Los Angeles: On Saturday, July 31, 2004, at approximately 10:30 p.m., Los Angeles Fire Department Personnel responded to a call of a traffic collision in the 1700 block of Garfield Place, in Hollywood. When the Fire Department arrived, they discovered the driver of the vehicle involved in the collision had sustained what appeared to be gunshot wounds. The driver was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead at 11:20 p.m.

During the investigation, Hollywood officers and detectives found that the driver had been shot while parked in the 1800 block of Garfield Place. After he was shot, the driver sped away toward Hollywood Boulevard, coming to a stop after colliding with numerous parked cars in the 1700 block of Garfield Place. Witnesses indicated that two additional people were in the vehicle with the victim. Those persons, a male and a female, were seen exiting the vehicle after it stopped, and then running from the scene on foot.

The victim has been identified as Ceferino Perez Ortiz, 56 years-of-age, a resident of Pacoima.

No motive for the shooting has been established at this time. Detectives are very interested in locating the persons who were with Mr. Ortiz at the time of the shooting. They are not considered suspects at this time, but are believed to be the only ones who can shed light on this crime.

Anyone with information regarding this crime may contact the Hollywood Detectives at 213-972-2910, or 213-972-2911.

This news release was prepared by the Los Angeles Police Department’s Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.