An 18-year-old football player from Harbor City’s Narbonne High School was shot dead Sunday night at a Compton restaurant. His friends were planning a vigil for him at 7 tonight near the restaurant, on Rosecrans Avenue near Central Avenue.

Dannie Farber Jr., an All-City receiver who helped Narbonne earn a co-City Section championship this fall, was eating at a Louisiana Fried Chicken in the 1900 block of Rosecrans Avenue when he was killed. He was set to graduate June 19.

"He was sitting there eating dinner with some girl," said Coach Manuel Douglas. "They walked in and shot him four times." Farber died of multiple wounds to his torso.

Sgt. David Infante of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said today that homicide detectives were investigating the shooting, which occurred at 9:39 p.m.

Douglas said Farber had made "a lot of big plays." He caught a 4-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter in a city semifinal playoff game that rallied the Gauchos to a 25-24 victory over Crenshaw High School and enabled the team to reach the championship game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

"He was a real good kid," said assistant coach Byron Moore Sr., who had known Farber since coaching him in youth football. "He wasn’t involved in any gang. It’s a tragic loss. He was always full of energy."

-- Eric Sondheimer and Martha Groves

Photo: Breealle Hollyfield, Laporsche Croom, and Laquioa Joseph mourn outside the restaurant where Dannie Farber was killed.



Credit: Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times