Assault Suspect Takes His Own Life

Los Angeles:  A suspect who had threatened to kill his girlfriend and himself, hours later followed through with one of those threats and was discovered dead from a self inflicted gunshot wound.

On April 13, 2009, at around 12:30 a.m., Northeast Officers were called to the 5400 block of Baltimore Street to investigate a domestic violence incident.  The victim, a 24-year-old woman, told Officer’s that her estranged boyfriend and father of her two children had held her against her will at his residence in the 6100 block of Strickland Avenue for nearly two hours.  He was identified as Joaquin Salgado, 28 years of age.

Salgado had lured the victim to the Strickland Avenue address by telling her she could pick up their children there.  When she arrived she discovered the two children were at a different location.  Salgado would not allow the woman to leave, physically assaulted her and pointed a gun at her head, threatening to kill them both.

The victim was able to persuade Salgado to take her to his parent’s home in the 6100 block of Mesa Avenue to retrieve the children.  Once there, the victim told Salgado’s parent’s that Salgado had a gun.  As the parent’s tried to talk to Salgado, the victim was able to escape in her vehicle and return home where she called police.

At around 2:40 a.m. Officers found Salgado’s car parked at his residence on Strickland Avenue, leading the Officer’s to believe he was inside.  Because of the fact that Salgado was armed, the Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) responded.  After repeated and unsuccessful attempts to make contact with Salgado, the SWAT team made entry into the residence at around 9:30 a.m. and found Salgado dead in one of the bedrooms from a self inflicted gunshot wound.

The victim was treated and released for injuries she sustained during her ordeal.

Salgado was found to be an employee of the City of Los Angeles who worked as a custodian at LAPD’s Olympic Area Station.

Northeast Area Homicide Detectives are conducting the investigation.  Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Johnneen Jones at 213-847-5454.  During off-hours, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (527-3247).  Callers may also text "Crimes" with a cell phone or log on to www.lapdonline.org and click on Web tips. When using a cell phone, all messages should begin with "LAPD."  Tipsters may remain anonymous.