A Man Murdered while Walking His Dog NR22072am

April 28, 2022

***UPDATE***

The Los Angeles Police Department is announcing an arrest in the murder of a 52-year-old, Marco Sandoval, who was walking his dog in Mid-City area.

On Wednesday, April 27, 2022, West Bureau Homicide detectives presented a case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney. A murder charge was filed against 21-year-old, Cliffton Kamal Styles of San Marcos, Texas.

West Bureau Homicide detectives and the FBI Fugitive Task Force developed several leads and coordinated with San Marcos Police Department, to effect the arrest of Styles. San Marcos Police Department arrested Styles at his residence in Texas, early Wednesday evening. Styles was booked in Texas as a fugitive on a murder warrant and will face extradition back to Los Angeles.

Investigators believe that 52-year-old, Marco Sandoval, was randomly targeted, while walking his dog and killed by the suspect. Styles may have been suffering from mental illness and had travelled cross country prior to killing Sandoval in this vicious and unprovoked murder.

Styles was driving a charcoal gray 2020 Ford Fusion SE, with temporary Texas tags. Detectives determined that Styles travelled from San Marcos, Texas and arrived at Florida. Styles then drove cross country from Florida to Los Angeles where he committed the murder on March 12, 2022. Thereafter, he travelled to San Diego, returning to San Marcos, Texas.

Investigators are concerned that Styles could have been involved in other acts of predatory violence.

If anyone has additional information, please contact West Bureau Homicide at (213) 382-9470.

Mid-City: The Los Angeles Police Department’s West Bureau Homicide detectives are asking for the public’s help in providing any information that would lead to the arrest of the suspect(s) involved in the murder of a 52-year-old man walking his dog.

On March 12, 2022, around 5:00 a.m. the victim was walking his dog near the corner of Genesee Avenue and Saturn Street in the Mid-City area, when a dark sedan approached and stopped at the Northwest corner of Genesee Avenue and Saturn Street. The suspect exited the vehicle, exchanged unknown words with the victim, and then fired multiple shots at the victim. The suspect got back into the vehicle and fled Northbound on Genesee Avenue. At around 6:15 a.m., the victim was discovered by a passerby who called 911.

The Los Angeles Fire Department responded and paramedics pronounced the victim dead at scene. The name of the victim is being withheld pending verification of identify and notification of next of kin. The motive for this homicide is unknown.

The dog was uninjured during the incident and returned home on its own.

Anyone with information should contact West Bureau Homicide detectives at (213) 382-9470. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org. Tipsters may also visit www.lapdonline.org and click on “Anonymous Web Tips” under the “Get Involved Crime Stoppers” menu to submit an online tip.

Lastly, tipsters may also download the “P3 Tips” mobile application and select the LA Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.