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Gun Crazy
LOS ANGELES — Tavin Price, a developmentally disabled teenager, was shot and killed by an unknown assailant who objected to him wearing red shoes in an area controlled by a gang that favors a different color.
Tavin and his mother, Jennifer Rivers, had planned an early weekend trip to a beach in South Los Angeles, but after stopping at a car wash, Tavin walked towards a nearby store to purchase cigarettes.
An as-yet unidentified assailant confronted 19-year-old Tavin Price and demanded he remove his shoes as the color red was considered offensive due to gang associations. Tavin refused, explaining he was in no way connected to gangs.
As the young man returned to his mother's car, the assailant returned with a gun and fired four shots into his back and chest area. Tavin was pronounced dead on the operating table of a nearby hospital.
Tavin's family and community leaders condemned the killing, and authorities say they are reviewing surveillance footage from the car wash in a bid to identify the murder suspect.
A memorial was held at the car wash on Monday, where mourners lit candles and sang Happy Birthday as Monday would've been Tavin's 20th birthday.
