Man Is Charged in Slaying at Video Store

A Los Angeles man pleaded not guilty Thursday to fatally shooting a video store customer who was gunned down late last year in the aftermath of a robbery, authorities said.

Anthony Dent, 28, of Los Angeles was charged in the death of Joseph Ray Paul, a 31-year-old who was shot in the head as he walked in front of a South Los Angeles video store.

Police said Dent was arrested Feb. 8. Another suspect in the video store robbery, Malcolm Rogers, was already in custody on other charges, they said.

Authorities said Dent and Rogers robbed a Blockbuster Video store in the 5400 block of South Western Avenue about 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 30.

Paul was walking through the parking lot on his way to return a movie when Dent ran out of the store and fired one round, striking him in the back of the head. Police said there was no confrontation.

Paul was taken to King-Drew Medical Center and was listed in critical condition before dying several days later.

Paul’s mother, Marie Bunzy, held back tears as she listened to the details of her son’s death during a news conference to announce Dent’s arrest.

“When I found out he was killed, it was like all the air escaped from my body,” Bunzy said. “I feel better now that [Dent’s] arrested, but I’ll feel better when he’s sentenced for life.”

LAPD Chief Bernard C. Parks talked about why Paul’s death hit particularly close to home. Paul was a brother of LAPD Chaplain Ferroll Robins.

“Her brother died in this parking lot,” Parks said. “When I went to the funeral, I promised that this case would get its proper attention.”

For nine years, Robins, a minister at Greater Bethany Community Church, has helped families in times of loss and grief.

“You care about any person that’s in trouble, but it’s just totally different when it’s you on that side,” Robins said. “I’m very grateful that a lot of the families I’ve worked with have also been our support network during this.”

Quietly, Parks and Robins held hands as other officers took questions from the media.

Paul, a resident of Gardena, had recently passed the writing examination to be a Beverly Hills police officer, relatives said. Paul was the father of two children, ages 3 and 5. His children, especially the younger one, are having trouble understanding that their father is gone forever, Bunzy said.

“We just told her he was in heaven,” Bunzy said. “She keeps asking me when he’s coming back and if we can go pick him up.”

Authorities said Dent also is a suspect in the slaying of Ricardo Fraizer, 41, in a fight Jan. 10 in the 1500 block of West 50th Street.