RACIAL ROLE SEEN IN SLAYING.

Byline: Greg Botonis Staff Writer

LANCASTER - Sheriff's officials are blaming racial tension for the shooting death of one Antelope Valley College football player and the wounding of another after they showed up at a Norwalk party attended by gang members.

Kevin Morris, 20, was killed and Jerome Wright, 21, wounded after a fight broke out in the front yard of the home as the host was closing down the party because of their presence, deputies said.

``Everything that we can derive from this at this point was that it was all racially motivated,'' sheriff's Lt. Ray Peavy said. ``The information we have is that these two came to the party with no attitude, just to have a good time, and the others that were there didn't want them there because of their race.''

Morris and Wright are African-American and the party crowd - about 200 people - was predominantly Latino, deputies said. Morris and Wright heard about the party at another party, and went there with eight or nine friends, one white and the rest African-American, deputies said.

``It breaks my heart to think that this young man and other young people loose their lives ... through a senseless act,'' said AVC President Dr. Daniel Larios. ``My heart goes out to the friends and family of this young man.''

Deputies said the fight started in the home's front yard as the party was breaking up and a group of Latino men confronted Morris and Wright. Other Marauder football team members joined the fight, and a man drew a revolver and fired at least six shots, hitting Wright and Morris, deputies said.

The shooting occurred about 12:50 a.m. Sunday. Morris died at a hospital from gunshot wounds to the upper torso, and Wright was treated for a gunshot wound to his left arm.

The gunman, who investigators believe may be a member of a Norwalk gang, drove off in a sport utility vehicle after the shooting and was being sought Monday.

Morris and Wright were about to begin their second season with the Marauders today, the first official day of practice. Both were graduates of Highland High School and had earned All-Golden League honors during their senior season.

Morris was a defensive back for the team and was majoring in history. He had started as a running back but shifted to defensive backfield late in the season when AVC needed the help in the secondary. His first game after the switch he made eight tackles, six of them solos, both Marauder highs for the game. Morris had played four years for the Bulldogs, four years of basketball and competed in two years of track.

Wright, a wide receiver who last year broke a 22-year-old AVC record with 46 receptions in a season, is majoring in fire science. He is only five receptions from breaking the Marauder career record of 50. Wright had been honored at AVC as Foothill Conference Player of the Week and State Player of the Week by the JC Athletic Bureau.

Head football coach Brent Carder said the loss is devastating to the coaches and the players. Carder noted that, with a lot of returning players, this year's team was especially close-knit.

``It's true that we have lost a football player in Kevin Morris, but what hurts the most is that we lost the type of person he was,'' Carder said in a statement released by the college.

The college, which starts fall classes next week, has arranged for counselors to be available on campus to help people deal with their grief.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1) MORRIS

(2) WRIGHT