Homicide Report > Avery Dean, 22
Avery Dean, 22
Died Feb. 20, 2011
Avery Dean, a 22-year-old black man, was fatally shot Sunday, Feb. 20, in the 11400 block of South Vermont Avenue in Vermont Vista, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Dean and his friends had just gotten into a car and were preparing to leave about 1:18 a.m. when multiple shots were fired into the car, according to Los Angeles Police Officer Bruce Borihanh and Lt. Larry Barr. It was not clear whether the shots were fired by someone in another car or on foot, Barr said.
The victim's friends moved him to the back seat and began to drive, searching for a hospital nearby, Barr said.
Several hospitals with emergency rooms are located within three miles of where the shooting occurred, including Memorial Hospital of Gardena, Community Hospital of Gardena and Centinela Hospital Medical Center. It was not clear why the men did not drive to those hospitals or call 911 from the car, Barr said. He said he was not sure whether the men had a cellphone.
“They drove quite a distance,” Barr said. “They were trying very hard to get assistance.”
The men drove for at least four miles, and then stopped at a service station at 154th Street and Crenshaw Boulevard, Borihanh said. They asked the clerk at the station to call 911. Paramedics responded and declared Dean dead at the scene, Barr and Borihanh said.
According to coroner's records, Dean was shot in the head.
Police do not believe the shooting was gang-related, Borihanh said.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact authorities at (877) LAPD-24-7. Tipsters who'd like to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (800-222-8477).
— Molly Hennessy-Fiske

13 reader comments about Avery Dean
Sleep in paradise ton ton ily :,(
Feb. 24, 2011 at 2:54 a.m.
Avery was one of the nicest person that I've known. No matter what he was always there for his friends and family. Wherever we was scheduled to work together I knew it was gonna be a good day....and I will forever miss and remember him...he may be gone but never forgotten ily ton ton
Feb. 24, 2011 at 6:28 p.m.
Averyyy, mannn dawg I'm so heart broken. I never thought I'd see the day. I will love you forever you had such a sweet soul and I won't ever forget you. I remember like it was yesterday, the day we met at work and we've been friends since. 5 years TonTon, 5 years bro. Even when my brother past you were right here w me being a great friend what more could I ask for. May you rest in peace soldier, I'm hurting but will NEVER forget you. I love you .. R.I.P.
Feb. 27, 2011 at 10:22 a.m.
This wasn't gang related? Who or why else would this man get shot in the head while sitting in his car?
Feb. 27, 2011 at 12:52 p.m.
dear avery,
Tho you cant read this note,i know you feel me thinking about you n speaking on you.i havent seen you since 2007, but i just got back connected with you this year at the King Parade.i was excited and amazed to see you and to know that you were still breathing n not in jail despite of you losing your lil brother D last year May 20th.yo momma called me on Wednesday at 2:30am,i thought it was you ,then it was her voice saying, i just wanted to let you know Avery died on sunday...all i could do was say that i was sorry n cry,i had to apologize for breaking down on the phone,cause all i could do is imagine and feel her pain and everyday since that call its been the same.and the words that fell out was "oh my god, both of your boys!" just crying. i had to get off the phone.i told her i would call back in the morning,but to hear her voice breaks me so i said i would face it when the funeral comes.i remember at yo champagne party i use to mess with yo mom and say you know im gone marry yo son.she had her solid confident answer ,no you not my son not marrying no gurl or getting any pregnant no time soon.he aint worried about one.(lol) she knew what she was talking about on that note.you just laughed and we use to always clown that day.man.just thinking back on all the times that we use to kick it,im gone miss that energy,i just knew that my life was getting back to be on the right track running back in to old faces after going m.i.a. on everyone.this really is bothering me.just spoke 2 you.
ever since moms called,i hear her voice in mah sleep and just see your face in a casket laying there,then i go back to reflecting on everyday i can remember seeing you.from the attendance office at dorsey when you first checked in til this damn parade.how dare this be you though.who wouldve ever knew that 2011 was yo year? im done with playing around,im getting so serious into mah word and im just so thankful for every second,every minuet,every hour, week,month and ever year that you were kept.you are still kept and now you are safe in his arms.
from the years that i was around,i know that you was a good young man,you kept it real and grace n mercy kept you covered.you always spoke yo mind and loved to put a smile on everyones face or make them laugh and i adored that.
to the family,you all are in my prayers. stay strong and be encouraged.
Mom, I pray that the lil peace that remains in your life comes to a still point.I pray that the lord will strengthen you thru out your days n thru out your nights and not allow you to be discouraged.
Averey, i will see you down the line...please you n D watch over yo mom n lil bro and the rest of the fam n loved ones...im glad you knew how i felt before this goodbye...i will miss you Ton-Ton2...
Fly away back home with the angels...i love you so much gangsta!
(playing on repeat Jazmine Sullivan-Bestfriend)dedicated to you...
Rest In Paradise
Avery Jackson Dean-Meriwhether
aka Ton-Ton2
March 1, 2011 at 1:24 a.m.
i SWEAR THIS just FEELS LIKE A crazy NIGHTMARE I CANT WAKE UP FROM,AND it seems LIKE THE PAIN KEEPS GETTING sharper.....I DONT KNOW IF this song being ON REPEAT IS THE reason to why I CANT SLEEP BUT I SEEM TO HAVE YOUR chunky little face GLUED TO THE back of my EYELIDS as i try to REST,but I JUST CANT SEEM TO! SO I DECIDED TO WRITE you.SOMETIMES IT SEEMS LIKE this world isnt MADE FOR QUESTIONING but everything IS SUPPOSE to be a learning LESSON/PROCESS. ITS ON MY HEAD NOW WHERE DID ALL OF THIS COME FROM?...is it from "HONOR YOUR MOTHER N FATHER FOR YOUR DAYS MAY BE CUT SHORT?"or is it from "YOU REAP WHAT YOU SEW?"whatever it is, I WISH DEATH UPON NO ONE.im SO TRAUMATIZED by ALOT OF EVENTS that done OCCURRED IN THE LAST FEW YEARS AND THIS IS YET ANOTHER,BUT I WILL BE OKAY THAT I KNOW.its just hard to let go of what was and accept what is.AND thats yo SAYING;"it is what it is!"But ITS NOT THAT EASY WHEN IT COMES TO YOU or anyother loved one that any has lost.ITS CRAZY HOW IT TAKEs A DEATH FOR ALOT OF PEOPLE TO REALIZE HOW PRECIOUS LIFE REALLY IS .we JUST LIVe DAY BY DAY AS IF WE WILL ALWAYS BE HERE.everyone will expire one day but question, GOD WAS THIS REALLY WRITTEN?I KNOW not to QUESTION YOU but i just want to understand.
AND YES I KNOW ALL THINGs ARE NOT TO BE UNDERSTOOD,but this is deep. i will always love you,AVERY YOU WILL STILL LIVE THRU US ALL...IMAH GET IT TOGETHER AND BE LIKE JOHN LEDGEND FOR YOU AND "LET IT SHINE!"
DAMN WE HAD SO MUCH TO CATCH UP ON,MAH SINGING, RAPING & POETRY....DONT TRIP,I WILL SING FOR YOU AND SPIT A FEW BARS WHEN WE MEET UP.... UNTIL NEXT TIME, KNOW THAT YOUR ALWAYS LOVED N NEVER FORGOTTEN
I WILL BE BACK TO TALK TO YOU later.
GOODNIGHT ANGEL
DAMN YOU STRAIGHT UP GOT THEM WINGS NOW........DOVE LOVE
March 1, 2011 at 3:30 a.m.
you reflected who I truly was inside ; misunderstood , seldom spoken , full of mystery , someone who just wanted too be loved and that was what attracted me to you , we where together for a year and you had fallen victim too society and wanted more for yourself then what the streets had to offer , i promise i would do anything and everything in my power too show you that there where more too life then the negative surroundings you where use too , a soldier in your own right , you definitely emerged stronger , after going through all your rough experiences it made you tougher and to get through what you been thru takes a lot of guts but you where naturally a survivor ;
i`m not always too sure about how many people really have a impact on my life , but i can honestly say YOU , {AVERY} was one of the few people i NEEDED in my daily & i apologize for not realizing that before hand .. i find myself having day dreams about you , i wake up in the middle night ..fighting tears , cause i still can`t phantom you are gone ;
but i know your in heaven smiling down , wishing NO one was sad about the natures at hand .. you turning it up with "D" and "Ton1'' and all your fallen soldiers you lost along the way , i know it .. you will forever be branded on my heart and forever be my angel , ily and imma miss you , R.I.P AVERY JACKSON DEAN aka TONTON2
March 4, 2011 at 6:51 a.m.
hey avery
its me again.....i really miss you, and right about now im lost of words to say because i cant question the things that god has written, i just gotta keep mah faith in him and really trust him,let go of mah selfishness and i really feel that is a problem i have; trying to feel my desires of happiness when its natural and it just comes but i seem to make life a bit difficult with my decisions. i know im only human just as everybody else there no buts so i will end this sentence.
just like i never thought it would be you it was you. then i was blessed with a lil cousin that reminded me of you that i have been so close to,6yrs old, you seen him at the parade.hhhhhhmmmmm. man, i never thought i would see him go but now he's gone. let it be gods will that you feel me thinking about you right now and be with him for me.....sylvester died on april 12 from a car crash april 9th along with mah uncle sam who died in the crash......i know that yaw are safe in his arms and im just glad that you all are at peace with no worries.....please continue on watching down on us and shining thru us as you have been doing, all of you.....i thank yaw.......avery watch out he got a arm on him playing foot ball, and he yo height.....smile for me......i love you bro and you are missed abundantly!!!!!!!!!! see yaw later on in mah future.........may his peace be with you til we meet again and forever more.........mwah
katrina m payne
April 13, 2011 at 4:34 p.m.
today was a hard one for meeh i thought of you constantly buggin meeh yellin at meeh or just makin meeh laugh we had our ups nd downs but what friends didnt yu were truely my day1 since the day we met we been on never letting our pediness last to long we laughed together kried together ,funktioned together we did it all nOW I KANT STOP MISSING YOU when things go a certain way i say damn if avery was here he woulda helped meeh SMH THIS HURTS BAD ...THEY SAY GOOD FRIENDS ARE HARD TO FIND ....BUT GUESS WHAT THEY EVEN HARDER TO LOOSE ILY AVERY ILL SEE YOU IN PARADISE !!!!
April 17, 2011 at 12:01 a.m.
brand new ; never thought id b writin on this site for you ; its still soo hard for me to believe ; we were jus talkin abt dee and nell's report on here n u tellin me to quit lookin on here kuz itll keep hurtin my feelins ; now i hve no choice but to cont to look on here kuz now ur in the worse section on this site; i miss you punky ; keep lookin down on all ur real A1 friends kuz Lord knows were all hurtin ; love you see u wen i get up there.!!!
April 17, 2011 at 1:20 p.m.
Damn TonyMontanII its been four months ... &d it still hurts like today is febuary 20,2011 i miss your life friend
June 20, 2011 at 9:56 a.m.
its me again you been the weight on my shoulders i cant get off these past weeks youve haunted my memories i laugh an i cry it wasnt supposed to happen like this i wasnt supposed to loose you to this bullsht i miss you no .......i reallly miss you .....your laugh the way we told eachother everything i even miss the jealous sh*t you did dont ever think outta site outta mind kuss not1 day gos by that you dont cross my mind its not gettin easier its getting harder give me a sighn yu still here kuss rite now i need one i love yu more than i ever showed more than you ever knew and more than you could ever imagine im sorry i couldnt b there to save you
Oct. 5, 2011 at 2:32 p.m.
How is this possible that i find out a year and one month and five days later that your gone. I thought you were mad at me because i havent seen nor talked to you. ive message you within the year on fb, ive tryed to look for your number and you were not there.... i come across a mutural friend and ask do you know ton ton.... she say your RiP....but howwwww whyyyy averyyyyyyy i remember when i use to make and bring you a macho burito from my old job.. i remeber when we sat in the car all nite drinking mararitas.... i love you!! you have been in my life for a while and im just so sorry for leaving like that!!!! i need you avery!!! i need to hear your soft voice calling my name. God bless your mother only God knows what he has in stored for her!!!! God Bless!!!!
March 25, 2012 at 11:01 p.m.
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