People v. Spicer CA2/3

BACKGROUND

I. March 27, 2019: the murder of Denzel Gordon and the

attempted murder of Donald Neal Brothers Isaiah Gordon and Denzel Gordon1 lived at the Jordan Downs apartments in Watts. Both were members of the Grape Street Crips, and Denzel was known as Poppy.2 The Grape Street Crips dominated the area around Jordan Downs.

1 We use first names for members of the Gordon family for clarity. 2 Although Isaiah denied being a gang member, the People’s expert testified that he, as well as family members, were Grape Street Crips.

2 Its rival, Bounty Hunter Bloods, claimed the area around Nickerson Gardens, also in Watts. On March 27, 2019, sometime before 7:23 p.m.,3 Isaiah and Denzel were on Grape Street and 101st Street where their aunt lived. Isaiah had driven there in his Camaro, which Denzel wanted to test drive. When Denzel returned after driving the car for a bit, he turned it off. The car wouldn’t restart, so Denzel went to get jumper cables. Meanwhile, Isaiah was getting something from the car when four gunshots were fired. Denzel was shot in the stomach and died later that night. Not long after Denzel was shot and about two miles away, Donald Neal and his friend Dante…