Drug-related Fatal Shooting in Sylmar NR12354pv

Los Angeles.  LAPD detectives are asking the public’s help in providing any clues related to a fatal shooting that occurred at 15808 Roxford Street around 2:45 p.m. this afternoon, July 25, 2012, where a 25-year-old Hispanic man was shot.

“It appears this was either a drug-deal-gone-bad, or a drug rip-off,” said Lt. Paul Vernon, commanding officer of the Mission Detective Division.  “There is history at this house for drug trafficking and home-invasion robberies.  Unfortunately today, one person died.”

About one year ago, police investigated a home invasion robbery at the property where drugs and money were the apparent motive behind the crime.  

Today, witnesses reported seeing three men in a silver Mercedes Benz stop at the driveway in front of the house, which has two large entry gates guarding the driveway.  Other witnesses heard gunfire and saw a man stagger from the property, then collapse a few hundred feet away on Telfair Avenue.  The Mercedes sped away quickly after the gunfire.  That man was a resident at the property, which included a duplex and several horse stables.

Paramedics took the man to Holy Cross Hospital where he later died.

Police quickly searched the property for more victims or hiding suspects, then backed out pending a search warrant.  “Officers saw two bricks of cocaine sitting in plain sight on a trunk in one of the stables,” Lt. Vernon explained.  “That was enough to explain what was going on here, especially with the prior history at the house.”

Police detained several other residents of the property for questioning on the shooting and other goings-on at the property.  Once a search warrant is in hand, detectives will carefully search the property for evidence of the shooting, guns, and more narcotics.

“In addition to the usual criminal investigation in these cases, we will also pursue other avenues to mitigate this problem location,” Lt. Vernon said.  “There were kids’ toys and clothes in the yard, and the buildings did not look like they were constructed by code, so this might give the county and the city a way to intervene with social workers to protect the children and perhaps abate the property so we can eliminate this nuisance once and for all.  If this is a rental, the landlord can be held accountable to make changes.”

Anyone with information on this crime is urged to call Mission Homicide detectives, at 213-838-9976.
During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247).   Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).  Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to www.lapdonline.org, and click on "Anonymous Web Tips.”