Motorist, 30, Slain in Gardena After Apparent Traffic Dispute

A Los Angeles man was shot and killed in Gardena after he followed a resident home and argued with the man about an apparent traffic dispute, police said.

Ralphel Coleman, 30, was shot once in the head and died at the scene, said Gardena Police Sgt. Robert Michaelsen. The resident, Clarence Acree, 54, was arrested on suspicion of murder. He is scheduled to be arraigned today.

Police said Acree was driving home just before 1 a.m. Sunday when he noticed someone in an early-1980s Buick following him. When Acree pulled into the driveway of his home on West 133rd Street, Coleman pulled in behind him.

“There were words exchanged, mostly by the victim,” Michaelsen said. “After a few moments of arguing, Mr. Coleman ran his car into the back of Mr. Acree’s van. That’s when Acree went inside and retrieved a gun.”

Michaelsen said the two men did not know each other. He said Coleman apparently was upset about something that had occurred while driving a few blocks from Acree’s home, but Acree told police he was unaware of any problems on the road.