Sydney man Azuma Bennett, 30, shot dead in Los Angeles

Azuma Bennett was tragically shot dead outside a Los Angeles marijuana dispensary last Friday— with local sheriffs treating his death as murder.

A Sydney man has been shot dead in Los Angeles in a shocking incident that local investigators are treating as a homicide.

Azuma Bennett grew up in Sydney but had spent the past two-and-a-half years living in the United States, before he was tragically gunned down outside a marijuana dispensary in West Slauson Ave about 9.45am local time last Friday.

The 30-year-old fitness enthusiast, who was only weeks away from coming home to visit family, has been remembered by close friends in Sydney as a “positive person”, who “would walk in and light up a room”.

“No matter how bad your day was, he would walk in and light up a room,” his former Sydney boxing coach Tony Del Vecchio from Bondi Boxing Club said.

Sydney man Azuma Bennett was shot dead in Los Angeles on Friday. Picture: Facebook

“He came to me, one of the boys at the gym brought him in, soon after we opened in 2015 or 2016 and he just became a part of the fabric of the gym.

“He trained young kids, he trained clients, he trained with me.”

Mr Bennett with his father, who passed away in 2017. Picture: Facebook

“He was the guy that gave so much and he’d want you to be happy and do whatever to make you happy.”

“He’s left an indelible mark on this planet.”

Sheriff’s were called to the 3800 block of West Slauson Ave where they found Mr Bennett lying in a doorway, Deputy Brenda Serna of the Sheriff’s Information Bureau told local media.

It is believed he was shot up to eight times and his death is being treated as a homicide.

A memorial, featuring flowers, candles and a pair of boxing gloves, set up at the scene of the shooting in the Californian city. Picture: Supplied

Mr Bennett went to Waverley College and his father was a renowned mixed martial arts expert, who passed away in 2017.

His mother still lives in Sydney and a GoFundMe page to bring his body back to Australia has raised more than $24,000.

A keen boxer, Mr Bennett has been remembered as somebody who “would walk in and light up a room”. Picture: Facebook

“Azuma was one of a kind. An outstanding athlete, fighter, teacher trainer, and friend/mate to so many,” the page organiser Tamara Fortune wrote.

“We lost one of the best ones out there. He did not deserve this.

“He was kind to all that he met and always engaged everyone in the gym with his positive energy and engaging personality.”

Originally published as Sydney man Azuma Bennett, 30, shot dead in Los Angeles