Detectives offered a $5,000 reward on Wednesday to find two men linked to what police describe as the "callous and cowardly murder" of a tow truck driver.
On July 27, Steve Lawson, a 50-year-old father and licensed repossessor, drove to Compton and lawfully repossessed a vehicle at a house on the 14500 block of South Butler Avenue, Los Angeles County sheriff's officials said at a news conference.
But Lawson didn’t realize that the owner of the vehicle was still in the car.
"A female adult in her late forties was asleep in the back seat of her own vehicle, sleeping off some of her indulgences from earlier in the night because there was a birthday party at that location," LASD Lt. Dave Dolson said.
When partygoers noticed the car being towed away, some got into their own cars and gave chase, police said.
They followed Lawson to a 7-Eleven convenience store, where someone fired one shot at Lawson while he was still in his tow truck, police said.
Lawson drove away from the 7-Eleven while still being chased, police said. When Lawson reached Firestone Boulevard and Rayo Avenue in South Gate, he collided with a separate car unrelated to the chase.
After the crash, Lawson got out of his tow truck and was gunned down.
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Two of the suspects (pictured) have been identified as Davion Harrison, 22, and Derell "DJ" Clark, Jr., 21. The city of Southgate has offered $5,000 for any information leading to their capture.
Lawson was described as a compassionate person who loved his job.
"If the shooters realize what they’ve taken from us, they’ve taken from us a happy individual, a son who was there for his mother at all times when she needed him and my brother who was there for me," said Ramona Lawson, the victim's sister. "My brother was very happy. He loved, loved, loved the tow truck business."
