$50,000 reward offered in South LA shooting that killed nursing student

SOUTH LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Police are searching for a suspect that gunned down 21-year-old Gerrick Mykul Thomas while he was crossing the street in South L.A.

"We believe that the suspects targeted him believing he was a gang member, but he was not," LAPD detective Connie Zych said.

His family said that he was far from a gang member. Thomas was in nursing school and worked as a security guard.

"He was a 21-year-old goofy kid that kept a smile on his face. Whenever you would see him, his smile would brighten up the room," mother Demesha Thomas said.

It was approximately 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 25 when Thomas was walking down West 54th Street to his grandmother's house. Thomas' mother said she was on the phone with her son right before he was gunned down.

"Just imagine if I stayed on that phone one minute later. I would have heard that shot that took my son's life," Demesha Thomas said.

Detectives said that a passenger in a silver 2014 to 2016 Chevy Camaro convertible opened fire and killed Thomas.

The police said that they have exhausted every lead in this case and need the public's help.

"Our suspect is described as male, black, youthful in appearance, wearing a baseball cap, a tan bomber jacket, dark pants and dark shoes," LAPD detective Eric Crosson said.

Thomas' family is looking for closure and justice.

"It hurt not to know what happened ... is somebody still riding around like nothing? It hurts, that was my baby brother. It hurts," sister Kemischa Winston said.

If you have any information that may help the police, please contact detectives at (323) 786-5100, or if you wish to remain anonymous, please call the Los Angeles Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.