Gang Interventionist, Ronnie “Looney” Barron fatally shot
By Alex Alonso for StreetGangs.com
February 8, 2010
Back in 1984 I met Ronnie “Looney” Barron on the campus of John Burroughs Junior High School. During that time, his neighborhood was in the early stages of establishing themselves as a legitimate Crip set, allying themselves with the Trays or Gangster Crips throughout Los Angeles. The Mansfields were known as the Mansfield Hustlers (MFH) but in short time they would drop the Hustler identity for Crip.
Ronnie was a part of that early history and could go in depth about all the circumstances that transformed his neighborhood into a gang, but when he was young, he was fully involved. Unfortunately, when he was 17, he was sent to prison for attempted murder. His prison experience did little to change his lifestyle because upon release, he returned back into the same life style. But soon enough, Ronnie began to see the light when the casualty count in Los Angeles continued to grow, which included his friends, loved ones, and even his own brother. He knew it was time for a change, and everyone who knew Looney witnessed a successful transformation.
With nearly 20 years on the streets or in prison, Ronnie got involved with Jim Brown’s Amer-I-Can program, which is an empowerment organization that provides individuals with the tools necessary to make major transitions, and that’s just what Ronnie did. For nearly 10 years, he has been one of the most dedicated community activists working as a gang interventionist in Los Angeles using his own life experiences to inspire and motivate others to make that change.
Looney, Jim Brown, Skipp (Photo: www.2ndcall.org)
It saddens me to report that Ronald LaMonte Barron, 40, was murdered on Sunday night after confronting a person who was writing graffiti on a nearby wall of the Cottage Bar, at 5050 W. Pico Blvd, where he just finished watching Super Bowl LXIV. According to the police, the culprit pulled out a handgun, and fatally shot Ronnie at approximately 9:00 p.m. after words were exchanged.
The work that Ronnie tirelessly engaged in cannot be measured and it often takes time to see successes that are a result of all the counseling, public speaking and lecturing that he was committed to. Gang intervention work is difficult to quantify because we often overlook the results of a teaching conflict resolution and life management skills while keeping diligent track of negative outcomes. Those that know him and/or know the importance of the work he dedicated his life to will agree that he will be missed, not only by his professional colleges, but also his son & daughter. We will miss you, R.I.P. Looney.
Tags: Amer-I-Can, blood, CAE, crip, gang interventionist, graffiti, Looney, Mansfield, Ronald Barron, Ronnie "Looney" Barron, Ronnie Barron, shot, West LA
Posted by alexalonso
on Feb 8 2010. Filed under Features.
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Tray in peace, field in peace, u will be missed Loon
You are truly one in a million. I’m sooo sad I didn’t get the chance to say bye at least. I miss you soo much and I haven’t even seen you in a minute. My heart aches for you. Rest in peace Ron.
To Be absent from the flesh is to be present with the Lord. To the family I Pray you Peace and Comfort.Although he rest in Peace, Looney will live in our hearts forever.
Love & Blessings
TO SAY THAT RONNIE WAS A GANG BANGER, IS TO SAY RONNIE HAD NO SOUL.
I KNEW LOONEY REALLY WELL, AND HE WAS MORE THEN JUST A CRIP MEMBER OR A PRISON INMATE.
HE WAS A SPECIAL PERSON, BECAUSE RONNIE HAD THE ABILITY TO MAKE YOU THINK ABOUT YOURSELF, AND AT THE SAME TIME TELL YOU HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE.
RONNIE IS WHAT I CALL A “MAN’S MAN”, HE STOOD ON HIS BELIEFS
HE NEVER PLAYED HIS SELF OUT FOR ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL, HE ALWAYS STOOD ON HIS OWN TWO FEET
AND I ADMIRE THAT ABOUT HIM, BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH RONNIE WAS IN A GANG, HE WAS ALWAYS A LEADER AND NOT A FOLLOWER.
HE WAS HEAD STRONG TRUE ENOUGH, BUT IF YOU WENT TO PRISON FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER, I DOUBT THAT YOU WOULD COME OUT MEEK AS I LITTLE LAMB EITHER.
I WAS BLESSED TO HAVE HAD RONNIE IN MY LIFE, I DON’T THINK HE KNEW WHAT A POSITIVE INFLUENCE
HE HAD ON ME.
I NEVER REALLY THANKED HIM FOR SCHOOLING ME TO THE EVILS OF THIS WORLD
SO I SAY TO YOU FRIEND THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF MY LIFE
YOU WILL BE MISSED DEEPLY, BUT YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN
AND YOUR LEGANCY WILL LIVE ON FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION
BECAUSE THE LORD CHOOSE TO USE YOU AS HIS SERVANT AND TO GUIDE HIS SHEEP
SO WITH THAT BEING SAID I SAY TO YOU “JOB WELL DONE MY HUMBEL SERVANT”
RIP RONNIE
LOVE AND PEACE, NIKKI.
Thats very nice Nikki. Except let’s not wait until the next hero like this dies to come on here and say how great he or she was, or how they will be in our prayers, lets walk with him or her and work toward the cause that they are working toward. I mean, I know sometimes it helps when you come from that kind of background, mean ing gang/prison, but the truth is we all want the same thing, for this madness to end. How many looneys of this world are we gonna loose to this bullshit? Why cant we all out our lives on the line for our children and our childrens children like he did. One man isn’t enough. He was battling a huge forest fire witrh a lousy fire extinguisher, but he was doing good, it ended up killing him, thats the irony, his last breath was took tyring to talk to this young man. Are u willing to put your ass on the line for the better good? You don’t need to walk down a gang infested neighborhood with flowers in your hand to give out, the peace starts at home talking to our own kids, and being there for them and dads manning up to their responsibilities. We start changing the minds of these kids and we got a better shot at it.. Very nicely said though Nikki. I am touched that he has touched you in a positive way, I am sure you weren’t the only one. Alex, all I can say is your site is a very nice site and you are doing a great job yourself. Let’s not wait until the next Looney falls, lets walk with him, hand in hand, white, black, Mexican whatever, let’s put our kids on notice, this shit has got to end.
rest in peace Ronnie Barron, you will be missed my black brother. i speak for the many latinos that knew you. black and brown forever!
just wanted to send my condolences an say that I hope they get that roller
niggaz steady talkin bout napp this napp that but cant install fear not even n a taggers heart…..
Today 2/17/10 was looney’s funeral and i attend`ed iiT and might i say it was sad to me because he’s a good person who didnt deserve this but god works in un-believeable ways… i met looney threw “MaMa-HiLL’s” help program and wen he talked to us it wasnt just a normal tlk`d it was like church on a sunday morning. And i just wanna say i love ya looney and miss u.. And u always told me stay in skoo!. And ur favortie words where “ARE YOY WITH ME” and ima let u kno yes Looney iiM with yuh
-From MaMa’s HiLL student “STeven” we miss yuh LOoNey. R.i.P
I didn’t know this man. I don’t know the neighborhood or anything about gang life. (Other than my car was once stolen by the ‘bloods’)
I don’t usually post. But I read the story today in the newspaper of Mr. Barron’s funeral and his life. I can’t stop thinking about this total stranger whose heart was big enough to change his own life and the lives of others. I feel so sad.
It makes me mad when someone who cared so much was killed by one who cared not at all.
My warmest thoughts go out to all those people who had the chance to love this man. He sounds like he was more special than any newspaper article could ever have room enough to show us.
This is my first time hearing about Mr. Barron, I guess it’s because I’m from N.Y., but I would like to say R.I.P! He sounds like he was a great person and I wish I had the chance to meet him. Another real black man gone, this is really getting sad! I know that all Mexicans are not racist, hateful people but this shit has got to stop!!! Sooner or later if this keep going on there will be a big problem between the blacks and browns through the whole entire country, not just L.A.! I grew up with Latinos in N.Y. and have a lot of Latino friends, we had our problems but it wasn’t that serious back in the day. Only a couple of isolated incidents, but it seems ever since these gangs has plagued N.Y. the situation is growing, but we still have a good relationship with most Latinos!!! I can honestly say that I had some true Latino friends… R.I.P Ronnie”Looney”Barron!!!!!!
It’s something in the mexican nature, w other latinos you have isolated incidents like you said but people get along but mexicans or on some other shit. In LA, in CHi, now in Ny now that their numbers are getting bigger they starting that bullshit.
R.I.P Looney did not even know u like that. but my school was were hurt by your lost.
FDHAS
I just want everyone know, that Ronald Lamont Barron A.K.A. Lil Looney, Looney, Or even Jovan Jackson would not want anyone discriminating against different races. Looney loved all. He has been around them all of his life. Remember back in the 1980′s there was not an issue about black and brown. Actually we dealt with them in our profession. Look at it who gang bangs in Los Angeles. Yes they have white and Asians gangs as well as Somoan but we all had to get along in juvenile halls and camps and ya, and most of all in the streets. I am a retired School Yard Crip and I am an Original Mansfield Hustler/Freak in which later the Gangster Crip took a label with that name. Yes everyone should learn the History of the Hoods, because Mansfields do have Mexicans from our hood as well as mixed Mexicans. It hurts me because unless you know the culture every Hispanic person is not Mexican. So that upsets an Hispanic when they are mis labeled. Just like an American Black Person may not have ancestors from Africa but they are called Kunta. Yes unfortunately Looney was maliciously gunned down by an young, and dumb, rookie. But we can not punish all Hispanics for that. After being apart of an organization similar to Amer-I- can, I have learned that these up coming gang bangers need to be trained. Anyone can join a gang and think that they will be successful. But the successful gang bangers, have collected their stripes from different categories of the game. 1. Respect. How can you respect the gang if you do not respect yourself. How can you respect the game if you don’t understand color doesn’t make the gang the people who represent the gang makes the gang. Everyone has someone from a gang that is trigger happy. The REAL GANG MEMBERS WERE TAUGHT HOW TO FIGHT. Those that can actually stand and tell the stories about how they were then and how they have accomplished a goal in life for change today. Looney , he put in work in many ways. Gang banging, Pimping he even had celeberties escorting in his organization. And most of all he allowed God in his life despite the mishaps and He controlled his life in gang banging and didn’t let gang banging control him. Yes he Showed the hood that MFH was created by Hustlers. So he never lost that nor became less of a man. But he received an education, even though Ronnie spent most of his high school years in camp, the time he was out, he did attend Hollywood Academy in the 12th grade and received an award of dedication and completion. I have the Certificate of Proof. Ronnie had his son at a young age, but he never backed down from the responsibility of being a young man as a father. He would go under the age of 18 back and forth out of town to see his son. Man he proved to me that he was a FATHER. Not all men that have kids step up to the plate and be Fathers. Daddy anyone can hold that Title. And as of this day His oldest Son will continue to succeeded in life and Earn the Accomplished Degree from College. I am proud of you. Keep it up. No one can take your Education but they will take your life and freedom with out your control.
Looney used his Gods giving mission and helped many that couldn’t help them selves see the change in life. Looney felt good knowing that he just touched a child or even an adults life with knowledge to see the other side. He helped along with others such as himself to stop the gang violence. He expressed to all nationalities how Precious a Life can Be. And that is what he always chanted. Life is Precious, don’t miss out. Learn all you can.
There are a few things that I would like to see change and I will not stop doing my daily chore that was given to me by God himself. And that is to stop racial discrimination between black and brown. Truthfully we are all minorities to society and we will always have faults against us even if we don’t do any wrong.
1. Do you really know what Tray’s 3′s really mean. Tray’s is represented by the Original WESTSIDE Gang members such as WS SYCG WS MFH/ WS MFF WS PBGC WS MGC, learn the history. Each hood had a three click. WS SYCG WS TLC WS LGC, WS PBGC WS LBGC WS PGGC, WS MFGC & WS MGC , WS GGC WS VSLGC, So for all ROLLING 60′S STOP AND LEARN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ETGC AND WS TRAY’S , 3′S.
Question why did RSC really dislike the westside gangs, because we had a chance in life and most were raised with Morals and Values. Because we went to school and learned, we had things that others didn’t have? Or because a couple of RSC got had a fist fight and didn’t win.
NHC, represented the Only NHC’s Neighbor Hood Crips. 111 street. Man who authorized the RSC’s to take the NHC and cause people to dis NHC 111
I am truthfully tried of speaking right now. We all have to stop all of this bullshit. The Police enjoy the excitement, but they let the streets work itself. As long as we kill each other OFF, their job works itself. They get paid for every shooting, stabbing, rape, homicide. They get paid for societies ignorance.
What happen to It takes a village to raise a community. Parents need the rights back to discipline the children. Remember the gun doesn’t kill the person pulling the trigger is the killer.
This can only be told by one who has experienced and the knowledge I can speak and I share educates many.
Gang Banging has no future. Hispanics aren’t the only people who tag, but for all tagger, When you carry a weapon and vandalize your intent is to shot to kill. You aren’t shooting the wall after defacing society, you are shooting those who try to say STOP defacing
Remember this With an Education, you gain knowledge, With Knowledge you will endure Wisdom and with Wisdom A real man or woman can then demand Power.
Please stop the violence. We need more to not give up and educate. To all Mexicans, everyone bleeds the same, you are humans as others on earth are humans. It hurts me that black and brown are so ignorant. Get together and teach each other, for those who don’t, life will not see you age.
If Bloods and Crips can get along, Whites and Blacks, so can Hispanics and Blacks.
That is a war that needs to stop unless each other can support their own, Food, crops and etc. Ronnie would not like this to go this way. He helped and reached out too many Hispanics. He didn’t discriminate. He taught and coached Hispanics in sports. He didn’t discriminate.
This was written By La Donna Greene
This is for the guy claiming Mansfield who left a comment and at the end wrote “We Still Out Here Wit It Tho&Fuc Mexicans,Starvins&NappsK Lok!” I chose to address you,and anyone listening really, because the ignorance of your comment was disturbing. Let’s start by saying R.I.P Looney. I’m 31, I lived on the West side for many years. I’ve got a couple folks from off of Pico and I have kicked it with the Mansfields on several occasions. I didn’t know Looney, but knew Baby Looney, R.I.P. also. It is sad that your Big Homie got chipped by a child right in the center of your hood headquaters and all you can say is we miss you and oh yeah fuck Mexicans Marvins and NHC’s. Since you’re so hard, then where were you that night? Why didn’t you confront the kid? How come he was able to do that and leave your hood alive? I could go on. But My point is that you aint that hard so stop the dissing. In fact nobody is hard enough to deflect bullets. The toughest G’s have died this same way. Little boys running their mouth and enciting violence is what led to so many homicides just like this one. So Stop it. Consider that Loon lost hs life in 2 seconds. So you could lose yours in a milisecond. He was old and wise to the streets yet wasn’t able to change the outcome of a discharged Firearm. You can consider yourself lucky that it wasn’t you. The next could be. So think before you bring more tragedy to your hood. You guys just lost Dolla/Bucc (who I Knew) & Coolie. Its easy to kill or to get killed. But the hard work is trying to understand and respect oneanother. To show oneanother Love. To set aside our impatience and anger and try to resolve issues using our spirit of Brotherhood. Looney was trying to open new doors for the youth in L.A. He was trying to stop the cycle of killing and prison. You disrespected him by all those other people. Try to honor him better by making better decisions for yourself. I conclude by saying the reason why is a lack of cultural education, lack of love for the fellow man, lack of hope, lack of selfdetermination, lack of economic stability, and an excess of guns and drugs. That’s the reason why we lost a Soldier. And that’s the reason why we need to change, evolve and grow to do better works with our lives. Peace, Strength and Love to Family and Friends and to the Brother Who I wanted to speak to.
Knowing the truth surrounding death liberates us from fears which can hinder our progression. Sometimes we are concerned that a loved one suffered or was afraid at the end. We may feel guilty because of our helplessness in preventing the death or the suffering. But grief and guilt are alleviated by knowing that suffering is part of our plan and than our spirits can withstand. When we reach the other side we will learn that each death experience is an important factor in our spiritual development… Granted, we have all lose a friend, father, brother, family member, from within that subdivision of thought; within that silent relm of immortality they still live in our hearts and mind. Ronnie was my boy and I will always have love for him and his family.
Ok, so I read all this and I believe it to be true, it is time to stop dis BS, but who gonna start? Not the taco crunchers, they ain’t gonna stop I can tell you that, so what’s left? Whats left is to defend yourself when they come for you if you can, thats it. These Mexicans have cheap blood fueled by cheap beer and cheap food, they don’t care about no one but there own, and they would still stab their own mothers for a dollar, so what U gonna do against people like that? Huh? Yeah we would like to see this all end, but that truth is far away unfortunately. I heard of Latin Kings moving to Spain to “get back” at the Spaniards for shit that happened 400 years ago…well, I was just there, and they are leaving the country because they are getting locked out of jobs and the cops are harrasing them. That’s a fucking country standing up for themselves and protecting their own people, we can’t do that here because our constitution doesn’t allow it. Our constitution was meant to embrace and welcome everyone into this country and now look at this place…Spain got it right they are a socialist country and they tossed them fucking toublemakers out, we need to do the same, thats not to say to toss out the good, hard working imigrants in this country, but the rest can go to South America.
LOVE BY ALL, MISSED BY MANY
WORDS CAN NOT EXPRESS THE LOSS
LOVE U FOREVER!!!
VANESSA
Ronald Lamonte Barron is my brother. I have so much to say but I will keep this short, Ronnie was not about hate or retaliation, he loved EVERYONE (black, brown, white…etc) and everyone loved him. Ronnie was optimistic; he only wanted to hear the POSITIVE in any situation. He wanted to see a change in his community because of the many struggles that he experienced growing up in Los Angeles. Our father died when we were both very young and Ronnie struggled throughout his life due to the lack of a father figure. However, he became a GREAT man, father and brother. He just wanted to share his knowledge, experiences and love with everyone. For everyone who knew him, please continue to exercise his POSITIVE flow throughout your life.
FREE THE HOMIE PLEXER…..
loony i will allways miss you …and that was sad with the boy did to u thanks for showing me how to do the right thing and so many people love you for what u was doing to help people i remmeber u told me inorder to me sucessful i would have to want it and every time i go to amer:i:can i could juss see you in your seat with a big smile on your face cheerin people up i will all ways remmber you 2 9 2010 that was my brith day :musch love vajanique from amer i can
I played backgammon with Ronnie. He was alway sweet and respectful, I sometimes spoke tp him (on line) every day. He told me about his life and the work he was doing. He inspired me to take my career to a higher level. In 2004 I went to several war torn countries to treat the sick, As a nurse I have great pride in what I have accomplished. When I returned to the states I told Ronnie of my experiences and he told me that he was proud of me. As I am a person who is alone in this world with no close family his words meant a great deal to me. I was shocked to hear about his death but, proud to know that he died doing what he truely believed. Ronnie always said that everyone no matter what the had done deserves a second chnace and maybe another. Ronnie was a good man and should be remembered for what he did for the youth who just need a good roll madel to look up to. I smile at the idea that though he committed many sins he is in heaven with god. Just proves that not matter how bad a person is they can change. To his friends and family and those who mourn the loss remember him and smile as the world was fortunate to have him as long as we did. God Bless
I don’t believe that Ronnie would like the ratial comments made here, He went over to the boy to give him a word or two of what Ronnie believed in. He didn’t see the boys nationality. He probably saw a young man who was calling out and he heard the cries. Ronnie tried to do for others whatn he perhaps wished some had done for him. Ronnie was a friend to me who encourages me to move forward and to strive for what I believe in. As a nurse I wish I could’ve been there and perhaps been able to save his life. Ronnie paid for his crimes and came out to become a man who worked to make the community he grew up in a better place and to give something back. To all who knew him smile as u were the fortunate ones. God Bless
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