Female Found Stabbed to Death at a Bus Bench NR15071nv

Los Angeles: Los Angeles Police Department 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) responsible for the murder of 41-year-old Najat Pennell.

On February 28, 2015, around 9:20 a.m., Olympic Area patrol officers received a radio call of an ambulance death investigation at the bus bench located in the 4000 block of Wilshire Boulevard. When the officers arrived, they met with Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics who directed them to Ms. Pennell who was found by citizens on the bus bench with unknown injuries.

Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics pronounced Ms. Pennell dead at scene. Paramedics believed Ms. Pennell had been dead for hours before being discovered by citizens.

The Los Angeles County Coroner’s office investigated the case and completed an autopsy report, which revealed Ms. Pennell was stabbed. The cause of death was subsequently determined to be a homicide.

According to detectives Ms. Pennell had been homeless for several years and frequently slept at the bus bench located at Wilshire Boulevard and Norton Avenue. The suspect(s) have not been identified and no weapons have been recovered. The motive for this crime is unknown. Detectives are asking for any motorists or pedestrians, who were in the area and might have seen anything suspicious in the late night hours of Friday, February 27, 2015 or early morning on Saturday, February 28, 2015, to please contact investigators.

Anyone with information is urged to 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 (1-877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to www.lapdonline.org, and click on “Anonymous Web Tips.”