Another Tragic Loss
 

Taken from cnn.com

Actor Merlin Santana killed in shooting in Los Angeles

Sunday, November 10, 2002 Posted: 8:25 PM EST (0125 GMT)
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LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Merlin Santana, a television and film actor who appeared in this year's Eddie Murphy movie "Showtime," was shot to death while sitting in a parked car, authorities said Sunday.

Santana, 26, was killed early Saturday in South Los Angeles, police spokeswoman Lucy Diaz said.

He was sitting in the passenger seat shortly after 2:30 a.m. when at least one person approached the car and fired, Lt. Clay Farrell said.

The driver escaped injury, drove off and flagged down police. Paramedics responded but Santana was pronounced dead at the scene, Farrell said.

No arrests were immediately made and investigators had not determined a motive for the attack.

The New York-born Santana had a recurring role on "The Steve Harvey Show," playing Romeo Santana. The role won him nominations for NAACP Image Awards and ALMA Awards, which honor Hispanic performers.

One of his earliest roles was as Stanley, the faithful admirer of Rudy Huxtable on the hit series "The Cosby Show."

He also had guest appearances on several television shows, including "Major Dad," "Moesha" and "Sister, Sister."

He later joined the casts of "Getting By" and the short-lived James Earl Jones drama "Under One Roof".

THAT IS SO MESSED UP!

He is Dominican (like me) and I watched him on TV all the time... and liked the roles he played! This makes me SO angry!

First Tupac and Biggie, then Aaliyah, then Left Eye, J Master J, and now this! If it's not GUNS, it's a car or plane accident. What is going on!!???

http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet...77/moduleid-38

http://www.wbnx.com/show_stuff/Steve...IO-SHromeo.htm

No matter how we feel about these individuals, the guns, car, plane accidents are harsh realities of life. People feel strongly about celebrities because sometimes there's a tendency to think they are invincible or not human because we see them larger than life on tv. They are like you and me with the exception of publicity in the light of tragedy. What I would like to know is when will the senseless killings stop? Merlin was a talented and handsome young man. He was on Half & Half a few weeks ago for those who view the show. He will be missed in the industry.

WHAT???!!! :eek: :eek: Oh my goodness!!! I loved this young actor. I never watched the Steve Harvey Show before it became syndicated. However, now that it is, I watch it almost faithfully and I love the actors/actresses (including Merlin Santana). I've also watched him in several other television specials and movies. I can't believe this. It's a sad loss. He was a very handsome fellow and a rather good actor, but it just goes to show that NO ONE is IMMORTAL and when your time comes, it comes.

My sympathy goes out to his family and friends.

Not good at all.......
 

I 've always liked the "Steve Harvey" show and especially the character "Romeo". Its tragic anytime we lose a talented young man of color to senseless violence. My prayers and condolences go out to his family and friends.:(

Another life lose to violence! :mad: My condolences and prayers go out to his family,friends, and fans.

Oh wow. *Shaking my head* He was so fine.

Did anyone else see the tribute to him at the end of the Steve Harvey Show? That is just too sad.

What was your favorite Romeo episode? Mine was when Rosetta wanted him to "make her a woman" on Prom night, and he told her that she should wait for the right person. I thought that was so sweet. :) (Then Lydia came in and freaked out at his chest! :)

When did they show the tribute to him? It is indeed a sad situation we have here. I still remember the first time I saw Merlin on TV. He played Stanley on the Cosby Show where he was one of the kids at the community center that Theo was working in. In the first epsiode he appeared, Theo found out that Stanley was suffering with dyslexia. He was funny then, and was funnier on the Steve Harvey Show. He will be missed. :( :(

At the end of the show, they show a few clips of him, and do the We'll miss you, Romeo
Merlin Santana
1975 - 2002

thing.
I remember him when he was Stanley, how he and BUD were fighting for Rudy's affections. I thought he was cute then. :)

I have been out of the news loop for the last few days. I just heard about this today on GC. This is really so sad. I definitely remember him as Stanley on the Cosby show. I was watching it the other day, and the episode that was on was one that had him in it.

This is really so sad.

You also have to remember Freaky Tah from the Lost Boyz. He was also gunned down in a random senseless act of violence. All of this is too sad. I don't know when this violence will ever end, but I do know for sure that America is surely going to Hell in a pail full of lit-up gasoline soaked rags. JMHO...

Teen Charged With Actor's Murder
Nov 15, 2:43 AM EST

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A 15-year-old girl has been charged with murder in the shooting death of television and film actor Merlin Santana, authorities said.

The teen, who was being held in juvenile custody, was also charged with the attempted murder of a man who was with Santana, district attorney's spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons said Thursday. Her identity was not released because she is a minor.

She was ordered to return to court Dec. 10 when a judge will determine if she will be tried as a juvenile or adult.

Santana, who recently appeared in the Eddie Murphy and Robert De Niro movie "Showtime," was shot to death early Saturday while sitting in the passenger seat of a car parked in south Los Angeles.

Police said at least one person approached the car and opened fire, striking the 26-year-old actor. Santana's companion, who was not hit, drove off and flagged down police.

The shooting is still under investigation and police are looking for additional suspects, said Officer Don Cox, a police spokesman. No motive has been given.

The New York-born Santana earned nominations for the National Association of Colored People's Image Awards and the ALMA Awards, which honor Hispanic performers, for his recurring role as Romeo Santana on "The Steve Harvey Show."

Marlin Brando from Sporty Thieves (kind of a "celebrity perhaps) was killed a few years ago when he was walking down the sidewalk and a van jumped the curb, hit, and killed him.

Many people don't mention Big L...especially when they're thinking of "celebrities" who's deaths were untimely and shocking.

I remember both incidents, and I don't know how I forgot to mention Big L, being that his posthumous CD was released on my birthday in 2000. :eek:

LOS ANGELES – A 21-year-old man convicted of the first-degree murder of actor Merlin Santana was sent to prison today for consecutive 25- year to life sentences, the District Attorney's office announced.

Deputy District Attorney Greg Dohi said Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Larry P. Fidler sentenced Damien Andre Gates to two 25-year-to- life terms, plus 20 years, plus another life sentence. The sentences, to run consecutively, mean that it is unlikely the defendant ever will be paroled.

A jury in Fidler's court earlier this month convicted Gates of first- degree murder and attempted murder. The jury found that he used a rifle to commit the crimes.

A second defendant, Brandon Douglas Byrnes, 25, has pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and assault with a deadly weapon. He is expected to be sentenced to a 23-year prison term by Judge Fidler on March 11.

Jury selection is under way in Fidler's court for the final defendant, 17-year-old Monique King. Like Gates and Byrnes, she is charged with one count each of murder and attempted murder. Because she was 15 at the time the crime occurred, her case first went to juvenile court, where a judge found her unfit to be tried as a juvenile. King turned 17 on Feb. 11.

All three defendants were arrested shortly after the shooting and have remained in custody.

Have we learned why?

Good.

No, I don't think so. From what I have heard that it was to rob him, but the real reason has never come forth. Every time I look at reruns of the Steve Harvey Show I think how Merlin is not with us anymore. Sad and that young man had a nice career going for him.

Glad to hear that these people will be put away for life. Its so sad that he wont be with us any more.

Here is a blip as to why........

Merlin Santana was Romeo on the Steve Harvey Show. A young California girl, Monique King, made false accusations that he raped her; which prompted two men to murder him.

Monique King - who was 15 when Santana was killed was sentenced to eight years in juvenile prison. King told the two men Santana had made physical sexual advances on her. Her accusation angered the men and they used a rifle to shoot Snatana in the head on Nov 9, 2002. The young girl later recanted her statment, but Santana had already been killed.

Here is another site that confirms this...
http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet.../personid-1777

WHAT!!! That's too much!

It's a shame someone had to lose their life over a lie.:mad:

It's a shame that folks play with other folks' lives like this.

I hope the lie this girl told haunts her for the rest of her days. :mad:

I agree...little skeezer (took that waaay back). I am really mad that she played with this man's life like that. Now he has a daughter whose life he won't be able to be a part of... :mad:

I don't understand. This should be a lesson to the groupies that think it's cute to say "so and so did so and so to me..." or "I me so and so ate the club and he touched my butt." Even though he wasn't a huge celebrity, I am thinking she was bragging more or less as opposed to "trying" to get him killed. Either way, you know the folls you run with are some gangstas so serves her right.

This is terrible. Rape is just something you don't lie about. It is a horrible experience to go through, and things like this is what makes people suspicious when a woman is actually raped and goes to the police about it. I'm sure this will haunt her for the rest of her life, and I wish this had gotten more publicity so it could be a lesson to silly little girls everywhere. Rape and child moseltation are not things to play with.

Sis....I feel you.
 

Neosoul----what is up with these young women and possible false rape allegations? Do they understand how far reaching the affects might be? You ARE making it harder for an actual survivor of rape to come forth and to be taken seriously.

It wasn't until my sophmore year of college that I realized how close to home this issue was. They told us that 3 out of 5 of your female friends were the victims of some type of sexual assault. I thought that number was high until I found out that my roommate was a victim of molestation and my mentor (a senior @ the time) was a survivor of rape (her rapist walked around campus free).

Re: Santana Murder--Rape is one of the greatest acts of violation a human being can ever experience and for that girl to trivialize it by lying is beyond my comprehension.

Well it seems as if she will have a while to think about her actions. I hope she learns something from this tragedy.

Question
 

This is a little off topic, but this post made me think of this.

As many over on AKA Avenue know I have just wrapped up my first year at Howard Law School (learning like Thurgood :) ). One of my classes this semester was criminal law where one of the crimes we studied was rape.

I was surprised to learn that in MANY jurisdictions when the judge gives a rape charge to the jury he is still required to provide a Lord Hale Instruction. A Lord Hale Instruction is a direction to the jury that many females lie about rape and that rape charges should be decided with caution and that the jury should be very careful in deciding which prosecution witnesses it finds credible. Basically, the judge tells the jury that rape is a big deal, judge carefully and that women lie.

This was very common at common law, and there is a movement towards getting rid of this instruction and many jurisdictions have. Yet, many retain it.

What do you think about this? In light of the Merlin Santana death, do you think its justified?

It is only an instruction, the jury can still decide how they want to and in jurisdictions that give it, its given in EVERY rape case, not just when the judge thinks the victim is lying.

Not all cases will reach Oprah or be placed under nationwide scrutiny. Any remedies I think of to screen out liars tend to be more traumatizing to actual victims. I'm assuming the reason why the judge says it to all is to avoid judicial prejuidice if said only when they don't believe the defendant?

If so then I think it should remain...why? Because I've seen first hand that damage that is done to both rape/assault victims and simultaneously to honest people accussed by liars. You can argue til the cows come home that unless you were in the room no one knows what happened but we all know that there are women who have lied and will continue to lie about what happened to cover their own actions (and those who are quick to believe the lie and act on it rathar than acknowledge the truth staring in front of them). As flawed as the jury system is sometimes they end up being the last resort for justice.

I swear there ought to be a special place in hell for any female that cries rape falsely.

Re: Question
 

No one ever answered the question, so I'm bumping this up.

I think the Lord Hale Instruction should remain on the books for all times. It's an unfortunate reality, but there are women who lie about such a heinous crime and violation. It seems necessary to give a "disclaimer" because we all know that many people see the accused rapist as proven guilty until innocent (look at Kobe and his lost endorsements). Without such an instruction, there may be at least one juror who will be present for days/weeks of testimony but will not listen to or try to digest the facts because s/he is convinced of the accused's guilt because a woman cried rape. Of course, jurors can think they want to think, but at least judges have the opportunity to emphasize the importance and seriousness of the case.

Exquisite5 and other law students, good luck with your studies.

Just to toss this out as someone who works with victims of sexual assault and as part of sexual assault prevention programs, the number of women that have been found to be lying about rape (2 percent of the cases that go to trial) is no different than the number of false reports of every other major crime.

Merlin Santana
 

Well, I know it's been 6 years since his death.What made him come to my mind today was that I was watching The Steve Harvey Show,and I was so sad and mad that this young black actor is no longer here,and his life was taken over something that was possibly not true.I don't know the facts but it sure didn't have to take his life.And most certainly playing with rape and molestation stating that this allegedly happen that does not need to be played with.Those are truly serious crimes and should'nt be taken lightly.But to pin it on someone who didn't possibly do it its'nt good either.Their life will be forever ruin or ceased and in this case someone took it in their own hands without justifying it and asking questions.

You know there was a young girl involved in this case and it made me think why is she hanging around people who are much older than she is.And nowadays these young kids are not movaited and ambious any more.They need home training and gudiance.But I do not feel pity for them they need to sit there in prison and think about what and why they did such a terrible thing.Especially for the young girl because whether she knows it or not it will haunt her forever.Whether she released and comes to the world just knowing that she lied about it which I belive she did.Because I know a lot of girls who lie about things like this when it is not true.

omg
 

What my boo had to die cause of that cuz i read on someone els that she later told the truth and they couldnt do nothing about it now cuz he already dead that the most sad thing ever. Its sad out there that some kids really do get raped and there familys dont believe them and then these people have the nerve to lie about it it confuses peopl. Im glad i have family that would believe me when i say i got raped or sumthin and i would never lie about it either that just wrong wat did merlin do to her i dont lik her at all and if i ever saw her i would want to do the same to her , she diserves it really.

QFP

Mess.

Hello Shirmika. I see this is your first post. Welcome to GC and Delta Drive.