A late-night security patrol at a downtown Los Angeles parking garage ended in a homicide investigation early Tuesday, after a man in his 50s was found dead following an apparent beating with a pole near the Los Angeles Convention Center. The victim was pronounced dead at about 12:35 a.m., and the attacker took off on foot, leaving detectives to piece together what happened in a busy stretch of downtown.
What authorities say
According to CBS News Los Angeles, a security guard inside the Convention Center parking garage reported seeing a man allegedly use a three- to four-foot pole to strike another man just after midnight. Responding officers found the victim in a pool of blood and pronounced him dead at the scene. CBS News Los Angeles reports the victim was a man in his 50s.
The Los Angeles Police Department told CBS News Los Angeles that investigators do not yet know whether the two men knew each other or if the assault was random, a key question that will shape how detectives approach the case.
Where the attack happened
The attack was reported at Convention Center Drive and Venice Boulevard, in the L.A. Live and Convention Center corridor, a hub that swings from quiet to crowded depending on the event schedule. The Los Angeles Convention Center runs several on-site garages serving big events and conventions, and the Convention Center Drive structure is part of that complex.
With hotels, nightlife, and late-night foot traffic in the area, investigators are focusing on surveillance footage and possible witnesses from nearby businesses and properties that might have caught the suspect or the attack on camera.
Investigation and tips
The suspect remained at large as detectives treated the incident as an active homicide investigation, according to CBS News Los Angeles. Police have asked anyone with information or relevant surveillance video to come forward.
The Los Angeles Police Department website lists non-emergency contact numbers and tip resources for people who may be able to assist investigators.
Legal notes
As of the latest update, no arrests or charges had been announced and the investigation remains ongoing. If a suspect is identified and taken into custody, prosecutors will determine potential charges based on the evidence gathered by detectives.
