Fatal Multi-Party Argument Ensues in Devonshire Area

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Saturday, February 26, 2000

During the early hours of February 26, 2000, a fatal, multiple-party dispute erupted outside a Reseda bar located near Tampa Avenue and Roscoe Boulevard. A male white suspect, driving a late model full size van was involved in the dispute with several motorcycle riders. The confrontation escalated as the parties continued the disagreement in their respective vehicles near the intersection of Roscoe Blvd. and Reseda Ave. The driver of the van initiated aggressive, evasive driving maneuvers, which led to several collisions with two pick-up trucks and three motorcycles on Reseda Blvd., between Roscoe Blvd. and Parthenia St.
Two male motorcyclist were struck by the van in the 8400 block of Reseda Blvd., and their motorcycles caught fire. Following separate collisions on Reseda near Roscoe Blvd., Chase St., and Parthenia St., the van fled southbound on Roscoe Blvd. Los Angeles Fire Department personnel responded and extinguished the fires. One victim was transported by ambulance to Northridge Hospital, and was pronounced dead at approximately half past midnight, due to massive traffic related injuries. A second victim was transported to Holy Cross Hospital due to moderate traffic related injuries. He remains in stable condition and was subsequently transported to another hospital.

The driver of the van telephonically contacted officers at West Valley Community Police Station at 1000 hours, and subsequently turned himself and the van over to Devonshire Homicide Detectives. His identity is being withheld for investigative purposes and his role in the combined incidents is being determined. The decedent has been identified as Dino Murphone, a 49 year-old resident of San Fernando. Approximately one dozen witnesses were interviewed by Devonshire Homicide Detectives and the investigation is continuing. The cause of the initial dispute and the motivation for the vehicular assaults remain under investigation.

For Release 1:00 pm PST
February 26, 2000