sidewalk of Compton Ave. The male Hispanics included a young boy, approximately 10 to 12 years of age, a male approximately 18 years old wearing all black clothing; and a male approximately 35 years old wearing a black t-shirt with a large white logo on the front, khaki-colored pants and had a ball cap in his hands. The victim, wearing a white t-shirt, dark colored pants, and a ball cap, walked northbound on the west sidewalk of Compton Ave. The Hispanics and the victim crossed paths on the northwest corner of 68th St. and Compton Ave. It appeared there were words exchanged, but no physical altercation. The victim continued walking northbound on Compton Ave, possibly entering a local business on the block. The group of Hispanic males continued walking southbound on the west sidewalk of Compton Ave. and out of view. The entire contact took approximately 30 seconds.
Approximately two minutes later, Investigators observed the victim enter the camera view on the west sidewalk of Compton Ave, near the businesses in the 6700 block of Compton Ave. The victim looks southbound but starts walking northbound. All of a sudden, a dark colored Prius is seen driving at a high-rate speed northbound Compton Ave in the southbound lanes. The Prius stops in the number 2 southbound lane, just north of 68th Street, parallel to the victim. A male Hispanic, wearing the same black t-shirt with a large white logo on the front and khaki-colored pants from the earlier confrontation with the victim, exited the front passenger door of the Prius. He walked straight to the victim and began a physical altercation with him on the sidewalk. It appeared the driver also exited the Prius and confronted the victim. The altercation spilled out into the lanes of traffic. The two male Hispanics appear to be assaulting the victim, and at one point, the victim attempts to protect himself by kicking at them. During the altercation, the Hispanic male in khaki pants can be seen making a stabbing motion toward the victim. The victim stops and looks down at his shirt. The second Hispanic male takes a large swing at the victim, who avoids contact by spinning around. Suddenly, the three males stop fighting. The two male Hispanics get back into the Prius, while the victim is seen walking northbound. The Prius makes a u-turn on Compton Ave, then drives west on 68th Street at a high-rate speed and out of view.
According to the Victim’s mother, Paula Stringer, when Lentrail got home he yelled to her to call 911 because he had just been stabbed. Ms. Stringer called 911 and paramedics performed first aid and lifesaving measures and transported him to St. Francis Medical Center for further treatment. Despite advanced life-saving measures, Victim Hicks ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
“I’m not angry, I’m more hurt than anything. My anger has passed. My son was a lovely father, a devoted brother, a loving son, and he did not deserve this. Whatever was going on out there, please come forward and let us know that Lentrail’s death won’t go in vain,” said Lentrail’s mom.
If you have information about Lentrail’s murder, please contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500, or if you prefer to provide information anonymously, call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile App on Google Play or the Apple App Store, or use the website http://lacrimestoppers.org/.
