European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 9, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse The people behind the fatality statistic by Michel Marriott the new York times news in the first 24 hours of the worst Urban riot in modern american history bullets claimed the lives of Dwight Fishman Taylor a Black fish Cutter Matthew Haines a White Mechanic and Elbert Wilkins a Black businessman. From the moment the riots started with news of the acquittal of a group of White police officers accused in the beating of a Black Motorist at least 55 other people would be fatally touched by violence. Many were shot a some by the police and some by rioters. Others were stabbed strangled beaten or burned to death or died when they were struck by or fell from vehicles. Most were Black and hispanic men. But no race or sex was spared. Several of the dead were As Young As 15 years old one Man was 68, said officials with the los Angeles county Coroner s office. The dead came from Many walks of life and in the end there will have been at least 58 funerals. There will be 58 families and hundreds of friends who will have gathered in grief for final Good byes. Police investigators will try to piece together the stories of How they died a task made More difficult by the scope of the tumult. But it is Brief sketches of How the victims lived that helps one comprehend the depth of the losses of the riots. Here Are three of those stories Dwight Taylor a fatal trip to tha Marka picking up the pieces a i Vav a score of National guardsmen dressed in full riot gear milled about on sunday in the parking lot of a shattered supermarket where Dwight Taylor s friends and family say he was shot on wednesday april 29, As he walked from his Job to buy a half gallon of he never made it a said Michael Anthony Bell a school Security guard who said he saw his 42-year-old neighbor gunned Down and then drove him to nearby paramedics. Quot he said go Back and Tell my wife i love her. I know i m not going to make it a Bell recalled the Many a dying words. It was about four hours after the jury in the beating Case announced verdicts of not guilty. The spark of violence that began in the South Central neighbourhood where Taylor lived and died was beginning to become a whirling Blaze. Belt heard seven shots and saw the blood but he never saw a gunman. Twenty five minutes later Taylor was pronounced dead at California medical Center from gunshot wounds to the neck and Chest. Dwight and Onitha Taylor married 10 years ago lived in a modest Tan House a five minute walk from the All seas fish Market and had two daughters now 7 and 8. Everyone called Taylor Quot Fishman Quot because he Cut fish in the Market which was across the Street from where he died played pick up basketball games in the neighbourhood and loved dominoes. His friends remember him As a tall Brown skinned Man with a magic smile. His wife is trying to hang on to her memories gazing at a heart framed picture of her husband. To keep momentum she said she is Quot staying Busy with the arrangements Quot and la Lomg with friends and relatives who Call or drop by to leave condolences Quot the riot had just started just up the Street at Manchester and Florence Quot mrs. Taylor said. Quot i was looking at it on television. But i never thought it was going to touch my life Quot Matthew Malnaa Rescue Maalon ende in gunshot Miles to the South in the Belmont shores Section of Long Beach the family of Matthew Haines is struggling to make sense of the violence that claimed his life. News of the acquittals was just beginning to spread throughout the country at 6 55 . On that wednesday when an angry group of Blacks surrounded Haines 32, and his 25-year-old Nephew Scott Coleman and pulled them Oft the motorcycle they were Riding. Haines was shot in the head at Point Blank Range the police and his family said. Coleman who tried to run was beaten and shot at at least four times said Kris Barker who described herself As a Friend of Coleman. Relatives and friends said the two were answering a Call of distress from two women friends who lived nearby. Quot one was Black and one was White and they were scared Quot Barker said of the women. Haines and Coleman Quot were going up there to Lead them out. Matt took the at least 58 people died most of them Black. Hare a Motorist pulled from his car la bang beaten. Korean businessmen were frequent targets. Motorcycle because he thought it would be but shortly after the men left Barker said she received a Call from one of the women who asked her to Stop them. Quot she told me it had gotten too dangerous that there was a fire Quot Barker recalled. It was too late. A Short time later she said the women heard gunfire coming from about a half a Block away. Quot they looked out o1 their window and saw mat and Scott laying in the Street Quot she said. Haines died shortly thereafter at an nearby Hospital. As for the mob that attacked them Barker said Quot they just saw two White men on a motorcycle i done to understand any of this Why people had to kill katrina Haines Matthew Haines Niece said her father s younger brother was a Mechanic for Toyota who loved to fix things. She said Haines and Coleman were avid fans of the Star trek television shows and films the kind of fans known As trekkers. Haines said the two men who shared a House had worked on a Star trek float celebrating the show s 25th anniversary in this years tournament of roses Parade. Quot but he never had time for himself because he was always helping people Quot Barker said Quot he used to say helping people will be the death of me yet Quot he had been planning to ride his motorcycle across the desert to Las vegas nev., she recalled. A the was supposed to leave saturday Quot Barker said Quot what a waste this Man was a Benefit to this she described Haines As a deeply compassionate person who was dismayed by the acquittal and sympathized with Many of those angered by it. Gilbert Haines the victim s father sent a Tetter to a los Angeles television station saying in effect that Quot if this had been a declared War my son would have signed up on the Side of these people Quot a family member said. Elbert walk tvs an Ordinary Day turns tragic for Elbert Wilkins 33, that wednesday began like most any other rising Early to go to work at his stereo shop Dray sounds in the South Central Section of the City in which he was reared. Quot he was an entrepreneur always thinking about creating something building something Quot said Wilkins 26-year-old brother Desi. Elbert was a Good natured person people who knew him said. He loved music and was Quick to Volunteer to install stereos in friends cars. He was Bright and self taught Desi Wilkins said. With Elbert Wilkins it just was t business his brother explained. Quot he was real positive and loved his life that s Why a lot of people can t believe what happened to him Quot he said. Police reports said Elbert Wilkins was standing outside his shop near Western Avenue and Century Boulevard when someone fired shots from a passing car. Desi Wilkins said he and his brother had walked Over to a nearby parking lot next to a liquor store wednesday evening to talk to some friends who were sitting in their cars. As his brother was talking to one of the men Desi Wilkins said the Man was struck in the head by one of three shots. Everyone began to run Desi Wilkins said Quot but Elbert did t know he was hit. I told him to Check Elbert had been struck in the Back just above his hip his brother said. He collapsed As he tried to step up into a Van to be driven to the Hospital. He died a Short time later. "1 can t make any sense of this Quot said Elbert a father Joseph Wilkins. Quot it is Elbert was married and had five children. His youngest is a three month old action line editor s note the action line will not appear today because of a delay in receiving responses to a number o queries. The draw Down cutbacks in staff and other factors have combined to produce the shortage according to military officials. The action line will resume ass soon As answers Are received by the stars and stripes. Page 16 a the stars and stripes saturday May 9, 1992
