The family of an East Los Angeles College basketball guard, who was gunned down 27 months ago on his 20th birthday in Monterey Park, donated $10,000 today to double the county-offered reward for information that helps detectives track down his killer.
The county offered $10,000 last month, at the recommendation of Supervisor Hilda Solis, for information leading to an arrest or conviction in the killing of Chicago native Saieed Ivey.
“Saieed’s family has generously offered to match the county’s reward amount to further encourage someone to speak out about what happened that night,” Solis said as she offered her thanks to the victim’s family. “I join them in mourning Saieed’s passing, and I pray that these acts of kindness bring us closer to achieving justice and finding the peace we seek.”
Ivey was found shot in the chest in the back seat of a locked silver Mercedes-Benz in the parking of his apartment complex on June 9, 2016.
Deputies responded to the call of a gunshot victim in the 800 block of West El Repetto Drive about 4:30 a.m.
Investigators told the Chicago Tribune that Ivey had some cash with him and was wearing a wristwatch, making it unlikely that it was a robbery. No alcohol, drugs or weapons were found in the car, which had its headlights on, the newspaper reported.
Ivey had been out celebrating his birthday, came home and then asked for the keys to the car, which belonged to a friend’s mother. Residents reported hearing arguing, but authorities said it was not clear whether the shouts were connected to the shooting.
Ivey had planned to fly back to Chicago the next day to celebrate another family birthday.
His half-brother, 21-year-old Mario Hines, was gunned down inside a car in Chicago in 2010, which helped motivate Ivey to work hard and stay off the streets, a family member told the newspaper.
A family friend said Ivey was confident on the basketball court when playing in high school for Chicago’s Simeon Career Academy.
“He would call out, ‘Watch this!’ and then shoot from anywhere,” Sonny Parker told the Tribune. “And it wasn’t like he was bragging. He was just confident and full of energy. Full of joy. Always smiling.”
Solis urged anyone with information about the shooting to call the sheriff’s Detective Gus Carrillo at (323) 890-5635 or Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477).
