The Halloween Murder of Actor Anthony Dwain Lee | Horrorwood: True Crime in Tinseltown

CW: This episode focuses on the death of an innocent Black man at the hands of the LAPD

A Beverly Hills mansion, Halloween weekend, a costume party...all the ingredients for what should have been a fun and celebratory evening. And for Anthony Lee, it did start out that way. He was on top of the world having just wrapped an acting role on NBC's "ER" as well as becoming a leader in the Buddhist organization he'd been a part of for many years. But what began as an evening partying with friends ended with Anthony dead on the floor and conflicting reports as to what exactly happened.

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Episode Sources:

“Investigators: An Unexpected Turn” by David Kohn, 48 Hours, October 23, 2002

“Friends, Family Share Farewells for Slain Actor” by Nancy Vogel, LA Times, November 19, 2000

“Can-Do Guy -- Actor Anthony Lee Won't Let Any Obstacle Stand In The Way Of His Dream” by Misha Berson, The Seattle Times, October 14, 1993

“Anthony Lee's life was short, meaningful” by Misha Berson, The Seattle Times, October 31, 2000

“Friends outraged over police killing of Halloween partygoer” by Judy Lin, Herald-Journal, p. A-2, October 30, 2000

“Police Release Details of Party Shooting” by Josh Meyer, Sue Fox and Kurt Streeter, LA Times, October 31, 2000

“Officer’s Bullets Hit Actor in Back, Autopsy Finds” by Jeffrey L. Rabin, Kurt Streeter and Jean Merl, LA Times, December 5, 2000

“$100 Million Sought in Shooting of Actor” by Kurt Streeter, LA Times, December 12, 2000

“Accord Reached in Police Slaying” by Steve Berry, LA Times, February 6, 2003

“LAPD officer shoots, kills actor at party” by Bill Higgins, Variety, October 29, 2000