Mum’s heartbreaking tribute to Sydney man Azuma Bennett, 30, murdered in LA

The heartbroken mother of a man gunned down in LA, has spoken of her late son as “beautiful, funny and charismatic” and “the kind of man who was close to his grandmothers”.

A Sydney man murdered on a Los Angeles street had returned to the marijuana dispensary after being turned away a day earlier because he did not have the right ID, in what would ultimately become a sliding doors moment.

Azuma Bennett’s shattered mum has remembered the 30-year-old as “beautiful, funny and charismatic” and “the kind of man who was close to his grandmothers”.

The fitness enthusiast who went to Waverley College was gunned down about 9.45am last Friday near the 3800 block of West Slauson Ave, with the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department now treating it as a homicide.

Mr Bennett, 30, was just weeks away from returning to Australia for the first time in years to visit his mother Victoria Milton.

Ms Milton paid an emotional tribute to her son and told The Daily Telegraph he was “unarmed” at the time of his “senseless murder”.

Sydney man Azuma Bennett (with his father Randy) was shot dead in Los Angeles on Friday. Picture: Facebook

“Azuma was my beautiful, funny, charismatic son and the golden apple of my late husband Randy Bennett’s eye,” she said.

“Azuma had a strong character, positively touching the lives of so many – family, friends, colleagues … plus the youth and children he trained in our Sydney Kung Fu Academy.

Mr Bennett with his beloved dog Keyshia. Picture: Supplied

Images of Azuma Bennett sourced from Facebook.

“Our family ask for privacy while dealing with the shock and tragedy of his senseless murder.

“He was murdered on the street near his home … he was unarmed. The police have not released any other facts as they continue to investigate and search for his killer.”

A crime scene set up outside a marijuana dispensary in West Slauson Ave, Los Angeles, after Mr Bennett was gunned down about 9.45am local time last Friday. Picture: 9 News

Mr Bennett was found by emergency services lying in the doorstep of the marijuana dispensary between La Brea Ave and Crenshaw Boulevard.

Friends mourning his death in Sydney said they had been told he visited the same dispensary - which is legal in California - on Thursday, but was unable to enter.

A GoFundMe set up to help Ms Milton return her son’s body to Australia has raised almost $30,000. Picture: Facebook

When he returned a day later he was tragically murdered.

Investigators in Los Angeles are understood to have been in regular contact with Mr Bennett’s family in Australia, keeping them up to date with their hunt for his killer.

Employees at Fortunes Gym where Mr Bennett had been working and training while in the United States have also been in contact with family in Australia to offer their assistance.

A GoFundMe set up to help Ms Milton return her son’s body to Australia has raised almost $30,000.