The African-American law student who was assassinated on a busy New York City street worked as a drug courier and was assassinated after a large sum of money that he was carrying was confiscated by police in California

Brandon Woodard, 31, flew to New York from his home in Los Angeles to try to smooth things over with his angry bosses. Instead, he was coldly executed in Midtown Manhattan in broad daylight. New York police say that they are closing in on the men responsible for Woodard's death. They have identified the getaway driver and detectives currently searching for him. Woodard had been carrying tens of thousands of dollars that was meant for drug dealers New York. Somehow, the cash was confiscated by police in California and the dealers still wanted their money. Woodard, 31, was the son of wealthy businesswoman and attended top private schools. He has been arrested 20 times - including for robbery and cocaine possession. Woodard grew up in privilege in Los Angeles. His mother, Sandra Wellington owns the once-successful United International Mortgage. Other family members are well-connected lawyers and entrepreneurs. Wellington is married to the ex-boyfriend of former soap star Tonya Pinkins, who claims that the family is involved in criminal business dealings. Woodard attended the private Campbell Hall high school, where he was a star basketball player. He was a member of the exclusive invitation-only Jack and Jill of America society, which caters to upper-class black families. For college, he went to Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, a $55,000-per-year private school. Family members say that he was a second-year law student at the University of West Los Angeles School of Law, another private school. Woodard also had a lengthy criminal record - at least 20 arrests. He was arrested several times for stealing from upscale grocery stores - including in 2009 when he was arrested for robbery after struggling with a guard. He also had cocaine arrests. In the summer of 2012, Wellington's company, United International Mortgage, had its lending power revoked by California regulators. The company is also the target of numerous lawsuits alleging fraud and breach of contract.