Miguel Gomez, 24

Died Aug. 27, 2007 at 10:06 p.m.

Miguel Gomez, 24, a Latino man, was shot in the abdomen at 530 E. 88th St. in Watts, and died at 10:06 p.m. Monday, Aug. 27.

Gomez and some of his friends were spraying graffiti on walls, and were spotted by rival black gang members, according LAPD South Bureau Det. Sal La Barbera. Gomez and his group went into a liquor store afterward and were followed by the rivals, who confronted them. Gomez and his group chased the rivals out of the store, and during the pursuit, a shot rang out. It was unclear whether someone among the pursued, or someone else in the vicinity, fired the shot. Gomez was struck and killed.

Update: This case has been closed as a "cleared other" for LAPD's Southeast Division. Cleared other means a case resolved without arrest. In this case, prosecutors declined to file charges against the black suspects because it appeared self-defense issues were involved in the shooting.