Stanford University called about Jamiel Shaw a week or so ago, intrigued by the slight but speedy running back for Los Angeles High School, the Southern League's most valuable player last year. Rutgers University called a few days later.
The Shaw family already had reason to be proud. Jamiel's mother, Army Sgt. Anita Shaw, was on her second tour of duty in Iraq.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Thursday, March 06, 2008 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 2 inches; 99 words Type of Material: Correction
Jamiel Shaw Jr.: An article in Wednesday's California section about the fatal shooting of Jamiel Shaw Jr. said Los Angeles Police Chief William J. Bratton told reporters that the area where Shaw was attacked is policed by the Newton Division and is nicknamed "Shootin' Newton." Shaw was killed in Mid-City, which is overseen by the Wilshire Division. Bratton was actually discussing recent shootings in South Los Angeles when he said the Newton Division is nicknamed "Shootin' Newton." Also, a headline on an article about Shaw's death in Tuesday's Section A incorrectly said the shooting occurred in South Los Angeles.
On Sunday night, it was Jamiel's father on the phone and then his son's girlfriend, Chrystale Miles. Jamiel Sr. called to tell him to hurry home from the mall. The 17-year-old boy was three doors away when someone shot him to death while he was still talking on his cellphone to Chrystale, friends say.
Jamiel Sr. heard the shots almost as soon as he hung up. He ran out of the house, raced around the corner and found his son lying on the sidewalk, bleeding.
"She's over there trying to protect us from guns and bombs, and then she has to hear that her son is dead over here," he said of Anita on Monday. "I've got my own personal Iraq now."
Los Angeles police officials described the killing as random and senseless, cutting down a youth who had been doing everything right in his life -- from hitting the books to never missing church to inspiring the Los Angeles High Romans to last year's Southern League title.
A police spokeswoman said two Latino men pulled up in a car, jumped out, asked Jamiel if he belonged to a gang, and shot him when he didn't answer. She said Jamiel was not affiliated with a gang and that detectives had no suspects.
Anita Shaw was flying back from Iraq on Monday, family members said.
"She called crying, saying, 'Tell me it's not my son,' " said Jamiel's aunt, Althea Shaw. "She was so proud. She felt he had made it through the hard times. She still called him her baby, even though he was taller than her."
Jamiel Sr. said he had "an 18-year plan" for their son, whose ultimate goal was to become a sports agent: "I would tell him, 'I'm going to get you to 18, and if you do what you're supposed to do, you'll get to college,' " the father recalled. "He was almost there."
The youth's football coach, Hardy Williams, was with the family Monday at their 5th Avenue home, where Jamiel's trophies and medals lined the mantel. His 9-year-old brother, Thomas, wore Jamiel's favorite Atlanta Braves cap. Tears flowed.
"He was a very special kid," Williams said. "Not only was he an outstanding athlete, he was a good person. I've never seen Jamiel mad. He had such a big smile."
