Shooting on Driveway Leaves One Dead

Los Angeles: On Saturday, March 23, 2002, at approximately 11:57 p.m., Wilshire Area Community Police Station patrol officers received a radio call of an "Assault with a Deadly Weapon/ Ambulance En Route" on the 900 block of Westmoreland Avenue. Upon their arrival, the officers observed a 25 year-old male Hispanic lying partially on a sidewalk and onto a driveway. The victim, later identified as Mario Roberto Benavides from Los Angeles, succumbed from numerous gunshot wounds to his upper body.
On Saturday, March 23, 2002, at approximately 11:57 p.m., Wilshire Area Community Police Station patrol officers received a radio call of an "Assault with a Deadly Weapon/ Ambulance En Route" on the 900 block of Westmoreland Avenue. Upon their arrival, the officers observed a 25 year-old male Hispanic lying partially on a sidewalk and onto a driveway. The victim, later identified as Mario Roberto Benavides from Los Angeles, succumbed from numerous gunshot wounds to his upper body.
The victim may have been socializing with a group of friends prior to the shooting; however, all possible witnesses dispersed the area before officers arrived. The shooting is possibly gang-related.
There is no additional information regarding the suspects or weapon(s) used.
Anyone with information regarding this shooting should contact Detectives G. Parshall at 213-473-0444, or call the 24-hour toll free number at the Detective Information Desk, 1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855).
This press release was prepared by Public Information Officer Guillermo Campos, Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.