10952 Wilmington Ave., Watts, in 2012, as shown in Google Street View. Two two-story residences were built on the property in 2014.

April 17, 1947: LAPD detectives have three men reenact the killing of liquor store owner Louis de Ciodda, who was killed March 1. Although it may sound unusual, having suspects reenact crimes was a typical procedure in the 1940s.

Ultimately, five men were charged as part of ring that killed Di Ciodda, shot two LAPD officers outside the Rum Boogie Club at 1751 1/3 E. 103rd Place and robbed two taxi drivers, the Sentinel said. In August 1947, Campbell and Harrison were sentenced to death in the killing and Dabb was given a life sentence. According to the Sentinel, Di Ciodda was shot in the back during a robbery and again in the chest after he collapsed on the floor.

The killing was apparently not covered by the Los Angeles Times.

(Note: 1751 E. 103rd Place appears to be a residential neighborhood, according to Google Street View. The location of the Rum Boogie Club will have to be determined by a researcher with more time than I have).

Photo 1. Claybourne “Snooks” Campbell stands in the doorway of the liquor store.

Photo 2: Campbell, Joel Harrison and James Dabb stand between LAPD officers leaving the crime scene.

Photo 3: From left, LAPD Detectives H.H. Mitchell, Bergman, Phelps and Marty Wynn. Marty Wynn was a Homicide Division veteran and served as a technical consultant on “He Walked by Night.” It was a conversation between Wynn and Jack Webb on the set of that movie, on Hollywood’s inaccurate portrayal of police, that gave Webb the idea for “Dragnet.”

Photo 4: Another view of the store from across Wilmington.

Photo 5: Campbell and Harrison behind the camera.

Photo 6: From left, LAPD Detective H.H. Mitchell and Officer Roy Phelps, who was wounded March 17, outside the Rum Boogie Club.

Photo 7: Wynn with Dabb (in dark shirt, not visible in this image) and Harrison.