Felony Hit and Run Suspect Caught and Charged with Murder

May 8, 2000

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Sunday, May 7, 2000

"Felony Hit and Run Suspect Caught and Charged with Murder"

Los Angeles – On May 6, 2000, at approximately 4:30 pm, a 1992 Lincoln, containing one occupant, was eastbound on Martin Luther King Boulevard approaching Dalton Avenue when it was struck on the passenger side by a newer model silver Plymouth that was being driven by a lone male. The suspect in the Plymouth made no attempt to stop or identify himself and drove away at a high rate of speed eastbound on Martin Luther King Boulevard.

Seconds later, the same silver Plymouth was involved in a second collision with a 1991 Mustang containing three occupants. According to the occupants of the Mustang, the suspect driving the Plymouth purposely crossed over several lanes of traffic and struck their vehicle. Again the suspect made no effort to stop and identify himself and continued to drive at a high rate of speed eastbound on Martin Luther King Boulevard and failed to stop for at least one red light.

The suspects vehicle then turned southbound on Vermont Avenue and proceeded at a high rate of speed on the wrong side(N/B) of Vermont Avenue failing to stop for the red light at 42nd street. The suspects vehicle then collided head on with a 1974 Volkswagen, which contained two female occupants. As a result of the collision, the Volkswagen burst into flames and was thrust into a southbound direction and collided with a 1996 Ford Escort which was traveling northbound. The suspects vehicle also caught on fire and came to rest in the middle of the roadway. Several officers from Southwest Division arrived at the scene and attempted to remove the suspect from his vehicle. The suspect fought with the officers before he was able to be taken into custody. These officers sustained minor injuries and were treated and released from a local area hospital.

The driver of the volkswagen, as a result of the injuries sustained in the collision, died at the scene. The passenger was transported to a local hospital to receive treatment for injuries, but failed to respond to treatment and died on May 7, 2000, at 5:10 am.

The suspect has been identified as Kenneth Lamont Forward, 36 years of age, and was taken to 77th area jail and booked for Murder. It was also determined that he was under the influence of PCP. For additional information on this incident, contact Detective Bill Whittaker, Officer-in-Charge of South Traffic Detectives, at 323-290-6063

For Release 2:00 pm PDT
May 8, 2000