If it was just another street robbery in Hawthorne, it would have gone largely unnoticed.
But the crime Wednesday night was so amazing, police said, it shocked even the most seasoned investigators.
It occurred about 9:30 p.m., shortly after a gray or white minivan struck an unidentified man as he jaywalked across Crenshaw Boulevard underneath the Century (105) Freeway, Hawthorne police Capt. Mike Ishii said.
Leaving the man sprawled in the roadway, the motorist sped away, breaking a law that requires drivers to remain at the scene of an accident.
Seconds later, another motorist ran over his body. Again, that driver raced away, Ishii said.
Several pedestrians nearby saw what happened and ran into the street toward the man. They surrounded him and tried to offer help, Ishii said.
One good Samaritan, a woman, ran west across the street and was hit by yet another car, Ishii said.
That driver, "dutifully stopped to check on the condition of the female," Ishii said.
And that's when the unthinkable happened - to the only driver who stopped.
"As he did so, he was attacked by some
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of the bystanders," Ishii said. "These criminal bystanders assaulted the victim and ultimately stole his cell phone."
The driver freed himself, ran to his car and, in fear for his life, drove away to protect himself.
By that point, police officers arrived to investigate the traffic accident.
The robbed motorist returned, and reported the traffic collision to police officers.
As they spoke, he saw one of the assailants get into a nearby car. Police officers quickly arrested Tran Moore Lewis, a 32-year-old Long Beach resident, on suspicion of robbery and assault.
The original pedestrian, whose name was not released pending notification of his family, was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
The woman who was hit also was taken to a hospital. Her injuries were not considered life-threatening, Ishii said.
Witnesses provided information to police about the second hit-and-run vehicle and police officers found the car. The driver was questioned and his car impounded, Ishii said.
He was not arrested, but remains under investigation.
"This is a tragic situation where a person was hit twice and both people didn't stop," Ishii said. "What we want to do is get anyone with information to step forward in locating the first vehicle."
