Suspected Gang Members Kill Deaf Man

From: abc7.com, CA - Jan 28, 2006

CANOGA PARK (CNS) - The mother and girlfriend of a deaf man gunned down in Canoga Park by suspected gang members asked for the public's help today in finding the man's killer.

Lee Carter, 23, was walking home from the store Tuesday night when he was confronted by four men in the 21000 block of Parthenia Street, ABC7 reported.

Police believe the suspects may have mistaken Carter's sign language for gang signs, prompting the shooting.

"The hardest part is I heard the shots," Carter's mother, Yolanda Emanuel, told ABC7. Emanuel said gang members had confronted her son before because of his use of sign language.

Carter's girlfriend, who is also deaf, used sign language to ask for witnesses to come forward.

"Let me know who killed my boyfriend. Call me or call the police," she said.

Anyone with more information about Carter's death was asked to call police at the Devonshire Station at (818) 756-0669.

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