Carjackers Slay Father of 3 to Steal Glitzy Auto : Crime: Deputies, neighbors vow to identify the two assailants who shot a man in Willowbrook and took his ornately decorated 1970 low-rider Chevrolet.

A 26-year-old pharmacy worker, the father of three small children, was shot to death Sunday in Willowbrook by two men who carjacked his ornately decorated 1970 classic automobile, investigators said.

“It was first-degree murder,” said Sheriff’s Sgt. Ray Rodriguez. “If we find these guys, this will be a death-penalty case.”

The victim was identified as Terence Booker of Gardena. His relatives speculated that his car attracted the attention of the two carjackers because of its fresh paint, fancy tires and other elaborate decor. The two had evidently lain in wait and shot Booker after he delivered groceries to a friend.

Deputies released a photograph of the stolen automobile, a low-rider silver Chevrolet Impala, license number 160 UYU, and said they were looking for two young men who accosted Booker outside the apartment building on East El Segundo Boulevard at midmorning Sunday.

“Society is so evil now,” said Brooke Demmons, a cousin of Booker’s. “Things happen so fast. It’s the economy. People are scared to death, and they’ll do anything for a nickel. They don’t care if it’s a murder. They’ll take a life for a bowl of beans.”

But, Demmons added, “If they do find out who did this, it will be (by) word of mouth in the community. They’ll be caught by next week.”

Relatives said Booker was married, with children ages 4, 6 and 8.

Booker was alone when he was shot. “We’ve been talking to a few people,” Rodriguez said, “but no one witnessed the actual shooting.”

He said it appeared that the victim was shot once just outside the gate to the apartment house as he returned to his car. He tried to run, and got almost all the way across the street before he collapsed and died.

Witnesses told investigators that one assailant jumped into Booker’s car, and, followed by the other man in a blue 1980s Chevrolet Camaro, fled east on El Segundo Boulevard.

A sheriff’s spokesman called for the public’s help in finding the suspects and described them as armed and dangerous.

For nearly three hours, Booker’s body lay in the street, which was cordoned off to traffic, while investigators carefully went over the scene. Meanwhile, the friend to whom he had been taking groceries summoned Booker’s relatives. Many of them arrived weeping.

Although sheriff’s deputies, investigators and coroner’s personnel tried to shield the body from view with sheets as they put it into a van, relatives wailed as they caught brief glimpses. Deputies warned them to stay on the curb as they pressed to get closer.

Booker’s sister, Valoria, remarked in bitter tones as she watched investigators at work, “If you can’t drive what you want to drive, all I can say is that we’ll all end up driving buckets.”

Passersby who had gathered denounced the crime. “If the cops can’t find out who did this, I’m going to return here myself and talk to people,” said one man who was watching but did not give his name. “I think someone will know who these guys were.”