Teen Stabbed To Death In Backyard Of His South LA Home
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) —The family and friends of a teenager who was fatally stabbed in the backyard of his South Los Angeles home are at a loss as to why anyone would want to hurt him.
Tommy Cheatham, 18, was stabbed around 9:30 p.m. Monday in the 800 block of W. 101st Street, according to the LAPD.
"It makes no sense with somebody like Tommy, for it to happen to him like that," uncle Freddie Cheatham said.
Cheatham, who police did not have gang ties, was a loner who loved music and video games, according to his family. The El Camino College student could play just about any instrument, but was especially talented with the piano and keyboard.
"He was a gifted kid. He was one of them special, talented, bright kids," Freddie Cheatham said.
Family members say Cheatham was in his room in the back of the house, studying, when a voice in the driveway called out to him. When Cheatham went out to see who was calling him, that's when he was stabbed 12 times in the upper body and head, police said.
The victim's family says they did not know the suspect, who was described by police as an Hispanic man.
The motive was under investigation.