CA CA - Los Angeles, BlkMale 15-20, UP#16394, Shot By Police, Feb'68

[Grungster]

I think Paloma Gatzi did the NCMEC reconstruction. I am going to reach out to her via IG.

 

[Grungster]

Also, Robert Hutton, the officer who shot Randolph, apparently became a detective for the LAPD. Looks like no one was charged...

 

[Grungster]

I find Randolph's clothing similar to a certain group in the 1960's that I don't want to refer to because I think it wouldn't be nice, and it likely goes out of WS guidelines.

 

[Grungster]

It's quite racially stereotypical as well, so I won't say it. But I doubt RH was involved in the group. I mean, he was too young to be.

 

[Grungster]

Randolph died 53 years ago today...I hope, wherever he is, that he knows that people like us are trying to identify him.

 

[Grungster]

I take what I said about the Coroners ID Unit back. It’s not their fault they can’t release information; law enforcement is in charge of that. I feel guilty for saying what I said; the people in the ID Unit really know what they are doing, IMO

 

[Grungster]

Suspect killed by officers

By City News Service

A suspected burglar was shot to death by police officers when he tried to evade capture by climbing over a fence.

Officers Charles Livingston and Robert Hutton said they found the man in the back of a cleaning shop on 3870 South Normandie Avenue and ordered him to halt.

When he ran instead, Officer Livingston fired one shot. Officer Hutton, not realizing his partner had opened fire, thought the suspect had started shooting, and fired a blast with his shotgun, just as the suspect climbed over a fence.

The suspect, as yet unidentified, was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said he was about 18.

 

[Grungster]

15 Feb 1968, 15 - The Southwest Wave at Newspapers.com

 

[Grungster]

Okay, I probably should do another, or maybe a series of posts about this, but Officer Hutton and Officer Livingston seem to have changed their story a week after the shooting...

 

[Grungster]

First off, why were you two in the back of a cleaning shop? Why did you say he was breaking in and not say why you asssumed so or with what thing he was using to break in with? And you fired a shot immediately as you stood there and as he ran? I thought you chased him and shot him after he jumped out of a trash bin? There's no mention of him ever being in a trash bin in this article. How could you say he hid in a trash bin when there was apparently not enough space for him to hide and not be noticed? That's what I can tell from Google Maps. Maybe one of your fellow officers realized Randolph must have been a little too tall (6'3) to even fit in a trash bin and became suspicious, and out of fear that someone would arrest you, you changed your story.

Oh, and now you are saying he pulled out a gun and started shooting? Or you thought? How could you think Randolph had a gun but not realize that your partner was shooting at him? Wouldn't you have said this initially on the other article on this thread? And possibly the biggest question of all, and the most suspicious, why in the world did you bring a shotgun with you behind the cleaning shop when you already had your handgun?

To my fellow sleuths, I apologize for the somewhat "rant". I just don't understand. I'll try to find some more articles, I guess there are more out there.

 

[cherryzard]

Bumping for this young man.

 

[carbuff]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

No exclusions.

Poor kid.

 

[Grungster]

Words can't describe how frustrating this is. We have two cops who brutally killed a teenager for absolutely no reason and have apparently never been charged. We have little information to go on that could possibly help identify who he is and no DNA to trace his family. His cremains are presumably buried among other unidentified/unclaimed decedents in a cemetery in Los Angeles County, so I pray that him, and any other unidentified decedent who doesn't have their DNA available, has a useful sample that can be collected from the ashes.

 

[John/Jane Doe]

1391UMCA

 

[Elana619]

shot by police while fleeing. ugh.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[Nate_Bro]

There was a Randolph Houser from Jackson Mississippi who would have been 17 at the time. Although I can't tell if he was black or not, although I think that area is predominantly black?

 

[Grungster]

There was a Randolph Houser from Jackson Mississippi who would have been 17 at the time. Although I can't tell if he was black or not, although I think that area is predominantly black?
View attachment 390684

You should submit this to the coroners office. I definitely see Randolph as being from the Deep South as Louisiana had a surge of residents moving to California at the time. Houser is also a very southern name.

 

[victoriarobinson642]

There was a Randolph Houser from Jackson Mississippi who would have been 17 at the time. Although I can't tell if he was black or not, although I think that area is predominantly black?
View attachment 390684

If this is Randolph M Houser, there's a death record for him on Ancestry for 1997

 

[Springrain]

Looking forward to hear if he's Randolph M. Houser. If not, I think it's definitely a strong lead!
@Grungster , I super appreciate you compiling the information about the shooting. Very, very sad situation. I hope he is able to be brought home.

I wonder if DNA Doe Project would have any interest?

 

[John/Jane Doe]

Looking forward to hear if he's Randolph M. Houser. If not, I think it's definitely a strong lead!
@Grungster , I super appreciate you compiling the information about the shooting. Very, very sad situation. I hope he is able to be brought home.

I wonder if DNA Doe Project would have any interest?

It would be great if the DNA Doe Project could work on this case, although unfortunately I find it difficult since "Randolph Houser" has no DNA available:

1391UMCA