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Detectives Theorize Man Slain On 110 Freeway Was Targeted

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Officials now theorize that the man fatally shot on the 110 Freeway Thursday morning may have been targeted.

Ivan Karl Spencer, the general manager of a Gardena strip club, was shot four times as he drove his Toyota Prius on the 110 Freeway and Gardena (91) Freeway.

"We are just beginning to think this may be related to some sort of dispute," Los Angeles police detective Sal LaBarbera told the Daily Breeze newspaper. "It may have been personal."

Spencer called 911 about 2:35 am. Thursday to report he was shot, but was unconscious when police and firefighters arrived.

He had multiple gunshot wounds, including ones to his chest and neck, and was rushed by paramedics to hospital, where he died.

Spencer was also known as "Rockzilla" and had worked for 15 years at Starz, a strip club at 2528 W. Rosecrans Ave.

Starz is one of three clubs reportedly owned by his girlfriend.

LaBarbera told the Daily Breeze that in the aftermath of the shooting detectives received numerous calls and are now leaning away from the possibility of the crime being a random act.

Spencer worked until 2:20 a.m. that night and drove home, LaBabera told the Daily Breeze. His route was usually along Rosecrans or Redondo Beach Boulevard toward the Harbor (110) Freeway and then south.

Employees at Starz described him as a nice guy who did not drink, smoke or gamble. No fights or arguments had broken out at the strip club on Wednesday night, other employees said.

 (©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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