L.A. Four
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The L.A. Four was a nickname given to the first four African American men charged with the racially-motivated attack on Caucasian truck driver Reginald Oliver Denny during the 1992 Los Angeles riots: Damian Williams, Henry Watson, Antoine Miller and Gary Williams. Two additional men, Anthony Brown and Lance Parker were also charged with the attack on Denny but not until after the 'L.A. Four' nickname had spread. The six men were redubbed the L.A. Four+.
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[edit] The assailants
Damian 'Football' Williams, probably the best-known of the assailants, was a 19-year-old with a rap sheet including arrests for auto theft and robbery but had no convictions. A football star in high school, he dreamed of becoming a professional football player and briefly played in a semipro league. When he was 16, he dropped out of the Christian school he attended to join a gang called the Eight Tray Gangster Crips. Ironically, Williams' best friend in high school was Caucasian.
Antoine 'Twan' Miller was a 19-year-old who lived with the Williams family. Miller's mother was a drug addict and as a child was sent to live with his grandmother. When he was 12, his grandmother killed his grandfather. His grandmother was convicted of murder and Miller suddenly was homeless. Williams' mother, well-known around the neighborhood as kind and caring, took Miller into her home. Miller's only previous arrest was for joyriding.
Henry 'Keith/Kiki' Watson was a 27-year-old ex-convict who had served time for robbery. After his release from prison, he married, had children and was working two jobs. He had no subsequent arrests until being charged with the attack. According to Williams, Watson was known around the neighborhood as a "gentleman".
Gary Williams was a crack addict who usually hung around a local gas station begging for money from the customers.
Anthony Brown was also a member of Eight Tray Gangster Crips.
Lance Parker was a 26-year-old process server who had no previous criminal record.
[edit] The attack on Denny
On April 29, 1992, the verdict in what became known as "the Rodney King trial" was read. Three of the four officers accused of beating King were acquitted while the jury could not reach a verdict on the fourth. Outrage over the verdict spread through the streets of South Los Angeles and sparked the 1992 Los Angeles riots. Members of an outraged African American crowd began attacking any Caucasians, Latinos and Asians in sight.
The attack on Reginald Denny was broadcast live in the U.S. as a news helicopter was covering the events. As seen in the broadcast, Denny's truck was stopped by several rioters including Damian Williams, Watson, Miller and Brown. Miller opened the cab's door and Denny was dragged out by the others. Watson held him down with his foot as an unidentified man kicked him in the stomach. Another unidentified man wearing a Malcolm X T-shirt threw an oxygenator on Denny's head and struck him with a claw hammer. Then, Williams hurled a slab of concrete against Denny's right temple.
As Denny lay unconscious, Williams did a victory dance as he pointed and laughed at Denny. Williams then noticed the helicopter and flashed gang signs. He proudly pointed to Denny while smiling for the camera. Brown joined Williams in flashing the gang signs and then spat on Denny. After the two walked away, Lance Parker pulled up on his motorcycle and took a shotgun out of his bag. He fired one shot at the gas tank of Denny's truck hoping for it to explode but he missed. After he rode away, Gary Williams approached and searched through Denny's pockets, stealing his wallet. Denny managed to rise to his hands and knees and beg for help. The unidentified man in the Malcolm X T-shirt then approached and stepped on Denny's head.
Somehow, Denny managed to pull himself back into his truck and tried to drive away. Bobby Green, an African American truck driver who had seen Denny on television, came to his aid and drove Denny to the hospital. His face was fractured in nearly one hundred places and pieces of his skull were crushed into his brain. His left eye was dislocated and almost fell into his sinus cavity. Doctors said Denny only had a few minutes to live when he was brought in. After hours of brain surgery and hundreds of stitches, Denny recovered.
[edit] The trials of the L.A. Four
In the aftermath of the riots, police chief Daryl Gates announced that a search had begun for three of the assailants who had been identified from the videotape: Damian Williams, Watson and Miller. Another videotape surfaced of Williams directing rioters toward non-black motorists and beating and kicking several victims. When Damian Williams was captured, Gates himself placed him under arrest, while Watson and Miller were arrested by other officers. After Gary Williams' identity was announced to the press, he turned himself in to police.
Damian Williams was charged with ten offenses against seven victims. Henry Watson was charged with five offenses against four victims. The fifteen offenses consisted of aggravated mayhem, assault with a deadly weapon, robbery and the attempted murder of Denny. Williams was convicted of mayhem and misdemeanor assault and was sentenced to 10 years. Watson was convicted of assault but was sentenced to time served. Miller was convicted and served five months. Gary Williams was sentenced to three years in jail.
In 1997, Damian Williams was released for good behavior. But on December 5, 2003, he received a life sentence for murdering Grover Tinner in July 2000. He will not be eligible for parole until he serves 47 years. Miller was shot in a nightclub on February 1, 2004 and died from his wounds soon after.
