Top Notch Recording Studio Arson NR18113ti

Los Angeles: On April 14, 2018, around 7:00 a.m., Los Angeles City Fire Department. responded to a structure fire at Top Notch Recording Studios located near the 3700 block of Cahuenga Boulevard in Studio City. Upon extinguishing the fire, Fire Department personnel removed four victims from the fire. Two of those victims were pronounced dead at scene. They were identified as 28-years-old Devaughn Carter, and 30-years-old Michael Pollard. Both were residents of Los Angeles.

Robbery-Homicide Division detectives responded to the scene and assumed investigative responsibility for the investigation. During the investigation, detectives identified 28-year-old Efrem Zimbalist Demery Jr. as the suspect.

April 14, 2018, at 7:30 p.m., CHP Officers located Demery’s vehicle near the area of Willowbrook in Los Angeles where he was taken custody.

The case will be presented to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office for filing considerations.

Anyone with additional information is urged to call are Detectives Martin Mojarro and Greg Stearns, Robbery-Homicide Division, Homicide Special Section at (213) 486-6890. 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 the L.A. 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 L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.