Arguement Escalates to Murder

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, December 2, 1999
On Wednesday evening, December 1, 1999, at approximately 6:00 P.M., the victim, Charles Elstone Bethea, 25 years old was standing in the area of 500 West 53rd Street in Los Angeles. The suspect(s) who were on foot approached Bethea and confronted him. An argument ensued, which escalated into a shooting incident. Bethea sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his upper torso and subsequently transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

The motive for this shooting is unknown. The suspect(s) and weapon remain outstanding.

77th Street Homicide Detectives Jim Vena and Janell Kessner are conducting the investigation. Anyone with information regarding this incident is requested to call 77th Street Homicide Detectives at 213-485-1383.

For Release 2:15 pm PST
December 2, 1999