One of Los Angeles' best high school running backs was shot to death and killed Sunday night in what area police are calling a random act of gang violence.

Jamiel Andre Shaw Jr., a 17-year old junior at Los Angeles High, was walking home from a trip to an area mall, when he was confronted by two men in a car, who reportedly asked him, "Where you from?," a phrase that police say is code for "What gang do you belong to?"

When Shaw didn't respond, police said the men opened fire on him, striking him multiple times. His body was found a few yards from his home and he was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Shaw, who was nicknamed "Jazz," ran for 1,052 yards last season, averaging more than 14 yards a carry, with 10 touchdowns. He earned his league's Most Valuable Player honors and had reportedly received letters of interest recently from Rutgers and Stanford, among other schools.

Jazz's mother, Army Staff Sgt. Anita Shaw was returning home Monday from a second tour of duty in Iraq to help plan her son's funeral.