Peace activist found shot in face in Watts neighborhood; investigation underway

WATTS, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Los Angeles police are investigating the death of a man who was shot in the face outside a friend's house in Watts Friday morning.

Emergency officials responded to a home in the 1200 block of East 106th Street at around 3:40 a.m. and found a man, identified by family as Kinshasa Jackson, with a gunshot wound to the face. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Family and friends said the 39-year-old was helping change lives for the better in the neighborhood.

"I loved my brother. My brother was a good man who loved all of the people in his community," his sister Shannon said.

Kinshasa Jackson's friend J.B. Mayberry said they had recently founded a charity to help educate and provide job training for young people in Watts. He said they both were passionate about steering kids away from gangs and helping those in gangs get out.

"The new movement is change. As far as it goes for the violence in Watts, we were trying to curb the activities. That's why he and I founded the Social Solutions Institute Inc.," Mayberry said.

Friends said Kinshasa was fearless in confronting gang activity and demanding those engaged in it to shape up. They don't know why he was killed, but they said not everyone agreed with his tough stance on bringing peace to Watts.

"He fell victim to the very same element that he was trying to assist others in coming out of. The circumstances of this area got the best of him," friend Floyd Mayberry said.

Los Angeles Police Department homicide detectives arrived on scene to investigate. Police said they are looking for witnesses.