Friends and loved ones are remembering a respected community violence intervention advocate who was killed in a Fourth of July shooting in Compton.
Friends tell KNX News’ Nataly Tavidian that Eric Washington dedicated his life to helping others. Prior to his death, Washington, a Compton native, returned home after earning his master's degree, choosing to invest in the neighborhoods that raised him through violence prevention and community outreach.
Marc Maye, a friend and colleague of Washington’s, described Washington as “phenomenal.”
“He was someone who really believed in community,” he told Tavidian. “He grew up in the community of Compton and Watts, and he dedicated the rest of his life to give back to those communities and show people what it looks like to come from these communities because he did it. He started off in school and ended up graduating with a master's degree from Grambling University, and the first thing he did when he had several opportunities to go work in other states and do things, he wanted to come back and work in his community because he wanted to show kids in the community that you can make it from here.”
On July 4, deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department responded to a reported shooting in the 700 block of West Laurel St. around 11:20 p.m., according to KTLA. Five people were shot. Washington and Meah Bordenave-Jenkin were pronounced dead at the scene.
Family of Eric Washington
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