Man Sentenced for Killing Woman in Passing Truck

A Los Angeles car club member was sentenced Monday to 27 years to life in prison for an unprovoked attack in which a Pasadena mother of three was fatally wounded during last summer’s rash of roadway violence.

Compton Superior Court Judge Madge S. Watai imposed the jail term on Ronald Fisher Elam, 28, who was convicted in March of the murder of Debbie Ann Scott, 26, who was shot in the head Aug. 16 as she and a sister were riding with a friend on Avalon Boulevard in South-Central Los Angeles.

Authorities said the woman was one of five people who died as a result of the gunplay that plagued Southern California’s freeways and streets.

Prosecutors said the gunfire that killed Scott was apparently triggered when the pickup truck in which Scott was riding passed six customized Cadillacs that were impeding traffic while cruising on Avalon.

“The only motive for this was just plain spite,” said Deputy Dist. Atty. Janet Sue Moore, who prosecuted the case. “Her only crime was passing them on the road.”

Scott and her sister, Paula Rogers, 21, also of Pasadena, were picked up by a friend, Kevin Lewis, after the women’s car broke down.

While driving on Avalon, Lewis found himself behind the slow-moving Cadillacs. Unable to pass them legally, Lewis used a left-turn lane to illegally pass the cars, authorities said.

Moore said the cars then followed Lewis’ truck for about 10 blocks before shots were fired from the lead vehicle at Avalon Boulevard and 94th Street.

Scott was shot once in the head. She died six days later without regaining consciousness.

Elam was convicted of first degree murder and of attempting to murder Lewis. But jurors could not reach a verdict on a second attempted murder count regarding Rogers.

Elam, who will eligible for parole in 13 1/2 years, contended during his trial that he was not in the area when the shooting took place.