Investigation Into Death in the Pico Union Area NR18006ma

January 12, 2018 Update:

On January 11, 2018, around 8:00 p.m., members of the LAPD-FBI Fugitive Task Force arrested 29-year-old Kevyn Ramirez, a resident of Los Angeles, for the murder of the victim found in the fire in the Pico Union area on January 10, 2018. West Bureau Homicide investigators obtained a search warrant and recovered evidence related to the crime. Ramirez has admitted to investigators that he killed the victim after a dispute.

On January 16, 2018, the case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney for filing consideration. Ramirez is being held on $2,000,000 bail.

This is still an ongoing investigation and the identity of the victim is still pending confirmation from the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office.

The motive for the murder is still under investigation and anyone with additional information is urged to contact West Bureau Homicide at (213)382-9470.

Pico Union: On Wednesday, January 10, 2018, around 3:14 a.m., Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers responded to a radio call of a fight in the 1700 block of South New Hampshire Avenue. Before the officers arrived, the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) received a call to the same location for a structure fire. When the LAFD arrived they found heavy flames burning on the second floor of a two-story, multi-unit residence. The flames were contained to a single unit of the building and were extinguished in about 45 minutes. In the unit where the fire had been, fire fighters found one person. That person was pronounced dead at the scene.

The LAFD determined the fire to be suspicious and LAPD West Bureau Homicide investigators responded to the scene to investigate the death.

The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office responded and will conduct an autopsy. At this time, the decedent cannot be identified. Investigators are aware that a transgender woman lives at the location of the fire. She has not been located and may be the decedent.

The LAPD is asking for the public’s help in identifying the victim and determining the cause of death. Anyone with information regarding the fire death is asked to contact LAPD West Bureau Homicide at (213)382-9470. During non-business hours or on weekends, please contact 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org. Tipsters may also visit www.lapdonline.org, and click on “Anonymous Web Tips” under the “Get Involved-Crime Stoppers” menu to submit an online tip. Lastly, tipsters may also download the “P3 Tips” mobile application and select the LA Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.