$10K Reward Offered for Tips on Killers of South Bay Basketball Star

County supervisors on Tuesday offered a $10,000 reward in the fatal shooting of a 25-year-old aspiring basketball player in Willowbrook and also renewed a $20,000 reward for information that helps solve a fatal 2014 shooting in East Los Angeles.

Wendell Lee was standing with a female friend outside her residence on Elva Avenue, just north of 123rd Street, when a silver SUV pulled up and a man got out and opened fire about 11:45 p.m. last Sept. 21.

Lee tried to run, but was struck by multiple rounds and collapsed in a driveway. He was pronounced dead at St. Francis Medical Center.

Lee, who had played basketball in college, had been invited to Los Angeles to try out for the Lakers development team, according to Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, who recommended the $10,000 reward.

Lee was raised in Gardena and attended El Camino College before heading to Colorado State University-Pueblo on a full basketball scholarship, according to Ridley-Thomas.

“The shock and senselessness of this tragedy has left his family and community members devastated,” Ridley-Thomas said in a statement.

A story posted on the CSU-Pueblo ThunderWolves website described Lee a standout guard, noting that he had scored an average of 9.5 points in each of his 55 university games.

Lee’s coach said the player -- who also sang and played the piano -- was loved by teammates, classmates and fans.

“To think that Dell died with so much music left in him is a sad thought to consider,” said Ralph Turner, head coach for the men’s team. “There is so much of his life to remember, like his infectious smile and laugh, but mostly the drive, passion and pursuit of his dreams. That is what will inspire us to do the same.”

One witness saw at least three people in the silver SUV, which was last seen driving south on Elva Avenue.

Anyone with more information about the shooting was asked to call sheriff’s homicide Sgt. Scott Hoglund, (3232) 890-5500.

Supervisor Hilda Solis recommended extending a reward, set to expire Feb. 21, for information leading to whoever shot 23-year-old Alex Gines to death early on the morning of May 17, 2014.

The reward in the Gines shooting will now be available for at least another 90 days.

To date, sheriff’s homicide detectives assigned to the case “have received no viable clues” as to who gunned down Gines as he was walking along the 900 block of South Kern Avenue to meet his girlfriend, Solis said.

Anymore with information was asked to call the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500 or Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477).

--City News Service, photo courtesy of Colorado State University-Pueblo