Kidnapper Murders Parents and Ex-Girlfriend

 
Los Angeles: On Friday, January 14, 2005, at around 12:15 a.m., officers from the Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) Southeast Division, responded to the 700 block of West Imperial Highway, to investigate the report of a double homicide. At the location, were Gable and Mary Vick who were dead as a result of multiple gunshot wounds.
Later, the same day, at around 7:45 a.m., 29 year-old, Tesha Collins, a teacher’s assistant at the Hooper Early Education Center located in the 1200 block of East 52nd Street, was kidnapped at gunpoint by her former boyfriend, 23 year-old Joshua Vick. Joshua Vick and Tesha Collins left the location in a 1996, teal green 4-door Pontiac Grand-AM with tinted windows.
Detectives investigating the kidnapping later determined that the victims of the double homicide were the parents of kidnap suspect Joshua Vick. Since Suspect Vick was wanted for kidnapping and questioning in the death of his parents, and two robberies, one armed, in the South Los Angeles Area, LAPD Detectives worked feverishly to locate Joshua Vick and Tesha Collins.
On Saturday, January 15, 2005, at around 8:45 a.m., Southeast officers received a radio call that the suspect may be in the area of 101st Street and Main Street . Officer Williams, a 14-year veteran with the LAPD and Officer Livesey, a recent academy graduate, responded to the location and saw the suspect’s vehicle. The officers followed the suspect’s vehicle northbound on Main Street to 88th Place . Officer Williams was joined by Officer Lopez, a 9-year veteran on the Los Angeles Police Department, Officer An, with 4-months on the Department and Officer Pinzon, a 16-year veteran. For unknown reasons the suspect stopped the car and initially followed the officer’s orders by exiting the vehicle. Again, for reasons yet to be determined, Suspect Vick dove back into the car. Ms. Collins attempted to exit the car but was struck by gunfire from within the vehicle.
After witnessing shots fired from within the vehicle an officer involved shooting occurred. The suspect was wounded in the leg and transported to a local hospital. Evidence obtained from within the vehicle indicates that Tesha Collins was shot and killed by kidnap/murder suspect Joshua Vick.
No LAPD officers were injured during the incident. Robbery Homicide Division is handling the murder and kidnap investigation and Force Investigation Division is handling the officer involved shooting.
This news advisory was prepared by the Los Angeles Police Department’s Media Relations Section, at 213-485-3586.