2000 Silverlake Homicide

Above, the far back building above was where the homicide took place.

In-between insurance claims jobs, I often worked as an armed security patrol officer back in the 1990s and the following occurred during my last stint.

I was working a "dedicated area" consisting of the Silverlake area of Los Angeles, in the Rampart Division area of the L.A.P.D. for Protection One.

I received a radio call about a disturbance at the Hollywood Inn Express motor lodge. I was told to see the motel manager first upon arrival.

When I arrived, he told me that a man and a woman came and told him that someone was shot in a room in the far back building. Immediately, my gut feeling was that the police should be immediately notified. I told him to call the police and I would keep the room under surveillance until they arrived. I also notified my dispatcher.

When the police went into the room, I followed and saw the girl's body on the bathroom floor of the room.

The following is a Los Angeles Police Department press release:

Rampart Homicide Detectives are investigating the shooting death of a Hispanic female, 15 years of age. The victim was discovered shot to death inside room number 134 of the Hollywood Inn Express South Motel located at 141 North Alvarado Street, Los Angeles. The victim was discovered by Rampart Patrol Officers responding to an "Assault with a Deadly Weapon" call on Wednesday, January 26, 2000, at approximately 4:00 am.  

The victim was found lying on the floor in a pool of blood. Paramedics pronounced the victim dead at the scene.  

The investigation revealed the victim, two witnesses( a male and female Hispanic), along with the suspect checked into the motel at approximately 2:30 am on Wednesday, January 26, 2000. At approximately 3:30 am, the male witness went down to the night window and informed the clerk that someone had been shot inside the room. The witnesses then fled. The police and paramedics were notified. While the officers were at the scene, the witnesses returned and identified themselves.  

The suspect and the male witness met the victim and the female witness at a nightclub. When the club closed they decided to continue the party at the motel. While inside the room the victim and the suspect became involved in an argument. During the argument the suspect produced a handgun and fired multiple rounds at the victim. The victim was struck numerous times about the body. The suspect then fled on foot.  

The suspect is described as a male, Hispanic, 5'6" to 5'7" tall. 110 to 120 pounds, 22 to 25 years of age. He has a thin build, dark complexion, and short hair. He was wearing a dark checkered shirt, black pants and white shoes.  

The suspect fled the scene taking the murder weapon with him. The cause of the argument has not been established. The identity of the victim is being withheld pending the notification of the next of kin. 

This wasn't the first "187" (penal code for homicide) I was involved in. Previously, I was flagged down by a man who came across a male gang victim lying in the middle of Dronfield Ave. in the Shadow Hills area of the San Fernando Valley. 

To date, I don't know if either cases were solved and the killers were prosecuted.