Shots Fired Call Leads Officers To Dead Body

Los Angeles: Hollywood Area Detectives are investigating the shooting incident that led to the death of a 60 year-old male White.

On Monday, September 22, 2003, at about 3:50 p.m., patrol officers from Hollywood Area Division responded to a radio call of shots fired in the 1600 block of North Fuller Avenue. Upon the officers’ arrival, they were informed that witnesses had heard several shots fired from the fourth floor in the 7300 block of Hawthorne Avenue. The officers responded to the apartment complex and made their way to the fourth floor. As the officers walked down the hallway, they observed a male Hispanic exit one of the apartments with a black plastic bag. The male acted surprised and immediately went back into the apartment. The officers knocked on the door and announced that they were police officers. The male exited the apartment and the officers noted that he had several fresh wounds to his face. When the officers conducted a check of the apartment, they discovered the lifeless body of a 60 year-old male White.

Los Angeles Fire Department personnel responded and pronounced him dead at the scene. Subsequent investigation revealed that the victim’s death was the result of blunt force trauma and gunshot wounds. The victim’s identity is being withheld pending the notification of his family.

The suspect has been identified as 33 year-old Joe Ventura Garcia, a resident of Venice. He has been booked for murder without bail. The case is to be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for filing on Wednesday, September 24, 2003.

Anyone with information regarding this crime, detectives can be contacted directly at 213-485-6410, or a message may be left on the Hollywood Area Tip Line at 213-485-9168. On weekends and during off-hours, please call the 24-hour toll free number at the Detective Information Desk, 877-529-3855, 1-877-LAWFULL.

This press release was prepared by Public Information Officer Adriana N. Sanchez, Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.