Homicide Report > Norman Schureman, 50 [Updated]
Norman Schureman, 50 [Updated]
Died March 21, 2010 at 1:14 a.m.
Norman Schureman, a 50-year-old white man, was shot Saturday, March 20, at a Persian new year's party in the 31700 block of Kentfield Court in Westlake Village and died early the next morning at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Westwood, according to authorities.
Schrureman was shot in a scuffle with another guest. Investigators said that guest, Steven Honma, a 54-year-old Asian man, believed someone had insulted his wife. Witnesses told authorities that Honma left the party to go to his nearby home and returned with a knife and two guns. After the shooting, guests at the party held Honma until police arrived.
Honma is in custody and remains hospitalized with head wounds and internal injuries sustained in the scuffle.
Schureman, who lived in Altadena with his wife and children, was a respected design and drawing instructor at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena who helped build floats for the Rose Parade as a hobby and recently launched a line of eyewear.
He was a graduate of the college where he taught.
Honma was charged Tuesday in Schureman's fatal shooting
Dmitry Gorin, whose law firm is representing Honma, said his client had been traumatized from years of insults targeting his Japanese heritage.
"This is a textbook heat-of-passion incident, which a jury would consider in deciding whether Mr. Honma is guilty of murder or a lower-level homicide such as a manslaughter," Gorin said. "While the sequence of events are still under investigation, there was someone at the party who made a derogatory racial and sexual slur about his wife. As a Japanese American growing up after World War II, Mr. Honma had experienced great trauma as a victim of racial bias, and that experience scarred him since childhood."
Honma and his family "feel great sorrow and extend their condolences" to the family of Schureman, Gorin said.
[Update Nov. 18, 2011: Man convicted in 2010 Persian New Year's party killing]
[Update Feb. 3, 2012: Man sentenced to 21 years in death of Pasadena Art Center teacher]
— Ching-Ching Ni, Corina Knoll and Andrew Blankstein
Photo: Norman Schureman was a professor at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. Credit: Steven A. Heller / Art Center College of Design
KTLA Video: Art professor killed after party
- Neighborhood: Westlake Village
- Age: 50
- Gender: Male
- Cause: Gunshot
- Day of the week: Sunday
- Agency: LASD Homicide
- Race/Ethnicity: White
- Circumstance: Party
Nine reader comments about Norman Schureman
Syscom3, I wonder what kind of off-the-wall comment do you have to offer for this post, if any. Seems like you only comment on black or Latino homicides, and assume everyone is a gangster, even if the post doesn't say gang-related. Is it correct for me to assume you are a racist, even if I don't know you?
March 25, 2010 at 5:49 p.m.
Heat-of-passion incident? The killer left the party, went to his house, collected two knives and a gun, returned to the party, hunted down his victim, and killed him. Seems very calculated to me.
Heat of passion would be believable if the guy had grabbed a kitchen knife at the party and started stabbing away. Sickening that the defense lawyer is already trying to find a way to make this crime seem like less than what it was - an indefensible slaughtering of an innocent man.
March 26, 2010 at 2:58 p.m.
Bob-O; both the deceased and the accused are in a low risk category when it comes to homicides. These types of murders occur, but they do so rarely.
As for the accused excuse for "trauma"; what a bunch of garbage. His attorney isn't being smart about that strategy and it will hurt his clients chances in front of the jury.
Now, if either one had been a white or Asian gangster, then I wouldn't have much sympathy at all. I hate gangsters of all races and ethnicities.
But, it does seem that most of the homicides being done in California involves Latino's and blacks. Therefore, my comments are directed towards those homicides that dominate this blog.
By the way, did you notice the people at the party got involved and restrained the accused, and helped the police in their investigation? That doesn't happen in the hardest hit "killing fields" of Los Angeles.
March 26, 2010 at 4:14 p.m.
Dont racially insult someone and their wife and expect the insulted not to hit you, or worse...shoot you. Its that saying "if you dont have anything nice to say, dont say it at all.
March 30, 2010 at 1:56 a.m.
I personally knew Norman and he had taught & mentored many and they were mostly Asians. As it was mentioned Norman was one of many that were trying to restrain the murder and considering that this party was in West Lake, they were not gangster, rather normal middle Class America.
This was a horrible & tragic incident and there are 2 Children without a father, a woman with out a husband & hundreds of students & alums who lost a teacher, a mentor and a friend.
Billy, you are ridiculous beyond reason, I can insult you all I want but that still does not give you the right to kill me! that is the LAW for a reason.
Unfortunately, that was not even the reason why this innocent man died, he was just doing the right thing, restraining this crazy guy.
March 31, 2010 at 3:13 a.m.
As our family knew Norman, he was the type of person who was kind to everyone and always had something good to say. He loved his family, and was always helping out at school. Our youngest son Noah really respected Norman and will always remember the amazing art he shared with the kids at Don Benito School.
This man who shot and killed Norman out of rage and anger, should never forget that he has caused emptiness in many people who's lives were touched by Norman. And in no way should he be he excused for his violent, selfish actions.
May 11, 2010 at 1:06 p.m.
The fact that he is japanese and sustained trama growing up her after ww2 is rediculous... grow a set buddy, i know plenty of japanese people who now have kids and grandkids and when someone insults them they dont shoot people. What a shame that he would claim thats the reason he did it. He was insulted and knew he would get punked in any physical altercation so he had to grab a gun... Happens all the time, no japanese related trama, stuped lawyers
June 16, 2010 at 4:13 p.m.
Billy your a loser bro, take a line and let it roll off, if not throw a line and make fun of that person... this is america, freedom of speech is one of those things we fought for, because its kiiinnd of important, your a toolbox, i hope no one ever makes fun of you sweetie cake otherwise youll shoot them
June 16, 2010 at 4:17 p.m.
Here is an update from January, 2011:
Suspect Will Stand Trial for Murder of Altadena Art Teacher:
A man charged with the shooting of an Altadena art professor at a Westlake Village party last March will stand trial in the case.
Steven Honma, 55, of Westlake Village, had a preliminary hearing on his guilt on Wednesday at the Van Nuys courthouse. The judge found sufficient evidence for him to stand trial on the charges, according to Jane Robison of the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.
March 9, 2011 at 3:35 p.m.
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