LAPD Wilshire Division Captain Shannon Paulson sent out a message last night confirming local reports of a homicide at the Park La Brea apartment complex yesterday afternoon, but announcing that a suspect was already in custody, and “We are also confident there are no additional suspects directly involved or who remain at large.”
We spoke with Captain Paulson this afternoon, and she provided several more details about the crime.
According to Paulson, the victim was a 50-year-old male maintenance worker at Park La Brea, who was killed about 2:30 p.m. yesterday. Paulson said LAPD officers initially responded to a radio call “for a woman screaming,” and when they arrived at the apartment tower at 300 S. Burnside, they found a bloody knife, and a blood trail in a hallway.  Paulson said the officers followed the trail to a stairwell, where they found the victim…who was later pronouced dead at the scene by Fire Department personnel who were called by the police.
Paulson said the suspect is a 17-year-old male juvenile, so no further identifying information is available. According to Paulson, the suspect does not live at Park La Brea, but was involved in a dispute with a resident of the building where the crime took place, and the suspect arrived yesterday looking for that resident.
Paulson also reported that video evidence from the scene showed the suspect holding the knife that was later found by police, and also shows the suspect possibly holding keys that were taken from the victim. Paulson said the suspect apparently tried to use the keys to open an apartment, but was blocked from doing so and fled the scene. LAPD located the suspect a short time later and he was taken into custody.
Paulson said LAPD detectives will now work with the District Attorney’s office to file appropriate charges. The victim’s family has been notified, but his name has not yet been released to the public.
Update:Â On June 21, the suspect was identified in a Fox11 story as the “boyfriend” of a Park La Brea tenant.
Given the age of the perp & the policies of the current D.A., the perp will almost certainly be tried as a juvenile. Longest he could do is to age out at 25 although far more likely, home on probation. According to reports, that would be near Ridgeley & 9th thus Miracle Mile can look forward to this murderer living in their midst.
Good reporting. Thank you. You help the community
Who is the perpetrator? Why can’t we get more information?
The suspect is a minor. The identities of minors are more protected.