Coroner ID's Man Apparently Beaten To Death In West Hollywood, Suspects On The Loose
WEST HOLLYWOOD (CBSLA) - A man who died after apparently being beaten during an argument on a West Hollywood street was a Long Beach resident, authorities said Saturday. A man and woman suspected of killing him are still at large.
Luis Vega was 49 years old, said coroner's Lt. David Smith. Vega's cause of death was deferred pending additional investigation.
Deputies responded to an altercation about 12:30 a.m. Friday to the 8500 block of Melrose Avenue, near La Cienega Boulevard, and found Vega, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Detectives said Vega and a man and woman got into an argument shortly after leaving a rooftop bar in the area.
"It looks like our victim fell to the ground and then was possibly stomped or kicked repeatedly in the head," sheriff's Lt. Derrick Alfred said.
The suspects ran from the location and were sought by authorities.
"Deputies from West Hollywood Station responded to the corner of Melrose Avenue and La Cienega Boulevard regarding a fight call," sheriff's Deputy Alejandra Parra said in a statement.
"Prior to deputies arriving, Los Angeles Police Department officers were flagged down regarding a person down on the street, related to the same incident," Parra said. "Officers discovered the victim unresponsive in the crosswalk on the northwest corner of the intersection. ... The victim appeared to have suffered blunt force trauma.
"Prior to the assault, the victim had been at a nearby rooftop bar and restaurant with friends," Parra said. "Although the (suspects) were at the rooftop bar and restaurant at the same time as the victim and his friends, it is unknown at this time if an incident occurred within that may have precipitated the assault."
Parra said it was not known if any weapons were involved in the attack.
Anyone with information on the crime was urged to call the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500, or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS.
(© Copyright 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. City News Service contributed to this report.)
