Dispute Over Dog Leaves Transient Dead

"Dispute Over Dog Leaves Transient Dead"
 

Los Angeles: On Friday, January 17, 2003, at approximately 10:45 p.m., Van Nuys Patrol Officers responded to a radio call, "Battery Just Occurred" at the 14600 block of Ventura Boulevard. At the location, officers found the victim, David Heino, a 36 year-old male White transient from the Van Nuys Area, suffering from a head injury.
Los Angeles Fire Department Paramedics responded and transported Heino to a local hospital. Due to the severity of his injuries, Heino was then transported to Martin Luther King Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery for cerebral bleeding. Heino did not recover from his injuries and died on Sunday, February 2, 2003.
The suspect, Nikoali Burkart, a 33 year-old male White transient from the Van Nuys Area, was arrested on Tuesday, February 4, 2003, for the murder of David Heino.
The motive for the physical altercation between the victim and suspect was a dispute over the suspect’s dog and how the victim was manhandling the dog.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Van Nuys Homicide Unit at 818-756-8377. On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at the Detective Information Desk, 1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855).
This press release was prepared by Public Information Officer Adriana N. Sanchez, Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.