During a Black Panther Party meeting at Campbell Hall on the UCLA campus, two prominent members, Bunchy Carter and John Huggins, were shot and killed. The incident was the culmination of mounting tensions between rival factions within the Black Panther Party, particularly between the Los Angeles chapter led by Carter and the national leadership represented by Huggins. The meeting was intended to address internal strife and organize community efforts but instead escalated into violence. Witnesses reported that gunfire erupted after an argument ensued in the auditorium, resulting in the deaths of both leaders, which shocked the party and its supporters.

The killings were indicative of the broader struggles the Black Panther Party faced during this period, including internal conflicts and external pressures from law enforcement agencies. The loss of Carter and Huggins left a significant void in leadership and raised questions about the future of the party. Their deaths were reported widely in the media, sparking discussions about the role of the Black Panthers in the civil rights movement and the increasing violence in gang conflicts in urban areas.

Moreover, the incident drew attention to the ongoing challenges faced by African American communities, with many advocates calling for unity and a clearer focus on social justice issues. The deaths of these leaders marked a notable moment in the party's history, highlighting both the challenges of internal cohesion and the external threats posed by societal conflicts during the civil rights era.