Detectives Travel to Colorado to Assume Custody of Murder Suspect

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, July 22, 1999
On Friday, March 24, 1999 at 4:10 a.m., the Los Angeles City Fire Department responded to a car fire on the 170 freeway at Roscoe Blvd in Foothill Area. Further investigation revealed that inside the burning vehicle was the deceased victim, Lisa Kerr. Detectives investigation lead them to an estranged boyfriend, Donald Lewis Brooks Jr. who had fled the area the day of the murder. On April 7, 1999, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office issued a warrant for Brooks for the murder of Lisa Kerr.

On July 21, 1999, a local Colorado Springs television station ran a profile of Brooks on their "crime stoppers" segment of their news. Within minutes of the program airing, the Colorado Springs Police Department received telephonic tips on where the suspect was. Colorado Springs Homicide Detectives responded to a location in their City and took the suspect into custody without incident. Found at the suspect’s residence in Colorado Springs was his plumbing van. The plumbing van had been parked at his residence in Van Nuys for several days after the murder and then was subsequently missing from the location.

Foothill Homicide Detectives are enroute to Colorado Springs to interview witnesses, collect evidence and bring the suspect back to Los Angeles.

Contacts at Foothill Division are:
Captain Ken Garner
Detective Lindy Gligorijevic
Rick Gonzales
818-834-3115

Note: Investigating Officers are leaving for Colorado the afternoon of July 22, 1999, if you have any questions please call before then or page at 818-316-5007.

Original Press Release dated April 12, 1999

For Release 1:40 pm PDT
July 22, 1999