Thomas Rites Bring Call for Peace : Funeral: Truce maker is mourned by gang members, politicians and residents of the housing project where he was slain. Speakers remember him as a leader and a role model.

The funeral of Tyrone Thomas, a leading engineer of a gang truce in Watts and South-Central Los Angeles who was gunned down at a housing project last week, brought out 300 mourners Friday--and renewed calls for gang peace.

“Each and every one of us has to stand up and make sure that our brothers stop taking each other down,” the Rev. Carl Washington told the crowd that spilled out of Angelus Funeral Home on Crenshaw Boulevard.

Washington and several other speakers hailed Thomas, known as Tony Bogard in his neighborhood, as a leader and role model who stuck his neck out to keep the truce going.

“We have to rise to the occasion to keep this truce alive,” Washington said as several women slumped in their seats weeping while men, their eyes masked by dark glasses, wiped away tears.

Thomas, who walked a fine line between peacemaker and being a product of years of gangbanging, was killed during a shootout Jan. 14 at the Imperial Courts housing project. Attending the funeral were gang members from throughout South-Central Los Angeles, community activists from as far away as Stockton, politicians and residents from three Watts housing projects.

“It’s hard when you’re involved in gangs and change to the other side. It’s twice as hard for peace because some of your own brothers turn on you,” rap music star Ice-T said as he tried to contain his sobs.

Rep. Maxine Waters, a Democrat who represents the area, said Thomas’ death should motivate others to put an end to such gatherings in funeral homes.

Los Angeles police have made one arrest--Rodney Compton, 20, a reputed member of the PJ Watts Crips--and are looking for another suspect. But the details of the shooting remain unclear. Police say they have had a hard time getting information from Imperial Courts residents.

Friday’s funeral produced calls for more assistance.

“Nothing like this has happened in the community before,” said Perry Crouch of Good News, an organization devoted to gang prevention. “People came from outside and did shooting, but no one inside (Imperial Courts) ever killed anybody else there.”

Crouch said he expects more people from the housing projects to come forward with information now that an arrest has been made and the funeral has passed.