Man Stabbed to Death during Downtown Street Fight NR11157pv

Los Angeles:  LAPD Central Area Detectives are asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspects seen fighting with a man early Wednesday morning, April 13, 2011, near the Chase Bank building in downtown Los Angeles.  The victim, a man in his forties with a full beard, was stabbed at least one time and died on the sidewalk.

According to a witness, three men were fighting near the alcove of the Chase bank around 2 a.m. The two men, who appeared to be Black, ran away, carrying trash bags, leaving the victim lying on the sidewalk.  It is unknown whether the incident was a robbery or just a dispute.

A security guard from another building discovered the body just before 4 a.m., when the guard approached the bank’s ATM.  Fire department paramedics pronounced the victim dead where he lay about 100 feet from the bank’s door.

Detectives will comb over video footage from the bank’s ATM lobby and other cameras in the area to help identify the two men seen beating on the victim.  The Chase Bank building is located at 855 South Hill Street.

The victim appeared to be a transient.  At the time of this release, no identification had been found.  The victim’s name will be released once his family has been notified.

This is the fourth homicide this year in the downtown area.  Two incidents that occurred last year were ruled as homicides this year: a man who died weeks after a beating in Skid row around Christmas time; and the Jane Doe found in the recycle center last September.  The last murder and the only one to occur in 2011, was the shooting of a vocational teacher by his student on February 23, 2011.  

“I’m confident we will solve this,” Lt. Vernon explained.  “Someone on the street knows what happened, and time and again, we see persons come forward with tips that break tough cases like this one wide open.”

Anyone with information on this crime is urged to call Detective Al Marengo, Central Homicide Unit, at 213-972-1249.  Anonymous tips can be called into Crimestoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477), or by texting 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”  Online tips may be placed at www.LAPDOnline.org, click on “webtips” and follow the prompts.