$20,000 reward in fatal Florence/Firestone stabbing
LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles County sheriff’s detectives and relatives of a 31-year-old man who was fatally stabbed in 2020 in the Florence/Firestone area reached out for the public’s help Thursday in finding the two suspects who took part in the attack — and touted a $20,000 reward in the case.
Lentrail Hicks was stabbed Nov. 7, 2020, on the 6700 block of South Compton Avenue, according to sheriff’s officials and the coroner’s office. He died two days later.
“I’m not angry. I’m more hurt than anything,” Hicks’ mother, Paula Springer, told reporters at a news conference with sheriff’s detectives Thursday. “The anger has passed. My son was a loving father, a devoted brother, a loving son. And he did not deserve this. Whatever you guys was going through out there, please come forward and let us know (so) that Lentrail’s death won’t go in vain.”
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors earlier this month approved a $20,000 reward for information leading to a conviction in the killing.
Sheriff’s homicide detectives have previously released surveillance video and photos of the attack. The video shows Hicks getting into some type of argument with two suspects — described only as men between 18 and 22 years old — near 66th Street and Compton Avenue.
The two suspects walk away, apparently joined by a young boy, but a short time later they returned in a 2005-09 dark gray Toyota Prius. The suspects exited the car and attacked Hicks, who was stabbed once.
Detectives said Hicks managed to return home, and his mother called 911.
The suspects drove away from the scene in the Prius.
“He didn’t deserve this,” Hicks’ girlfriend, Keilah Duren, said. “He was a college grad. He was a Tuskegee (University) football player, great all-around student. Loved his daughter more than anything in the world.”
Anyone with information was asked to call LASD detectives at 323-890-5500. Tipsters can also call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.