LAPD releases surveillance footage of fatal stabbing; leads sought

Los Angeles police have released video surveillance footage of the assailant believed to have stabbed a 35-year-old man to death Friday in South Los Angeles, just a block from his home.

The footage shows William Jennings, 35, walking on the sidewalk in the 3300 block of West Jefferson Boulevard around 10:25 p.m., when he appears to be confronted by the assailant. A brief dispute ensues, during which, the assailant takes out a knife and repeatedly stabs Jennings to death.

The assailant then walks off, leaving Jennings on the ground. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.

“Are you really serious? That you really took somebody’s life over, to me, nothing,” Jennings’ wife, Tamysha, told KTLA-TV Channel 5 after reviewing the video footage. “It could have be an argument, you could have got called a name, a name doesn’t change the world, you changed the world when you took him.”

William Jennings leaves behind an 11-year-old daughter, the Los Angeles Police Department said.

A motive for the killing remained under investigation and no weapon was recovered from the scene, police said.

The assailant was described as a black man, 30 to 40 years old, 5 feet 8 inches to possibly 6 feet tall and weighing 180 pounds.

Anyone with information was asked to call Criminal Gang/Homicide Dets. Paul Funicello or Matt Courtney at (213) 485-4341. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to (877) 527-3247. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.

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