A weeknight fight on an East Hollywood street turned deadly Thursday when a man in his 40s was fatally attacked with a hammer, according to police. Officers were called around 9 p.m. to reports of two people brawling near Willow Brook and Virgil avenues, where they found the injured man, who was later pronounced dead.
Police say the attacker took off in an older-model pickup, leaving the victim behind and a shaken block in his wake. As of late Thursday night, the suspect was still on the loose.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, as reported by NBC Los Angeles, the suspect is described as a man about 6 feet tall and 200 pounds, last seen wearing a white tank top and blue jeans. He drove away in an older-model truck and had not been arrested as of 10:15 p.m. Investigators have not disclosed a possible motive or said whether the two men knew each other.
Neighborhood context
The killing lands in the middle of a rough year for East Hollywood, which has already seen several violent incidents, including a deadly pre-dawn hit-and-run on Vermont Avenue in March. Neighbors have told local outlets they are increasingly nervous about crime near busy corridors and nightlife hubs, and detectives frequently lean on security footage and community tips to move cases forward.
Residents said Thursday’s attack has added to a sense of unease in the area, and many are hoping an arrest comes sooner rather than later.
How to help
Police are asking anyone with information about the hammer attack to contact the LAPD’s Northeast Community Police Station or to reach out anonymously through LA Regional Crime Stoppers.
The Northeast station lists both a detective desk and a front desk among its public contact numbers. Crime Stoppers accepts anonymous tips by phone at 800-222-TIPS or online. More information is available via the LAPD Northeast Community Police Station and LA Regional Crime Stoppers.
