i hope these fuckin youngsters get it in prison
by Richard Winton and Cara Mia DiMassa, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
1:28 PM PDT, October 10, 2008
Los Angeles police are investigating the death of a homeless man who apparently was doused with a flammable liquid and set on fire.
Police responded to a call about 9:40 p.m. Thursday and found the man on 3rd Street between Berendo Street and New Hampshire Avenue in the Mid-Wilshire area, said Officer Ana Aguirre, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Police Department. Firefighters also responded.
The victim was later pronounced dead, authorities said.
"This is one of cruelest crimes you can imagine," said Deputy Chief Sergio Diaz, who oversees LAPD's Rampart Division. "Pouring gasoline on a human being and setting them on fire. As an officer who has responded to many murders over the years, this is amongst the most horrific."
Capt. Dennis Cremins of LAPD's Robbery Homicide Division said detectives have not identified the victim. He said police were looking for at least one suspect in his 20s seen running from the scene. But he said there may be other suspects.
Police are scouring the neighborhood today searching for witnesses and evidence that may assist them in the investigation.
One resident, who did not want to be identified out of fear for his safety, said he spoke to someone who allegedly witnessed the crime. He said the witness told him several teenagers apparently got out of a Honda Civic carrying a bucket of gasoline and approached the homeless man, doused him and set him on fire.
The youths then chased the man into a parking lot and threw another bucket of gasoline on him, he said. Several residents came to the victim's aid and tried to put out the flames, he said.
Police could not immediately confirm that account.
"I often worried for the guy because there are gangs in the neighborhood," the resident said. "I thought, one of these days to make a point or as part of an initiation they're going to harm this guy."
He said the man, who was known as "Grimley" to area residents, had lived in the neighborhood for about 20 years. He described him as a heavy set man, with a beard, in his 50s, who carried a radio around with him that he liked to listen to.
He said the man was dirty and never bothered anyone.
"I thought the smell alone would make this guy a target," he said. "But in the eight years I've been here no one did him any harm."
The incident appears to be the latest of several attacks on homeless people.
Last year, four teenage boys were arrested on suspicion of driving around Los Angeles and attacking homeless people while using a cellphone camera to capture some of the assaults. The youths allegedly attacked at least eight homeless people by throwing smoke bombs or firing plastic pellets from an air pistol at them and in one case throwing a bike into a homeless man's tent as he slept.
"As times continually get rougher, violence levels go up everywhere," said Orlando Ward, director of public affairs for the Midnight Mission, based in downtown's skid row. "The vulnerability is simply going to increase for people who live outside. It's brutal, an absolutely brutal situation."
by Richard Winton and Cara Mia DiMassa, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
1:28 PM PDT, October 10, 2008
Los Angeles police are investigating the death of a homeless man who apparently was doused with a flammable liquid and set on fire.
Police responded to a call about 9:40 p.m. Thursday and found the man on 3rd Street between Berendo Street and New Hampshire Avenue in the Mid-Wilshire area, said Officer Ana Aguirre, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Police Department. Firefighters also responded.
The victim was later pronounced dead, authorities said.
"This is one of cruelest crimes you can imagine," said Deputy Chief Sergio Diaz, who oversees LAPD's Rampart Division. "Pouring gasoline on a human being and setting them on fire. As an officer who has responded to many murders over the years, this is amongst the most horrific."
Capt. Dennis Cremins of LAPD's Robbery Homicide Division said detectives have not identified the victim. He said police were looking for at least one suspect in his 20s seen running from the scene. But he said there may be other suspects.
Police are scouring the neighborhood today searching for witnesses and evidence that may assist them in the investigation.
One resident, who did not want to be identified out of fear for his safety, said he spoke to someone who allegedly witnessed the crime. He said the witness told him several teenagers apparently got out of a Honda Civic carrying a bucket of gasoline and approached the homeless man, doused him and set him on fire.
The youths then chased the man into a parking lot and threw another bucket of gasoline on him, he said. Several residents came to the victim's aid and tried to put out the flames, he said.
Police could not immediately confirm that account.
"I often worried for the guy because there are gangs in the neighborhood," the resident said. "I thought, one of these days to make a point or as part of an initiation they're going to harm this guy."
He said the man, who was known as "Grimley" to area residents, had lived in the neighborhood for about 20 years. He described him as a heavy set man, with a beard, in his 50s, who carried a radio around with him that he liked to listen to.
He said the man was dirty and never bothered anyone.
"I thought the smell alone would make this guy a target," he said. "But in the eight years I've been here no one did him any harm."
The incident appears to be the latest of several attacks on homeless people.
Last year, four teenage boys were arrested on suspicion of driving around Los Angeles and attacking homeless people while using a cellphone camera to capture some of the assaults. The youths allegedly attacked at least eight homeless people by throwing smoke bombs or firing plastic pellets from an air pistol at them and in one case throwing a bike into a homeless man's tent as he slept.
"As times continually get rougher, violence levels go up everywhere," said Orlando Ward, director of public affairs for the Midnight Mission, based in downtown's skid row. "The vulnerability is simply going to increase for people who live outside. It's brutal, an absolutely brutal situation."
