Detectives Investigate Suspicious Murder At Chatsworth Apartment Building

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Homicide detectives said the co-manager of a transitional living facility in Chatsworth was murdered.

CBS2's Jennifer Kastner said residents told her the man was named Curtis and that the former Marine had a solid family and managed the building  with his brother.

"Some of the people are transitioning from alcohol," said LAPD Lt. Jesse Kane, "some [of the residents] have disabilities, mental, some physical that are also in this residence."

Officers responded to the scene after they got a call about a loud scuffle.

The victim's body was found around 2:35 a.m. at the 10300 block of DeSoto Avenue, according to LAPD Officer Drake Madison.

"The victim was actually discovered by city fire department paramedics who had responded to a man down' call," Madison told City News Service. "The paramedics then called police and our officers went to the scene."

The victim was 55 years old, police said.

Residents told Kastner the victim was incredibly generous and helped a lot of people who were down on their luck.

A burned and bloody blanket and a bloody shoe were found in a parking lot a few hundred feet from where the body was found. Police told Kastner they were connected to the murder but did not say how.

One of the resident's saw the body when he came outside Thursday morning during the police investigation.

"I looked and said...wow. That's Curtis," said resident Eugene Inzerella,"he helped a lot of people. He'd take them off the streets. He'd help people, low-income, like me."

Detectives said the man was the victim of blunt force trauma.

Anyone with information on the death was urged to call the LAPD's Devonshire Division at (818) 832-0633.

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