Merlin Santana

[FastNFancy]

REST IN PEACE

Actor Merlin Santana Killed

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Merlin Santana, a television and film actor who appeared in this year's Eddie Murphy (news) 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 (news) 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 (news) drama "Under One Roof."

I have more to say on this later...I'm just too upset now.

[SeainDennis]

Oh my goodness! What is this world coming to? First, Johnny Griffith's untimely death yesterday now, this. This is so sad. I remember this young man from the shows that you mentioned in the article. I hope the LAPD gets on the job & find the killers. This is just awful. It seems as though, more & more young people are losing their lives to senseless violence. Something needs to be done.

[FastNFancy]

Lord, have murcy, this gets sadder by the minute! Sounds like some sort of heartbreak took place. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned!

LOS ANGELES -- Police arrested a woman Monday in connection with the killing of 26-year-old actor Merlin Santana, gunned down early Saturday in South Central Los Angeles.
Authorities took the suspect, whose name was not immediately available, into custody early Monday morning, said Los Angeles police Lt. Horace Frank.


"The investigation is ongoing, and no further comment will be given at this time," Frank said.

Santana, who lived in North Hollywood, was fatally shot about 2:45 a.m. Saturday as he sat in a parked vehicle in the 3800 block of Victoria Avenue, according to an earlier LAPD statement.

After the shooting, the driver of the vehicle drove to Crenshaw and Exposition boulevards, where he flagged down passing patrol officers. Santana was pronounced dead at the scene.

Santana had appeared in a number of TV shows, including "The Cosby Show," "NYPD Blue" and "The Steve Harvey Show." Recently he was in the movie "Showtime" with Robert De Niro and Eddie Murphy.

[Duchess]

I can't take this killing anymore! And seeing that picture of Merlin ((CP)) posted has really got me seriously bummed out

Something about Merlin reminds me of Christian Payton.

R.I.P. Merlin Santana [/b]

It will be awhile before I can watch the reruns of "The Steve Harvey Show" again - it's just too painful right now. I hate senseless death

Later

[Duchess]

...And the story keeps unfolding:

www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200%257E20954%257E985025,00.html

Later.

[FastNFancy]

I really would like to know what brought this senselessness on??? From the looks of it, it seems something very petty escalated to a murder. A teenage girl, with her whole life ahead of her is now doomed because of her foolish actions and relationship with some thugs, no doubt. Was it really that serious??? All I can say is Lord Have Mercy!

[Duchess]

I don't know if it's heartbreak because the accounts that I've read said that Merlin had just met this teenage girl. How much heartbreak can take place in a couple of hours? Anyway, remember when sistahs would catch their men cheating or whatever and just shoot him in the ass? (if it escalated THAT far). Now, they are shooting to kill (or having someone else do it). Merlin was shot in the head! I just really want to know the whole story. I'm just left thinking about what was going through Merlin's head right before it happened. Was there an argument? Did he know, or have any idea, that he was in such grave danger? He must have been so scared when he saw the gun I just have this imagined picture of his face right before he died and he looks so scared (like a deer caught in headlights). I can't get that imagined picture outta my head. I feel so bad for his mama; his family.

Later

[FastNFancy]

Duchess...I thought maybe it might be heartbreak when they announced that a young woman was arrested in connection with the shooting. Since I posted that, it was later announced that the young woman was a teenager. Previous accounts had her listed as 26 as well. I just thought ...just maybe...it was some heartbreak involved. Now the story is she had just met him earlier that night...she was supposed to meet them at this location...then she came out of the house with two men. Now, I am inclined to believe that it was just plain hateration. It is said that the police are keeping quiet about the investigation. I can understand them not wanting to release too much information, but giving out bits and pieces to the public is a bit frustrating to the public because we all are interested in what really happened. I know it could not have been bad enough to take Merlin's life. Somehow, when the truth comes out, I know it is going to be over something stupid!
I, too feel bad for his family. I cannot fathom the hurt his mother is going thru, especially after she made the effort to keep him out of the streets. My prayers are definitely with her!