BELLFLOWER, Calif. — Two men have been charged with murder in the 2024 killing of active-duty U.S. Marine Peter Chounthala, who was fatally struck by a vehicle after being assaulted and left lying in a roadway, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Damari Kensey, 21, of Long Beach, and Jaymel Williams, 28, of Inglewood, who are cousins, were each charged with one count of murder in case 25BFCF00389. They entered not guilty pleas during arraignments held on June 4 and June 9. Both remain in custody with bail set at $2 million each. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 18 at the Norwalk Courthouse.
The incident occurred on May 28, 2024, shortly before 2 a.m., after Chounthala left a bar in Bellflower. Prosecutors allege that Kensey and Williams followed him outside and assaulted him, leaving him in the middle of Artesia Boulevard’s active traffic lanes. He was then struck by a passing vehicle whose driver fled the scene and remains unidentified. Chounthala was pronounced dead at the scene.
District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman stated, “This brutal and senseless act took the life of a husband, father and Marine who served our country with honor, including tours in Afghanistan and multiple Marine expeditionary units.”
Investigation leads to arrests and murder charges
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department conducted the investigation, resulting in the arrests of Kensey and Williams. Deputy District Attorney Cindy Park of the Norwalk Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
Authorities have not released further details about the motive for the attack or the identity of the hit-and-run driver.
If convicted, both defendants face a maximum sentence of life in state prison.
