The Devastating Cost Of Gascón’s Failed Tenure

In a stunning display of disconnect, on November 27, George Gascón issued a media release touting his so-called “transformative achievements” over the last four years. Yet glaringly absent from this self-praise was the deeply troubling case of Kenji Howard—a man who admitted to firing the gun that killed two people and who recently was awarded over $1.2 million from the California Victim Compensation Board. This shocking payout, awarded on November 21, 2024, highlights the disastrous consequences of Gascón’s policies.

On March 17, 1995, 16-year-old Kenji Howard, a member of the “Blood” Limehood Piru Street Gang, and his co-defendant Edward Powell, followed four innocent individuals—Landon M., Gail L., Travon J., and Arkett M.—after a day at Dockweiler Beach. Powell pulled alongside their car, gang signs were flashed, and gunfire erupted. Arkett, an Air Force member home for her parents’ 25th wedding anniversary, was killed instantly. Travon suffered a gunshot wound that left him in a coma for 18 years before he succumbed to his injuries.

Witnesses testified the muzzle flash came from the area in Powell’s car in which Howard was seated.  Howard later admitted to pulling the trigger.

In 1997, a jury convicted Howard of first-degree murder, three counts of attempted murder, and shooting at an occupied vehicle. Powell, the driver, was also convicted and is serving a life sentence. The California Court of Appeal upheld Howard’s conviction, noting that his confession was voluntary and reliable. The court described Howard as a “sophisticated minor” with a history of criminal activity who freely admitted to firing the weapon.

Despite overwhelming evidence, Howard’s conviction was recently overturned based on “new” evidence—a questionable claim by Powell, who admitted he had been promised money in exchange for helping with Howard’s case. Powell now claims he, not Howard, was the sole shooter.

Rather than retry Howard, Gascón refused to pursue the case, citing “policy considerations” and “resource constraints.” In his words, the District Attorney’s Office must allocate resources to “more critical needs.” Ignoring the compelling evidence of Howard’s guilt and the apparent fraud involved in overturning the conviction, Gascón effectively handed Howard a clean slate.

A judge who reviewed the case after Howard’s release found—and the Court of Appeal affirmed—that Howard is not factually innocent. Nevertheless, under newly enacted Penal Code 1485.55, which Gascón supported, Howard was able to seek monetary compensation for his time in prison after his convictions were vacated. This law, designed to provide justice for the truly innocent, was weaponized to reward a man who admitted shooting the gun that killed 2 people.

Because of Gascón’s inaction, Howard has become a millionaire and is no longer legally classified as a convicted felon. He can now purchase firearms and ammunition. He may also now pursue suing the County of Los Angeles for millions more—a potential payout funded by taxpayers. Meanwhile, the families of Howard’s victims are barred from suing Howard due to expired statutes of limitations. Even worse, the compensation awarded to Howard depletes resources meant for actual victims, like the families of Arkett Mejia and Travon Johnson.

Gascón’s tenure has been marked by a stunning disregard for public safety, justice, and victims’ rights. As he prepares to leave office on Tuesday, December 2, his legacy will be defined by cases like this—where justice was abandoned, and the victims were forgotten. For those impacted by violent crime, his departure cannot come soon enough.