Kahlil Oneal Williams, a 20-year-old black man, was shot and killed on Friday, April 7, in the 1000 block of Nugent Street in Lancaster, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.
Williams was in his garage, at a gathering with friends and family, when one of his friends pointed a gun at him about 11 p.m., according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Sgt. Troy Ewing.
“According to witnesses, he pointed it jokingly, like he was horsing around,” Ewing said. “And then it went off.”
Williams was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:16 p.m., according to coroner’s records. The cause of death was listed as a gunshot wound to the head.
Deputies initially arrested Terrell Scott, 34, Ewing said, but after talking to more witnesses, they released Scott and arrested another friend, Rakym Thibodeaux, a 29-year-old black man, on suspicion of murder.
When investigators first began interviewing people at the party, Thibodeaux allegedly blamed Scott for the shooting, which led to Scott’s arrest, Ewing said. Scott was cleared, however, when the other witnesses said it was Thibodeaux who fired the gun, Ewing said.
Thibodeaux was booked into jail in lieu of $2 million bail; on April 11, he was charged with murder, according to court records. He is scheduled to be arraigned on May 3 in the Michael Antonovich Antelope Valley Courthouse.
Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau. Those wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.
Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @latimeshomicide on Twitter.