Ramond Allen, 36

He was my friend; a true soldier and a believer in God. "Top of the morning......" was his greeting instead of "Good morning" and "Blessed" was always his answer when asked "How are you doing/feeling"......He will truly be missed but we will meet again in that place where the righteous can call home! R I P my African King.......! Until we meet again....and we will!

A true soldier? OK, now we know the truth. He was a gangster.

He was true to the game. He did what he loved and loved what he did....However, God looks at the heart....we can't see that. He is with our Lord and Savior now!!

When I look at you; I see me. In the depth of your blackness; your need to be free. Free from the drama that comes our way...Free from the temptations that make us sway... A little to the left; it should be right. A little far off, but definitely still in sight. Focused on the prize whatever it is...Determined to obtain it; Blood, Sweat or Tears. When I look at you; I see me Tryin to pull somethin' out that you see. To show me the possibility of how we really could be. Only if and when you see what I see. When I look at you; I see me...In the depth of our blackness; OUR INFINITE BEAUTY.

Rest in Peace Pappy; from this day forward; in Jesus Name; AMEN!

SYSCOM3, SYSCOM3, SYSCOM3...you're at it again....dude you are amazing....you spread your nonsense all over the LA Times....do you work for them or the PD...

Wow.....it never ceases to amaze me how people try to steal your joy.....but it can not happen. Syscom3 did not give him joy and he can not take it away from him or anyone else. It is my prayer that you concentrate on doing something uplifting and positive rather than whatever it is you are trying to do. It won't work; Ramond has the victory already. If it bothers you that he still has people that care even though he was a gangster, then you need to rethink what you got going on. Obviously it is not too much.... Just know as Ramond, myself and others that knew and loved him......Prayer is the Answer. Jesus is the Only Way. You will not be able to relate, however you can if you want too. Just pray that you stop being negative & if you do not have anything nice to say......do not say anything at all; what is the purpose. Don't hate on Ramond; do what is necessary to get someone in your corner like he has in his.......and stop judging him. Who are you to judge anyone.........take that time to work on yourself and leave the rest alone. Ramond.......I got you.....! Betta yet; God has you!

Grape In Peace Pappi

"Grape"? As in the gang that infests this area?

More proof on who the deceased was, and what her was about.

What I can't understand is why in God's name would anybody live in this gang infested, crime ridden area. This has to be one of the worst neighborhoods in all of the LA metro so what's up people? Why don't you move away from this trash?

Citizenjohn, unfortunatly many have left and have brought their ghetto thug mentality with them.

Palmdale, Lancaster and Moreno Valley used to be good places. Now they're on a downward slope.

Do you see how ignorant people think??? If they had enough money to move away ....maybe nobody would live there........everybody there doesn't have the means to move as maybe you have......These Silver Spoon fed people are so Ignorant.....Do you think they live there because they want to???

"These Silver Spoon fed people are so Ignorant....."

Sorry to disappoint you but most people aren't born with a silver spoon. We have to work for what we have.

"Do you think they live there because they want to???"

For the most part, yes.

Rest In Peace my Nigga.

Let us mourn.

Tired of people talking about why dont people move out of bad neighborhoods. There's a reason why they're still in that area and the answer is: Lack of money. There will never be such thing as every neighborhood being good. There's always going to be bad neighborhoods. Bad neighborhoods is a test. The most respected are the ones that overcome the situation.

@ syscom3

The kids born there aren't given a choice, and then they're bred into these ugly cycles, and ill-equipped to get out of it, or even envision life outside it. The cycle has to be broken somehow - ho can you expect it to be fixed from within by people who are broken themselves? Instead of riding a high horse, ever think about contributing to breaking the cycle?

Obviously if commenters are saying "Grape" in peace and so on, this person was affiliated with one of the biggest, stupidest, idiotic crab gangs in LA County. Its ridiculous and non-sensical to have police or any economic help directed toward these areas. These people do not nor are they capable of working in an honest environment. Throw up a Safeway or CVS and see how long before MULTIPLE black men and women rob, steal, and destroy the place. Its just a fact. I say let these street terrorists continue to die and kill one another. People in these neighborhoods breed criminals in the making. Let them poop in their own backyard...

Ello, I have. I vote every election and never forget to write my elected representatives to support change.

But untill the people most impacted by these sociopaths demand change themselves, nothing is going to happen.

For them, the abnormal has become the normal.

Excuse me but all it takes to get out of an area like this is the will and the price of a Greyhound bus ticket. In fact the opportunities for anyone of any race are far greater elsewhere. It is actually quite expensive to live anywhere in the LA metro area compared to most of the rest of the country. So again my question is what's holding you there? Is it the that you feel at home in this vile gang infested culture? Because if it is then maybe you should think about what kind of life you're setting your KIDS up with. If you aren't motivated enough to save yourself, then can't you at least think of your children? Break the cycle in a real permanent way by getting the h*ll out for good.

Let me start off by sayin REST IN PARADISE Cuzzo. Before you ignorant people start thats our word for "cousin". There is not a day that has gone by that I dont think about you and I still truly MISS U. Now for all of the ignorant people that are making statements about things they no nothing about. When it boils down to it Ramond was a human being regardless of gangmember or not. With that being said no one deserves to have their life taking. Their are so little opportunities for those with a past. Society refuses to give second chances at times. Ramond did not want to live that kinda of life. He desperately tried to make a change but continued to be told he wasnt good enough by society. He was not a "gangbanger" he was a "gangmember" (there is a difference).Once your in a gang you will always be considered a member no matter how much you turn your life around.He was a father, a son, a brother, a husband, a friend. He was a good man with a big heart that cared about family and always made sure his family was ok. So all these people making judgement looking from the outside in, need 2 take a long look at themselves and no that noone is perfect. My cousin lost his life for tryin to do the only thing he knew how to do to survive in this unforgiven world on people's past. Much Luv.

Hey Cuzzo, that's a bunch of hooey. 'Their are so little opportunities for those with a past'. If he had got the heck out of this nasty sh*thole and took an honest job somewhere fresh, he could have begun to build a real and honest future. Instead as you say, he was 'tryin to do the only thing he knew how to do to survive' which is more of the same self-destructive behavior. You talk of the distinction between gang-member and gang-banger, well most of us could give a rat's behind about that distinction. What we see is gang-members and gang-bangers destroying this city with their violence and ugly crime-based lifestyle. 'Cuzzo' is just another ugly reminder of where this culture leads: DEATH!

The last time I saw Pappy, I had stopped at the gas station on my way to work. I was rushing along and heard a voice call out "What's up, Big Sis?". I immediately knew who that voice belonged to. I turned to see him standing there, beautiful smile glowing as always. He was dressed in slacks, shirt, and a tie. I asked "Where you goin' looking so good?", and he said he was on his way to a job interview. I told him "Well, I'd damn sure hire you looking like that. I hope you get it." He replied "Aw thanks, Big Sis." To all of you who have fond memories, keep them going. Don't let these morons steal your joy. It's funny how those who think they know so much are always so quick to comment on sh#2 they don't know nothing about. Since they think they've got so many answers, I suggest they take their soapbox to the hood and tell everybody themselves. I guarantee you they'll wish they had a homie like Pappy!
Love you always. I'll never forget you.

To Citizen, Sysycom, etc.: I think you should stop making blanket statements about parts of LA where there are huge amount of people, albeit mostly low income and where there is a lot of crime and gang related activity. If you've ever spent time with people, especially children, in these areas, you'd see that there are many gifted, intelligent and good people there, just like anywhere else. I chose to buy a house in a low income neighborhood in South LA, and I'm a college educated, middle class white person. I see first hand how many smart and hard working people live in the nieghborhood. You guys obviously have never really spent time there or you could not say such hateful things. I do think there needs to be change, but asking people to kill themselves off and writing off a huge swath of the population is ignorant and pointless. Thanks

Man, I just realized this was my friend Pappy. We were in Y.A together. I know you tried hard to adjust to society brother but the "fear" and rejection from "mainstream" society is hard for some of us to overcome.
You will be happy to know that I have overcome brother. I take care of my household and have graduated from college with my B.A degree. It is still hard for me to break i to society but I am not going to give up.
Also, now that I know your gone I am going to work extra hard. RIP Ramond.

Soppose u wher sent to clean upp this area, what would u do? Seein people walk up n down da sidewalks it is easy to see who belongs here n who's abussing their grand parents right to live an elderly peacefull life.(watching) Look to see if they cAN walk talk n fend for themselves maybe they should move out to live a normal life! because they build low income facilities to help those inn need of LOW INCOME HOUSING! I walked the mannors in los angeles co. in person! I was Confronted many times by (children) with pist=ols. My hart goes out to those that wher never givin the right to think for your selfs (inner peace)! I FOUND ITT!!!!

Madfour,

WHAT????

-Jack...LOL Madfour is on that good foreign smoke or something! Nothing this person says makes any sense at all lol.

I am from a rivaling neighborhood to Pap, we had issues as youngsters. Honestly, last time I saw him we shook hands like old friends and spoke of the changes we have both made in life. This is saddening to me.

I grew up in Watts, I felt that I had no choice but to get in where I fit in although there are others that grew up right next door and managed to find a way to avoid the street life. Nobody will ever be able to decipher who will or who won't fall victim to bad choices as a child. If I had $1.00 for every person I know.knew that got killed AFTER changing their life, then I would be wealthy. If you didn't grow up in the ghetto or other dismal environment, then there is no way for you to ever understand the culture. Is it sad? Yes. Is it senseless at times? Yes. We get that the violence is atrocious, we get that the crime is out of hand, we get that there has to be a better way. Thing is, we also get that it is a hell of a lot easier to stand across the street and judge then it is to stand in our shoes and muster up any type of understanding.

For those of that get appalled at the outsiders for downing the gang bangers and those that love us and mourn our deaths, just realize that they have no clue and have no concept of what life is truly like in the "hood". What they see is on TV or in the papers, let their ignorance and judgmental comments fall short of your anger. They don't get it...lucky them.

RIP Pappy. You were an alright dude in the end.

@Lucky... thank you for your honest and eloquent insight into what its like to grow up and live in these tough areas. Stay "lucky".

Well well i see syscom3 is at it again wow i seen all of his nasty post he leaves with no regards for these peoples family well someone needs to google him and watch what you come up with i did and it was porn well that speaks for itself he is a whack job my blessings go out this young mans family. Dont let ignorance on here stop what kind words you speak about your loved ones

@ mrs yab,

Not that it's any of my business because this country is proud and founded on freedom of speech. Syscom3 as well as any of us are "FREE" to give their opinions. That said, many of them are harsh but it appears as though he/she is fed up. Perhaps everyone should be.

I googled "syscom3" and not one porn site you speak of popped up. A bunch of railroad/train pics as well as military equipment did, however.

What kind of weird military/train porn are you referring to?

@ Lucky....so far,

Well written. I couldn't begin to comprehend what it must be like. And yes, I consider myself lucky to not have to fight my environment just to stay alive.

Godspeed.

Mrs. Yab, I've googled him too...what I found (if it's actually him) is pretty disturbing. Basically saying that the 16 year old victim of a rape "deserved it" because she was a "skank." If that is his comment, it obviously shows what kind of person he is, and that basically all his points he makes on this report are moot. Probably why the LA Times has not approved a good load of his comments on this report.

A,
Interesting but really? How in the world would you know that the LA Times has not approved a good load of his comments? Do you really want to put your reputation on the line starting with a statement that cannot be backed up? I don't know Syscom3 nor have I looked him/her up so my statement to you is do you want to put your reputation on the line and stand behind your words that a good load of his comments have not been posted?

Jett, in a lot of these posts on the blog he has stated that some of his comments are not approved by the LA Times. And cool it with the dramatics, this is an internet blog, hardly the "reputation on the line" situation you described.

Jett - Reputation? He/she is going by "A" so why would he/she care about their reputaion? It's not like we'll ever know who is on the other end of the keyboard.

A,
Well I guess that says a more about your interest in your reputation. Oh and by the way I'm new to these pages and have visited for a school project and as soon as this project is finished I do not intend to be back. Going through these pages is like driving by a bad car accident...we want to see the blood and guts just to be able to say I was there. It seems to me that way too many people visit this site to dwell on others misfortune.

It is approaching 3 years.....it still seems like just yesterday. Just want to say your spirit still lives.......despite it all; I will never ever forget you Ramond "Pappy" Allen. You enhanced my life in ways only you, me & God knows about. I am forever thankful and grateful for knowing and interacting with you......no matter what your life was and what their opinions are; I know your living was not in vain.....you helped me if no one else but I know I am not the only one. Until we meet again......you will always be remembered and your memory will always bring a smile to my heart!

It's been 3 years....all I can say: it seems like yesterday. Gone but never forgotten....that's how it'll always be; you were a vital part of who I've grown to be. More empowered, I think I am a Pro...when it comes to Pit Bulls....I thank you for sharing what you know! R I P my friend; what we shared will never end....!