Help Sought in Fatal Shooting on Freeway

The family of a 20-year-old college student who was fatally shot on a South Los Angeles freeway appealed to the public Wednesday for help in finding the gunman.

Michael Livingston of Long Beach was heading north on the Harbor Freeway on Tuesday afternoon when he was shot, authorities said. He lost control of his silver 1998 Chevy Camaro and crashed into the center divider between the Manchester Avenue and Florence Avenue exits.

Police do not have a suspect.

“This person murdered someone. I am extremely angry about that,” said Livingston’s father, Dennis, outside the Los Angeles Police Department’s 77th Street Station. “I am begging, pleading, asking, hoping that someone would call with some information.”

Investigators said they have several witnesses but hope to hear from more.

“There were probably hundreds of cars going by when that happened,” said Det. Rudy Lemos, homicide coordinator for the 77th Street Station. “I’m sure someone will come forward after we put out more information.”

Police want to know if anyone saw anything unusual between 1:30 and 2 p.m., such as a speeding or erratic driver.

“Please, please come forward,” begged Livingston’s mother, Christina. “If you are the person who did it, please turn yourself in.”

Livingston apparently died from a gunshot wound to the head, Lemos said. He said three shell casings were found at the scene.

“It appears that it was some type of road rage,” he said. “There is no indication that there is gang involvement.”

Investigators are trying to verify a witness account that Livingston was racing and determine whether that played a role, said Capt. Kenneth Garner.

Livingston’s mother said her son “would not race someone. How do you race someone on the freeway?”

Livingston, a student at West Los Angeles College, had been on his way to a friend’s house and was two exits away when he crashed, his mother said.

Relatives said he would have turned 21 in less than a month and had been considering a real estate license course.

“He was ambitious-minded,” said his aunt, Cristal Moore.

It is hard, Garner said, “to keep your faith in humanity when you see something like this happen.”