Business Dream Ends as Owner Is Shot to Death
Five months ago, Harold L. Smith realized his dream of opening a combination barbecue restaurant and carwash. The dream didn’t last long.
Early Tuesday evening, Smith, 28, was shot dead while vacuuming a car in the parking lot of his business, Golden Pig Bar-B-Que in South Los Angeles, police said.
Detectives said Smith may have gotten into an argument with two local gang members earlier in the day. Shortly after 6 p.m. they returned to the restaurant at 7800 S. Western Ave. and shot him several times in the torso. Smith was not robbed, police said.
“He appears to have been really well liked” in the community, said Det. Sal La Barbera, lead investigator on the case who has received several calls from citizens eager to help find the killers.
Anyone with information on the slaying is asked to call La Barbera at South Bureau Homicide, (213) 237-1310.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
