Father of 5 Fatally Shot on Athens Street

An Athens father of five who family members say was heading off to work was fatally shot Tuesday morning after crossing the street to his car.

Medford “Mickey” Morrer, 42, had just left his home about 6:20 a.m. when he was approached by an unknown man and shot several times in his upper torso. Morrer, who had been heading toward his black Thunderbird, apparently tried to run from the suspect before falling several feet away near the front porch of a neighbor’s home at the corner of 111th Street and Normandie Avenue, said Lt. Marilyn Baker of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Baker said Morrer had not gotten into the car and she wasn’t sure where he was going. Family members later said Morrer was on his way to work but declined to say where he was employed.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Sheriff’s deputies said they are investigating whether the shooting was gang-related, although they said they doubted that Morrer himself was a gang member.

Although deputies would not release specific details about the shooting, witnesses in the unincorporated area said the suspect dropped a gun before fleeing. Several neighbors reported hearing four or five gunshots.

Morrer was a hard worker and devoted family man, said his niece, who asked that her name be withheld.

“This doesn’t make any sense,” she said. “How can somebody who gives so much end like this? He doesn’t deserve this.”

Morrer’s niece said the victim took pride in his five adult children, including one who had recently left for college. He enjoyed sports and was an avid football fan.

“He’s one of those people who just makes you laugh,” his niece said. “He could cheer up anyone.”