Police Kill Man Who Shot Four Motorists

An unemployed schoolteacher was shot to death by Inglewood police Thursday after, authorities said, he went on a shooting rampage with a World War II rifle and wounded four passing motorists.

De Witt D. Hooks, 31, also shot at two arriving patrol cars before being dropped by police bullets on a lawn across the street from the house he shared with his grandmother in the 8300 block of South Van Ness Avenue.

Inglewood Police Sgt. Harold Moret said Hooks walked out of his home about 2 p.m. and coolly opened fire on nearby houses and cars with armor-piercing ammunition.

One of the four victims jumped out of his truck and ran down an alley, but witness Monique Benjamin, 15, said, “the guy shot him.”

Struck Patrol Cars

Investigators said two of Hooks’ shots struck the roof and light bar of an Inglewood police car as it arrived. Another police car took a bullet in the engine compartment. Officers returned fire, killing Hooks.

“It was just like a turkey shoot,” said Ron Morrison, the neighbor whose front yard became the sniper’s post. “He had all his bullets in his right pocket. He would reach in, put one in the chamber, pick up the gun and fire.”

When police arrived, Morrison said, Hooks “had the opportunity to drop the gun, but when he didn’t, they just laid it on him.”

“It was like he wanted to commit suicide,” the neighbor said.

Morrison’s house was struck four times, one of the bullets passing about six inches from his head as he watched from his front window.

“The guy could handle that gun,” he said.

Morrison’s wife, Lila, said she heard Hooks’ grandmother shout, “No, don’t do it!”

Began Shooting

Ron Morrison said Hooks then emerged with the rifle, later described by police as a bolt-action Mauser, and walked across the street to pound on the door of the house next door before taking up his position in the Morrison yard to begin shooting.

“He wasn’t nervous or rushed,” Lila Morrison said. “He took perfect aim. He was shooting at anybody that was moving. He just shot them.”

Police said they did not yet know the motive for the shootings. The Morrisons and other neighbors said Hooks had fired shots before. Inglewood police could not immediately confirm that, because Hooks’ home is on the Los Angeles side of the city boundary.

Neighbors said they knew nothing about Hooks because he stayed inside most of the time. He seemed to be a recluse, they said, but had a reputation for being extremely intelligent.

Declined Treatment

Two of Thursday’s victims, Shann Hicks, 21, of Chino and Patrick Clark, 19, of Los Angeles were taken to Centinela Hospital with leg wounds. Hicks declined treatment and was released, hospital spokesman Ron Yukelson said. Clark, who suffered leg fractures, was transferred to Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Los Angeles.

The other two motorists shot by Hooks were treated at Daniel Freeman Hospital in Inglewood. Both were reported in good condition. One was said to be 46 and the other 50. They were not further identified.