Convicted Murderer Held in Execution-Style Slayings of 3

Los Angeles police homicide detectives had in custody Friday a 24-year-old convicted murderer thought to be responsible for the execution-style slayings of three men during the attempted robbery of a one-time “rock house” in the Watts area.

Ricky Palmer and an unidentified accomplice apparently pushed their way into the fortified apartment in the 10400 block of South Broadway early in the morning of May 16 in the mistaken belief that it was still occupied by rock cocaine pushers, said Detective Hank Petroski.

Three men, described by Petroski as “innocent victims . . . in the wrong place at the wrong time,” were shot fatally in the backs of their heads. They were identified as Oliver McKinley, 21, Bryan Harvey, 22, and Cleophus Coleman, 19.

A fourth victim was shot in the head, but survived to tell police that he had seen one of the suspects in the neighborhood and knew him as “Sliprock.” Detectives linked the nickname to Palmer, an alleged member of the Main Street Crips gang.

Petroski said that Palmer had served time in California Youth Authority custody for murder, as well as two prison sentences for burglary.

The identity of the surviving witness was not disclosed. He reportedly is in another city out of fear for his safety.