3 Plead Not Guilty in South Bay Basketball Star's Shooting Death

HARBOR CITY, CA - Three men pleaded not guilty Friday in the March 2014 shooting death of a former Narbonne High School basketball standout in Harbor City.

David Lee Allen, 30, Khalif Azon Ferguson, 31, and Ferguson's cousin, Jasper Ferguson, 22, are charged with one count of murder -- along with gang and gun allegations -- for the March 5, 2014 killing of Shailo Leafa, as well as two counts of attempted murder involving two other people who were with Leafa.

Khalif Ferguson is additionally charged with one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.

Leafa was sitting with two friends in a parking lot in the 25800 block of South Western Avenue, near 259th Street in Harbor City, when three men approached on foot and fired several rounds, striking Leafa and one other person, police said.

Leafa died a short time later after being taken to a hospital, authorities said.

The point guard was the Los Angeles City Section's 2010-11 Division II Player of the Year, helping lead Narbonne to the Division II championship. He later played at Fresno City College.

Allen and Khalif Ferguson were arrested April 28 by Los Angeles police, while Jasper Ferguson was taken into custody May 3.

The three are due back in a Long Beach courtroom July 12.

--City News Service. photo courtesy of the Leafa family