Person of Interest Sought in Man's Death in Lakewood [UPDATED]

Updated at 4 p.m. May 12, 2016

LAKEWOOD, CA - Authorities on Thursday were seeking a "person of interest" for questioning about the death of a man who was apparently strangled at a residence in Lakewood.

Erick Maturano-Borja, 24, of Hawaiian Gardens was found dead about 3:35 a.m. Wednesday in the 6200 block of Carpintero Avenue, according to the coroner's office and the sheriff's department. An autopsy was pending to determine the cause of his death.

"Homicide investigators believe that the person of interest was present during the incident and need to question him," according to a sheriff's department statement.

The man was described as 5 feet 11 inches tall with a medium build, light brown or short blonde hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a green U.S. Marines sweatshirt and blue jeans.

Deputies went to the Carpintero Avenue residence "regarding a call of a person not breathing." Deputy Grace Medrano said Wednesday.

"When deputies arrived at the residence, they saw the male victim, who was not breathing and unresponsive," she said. "A man at the residence at the time of the victim's death told detectives he witnessed a third person -- who was also at the location -- strangle the victim before leaving the residence. He described the suspect as a male white adult."

Anyone with information on the case was urged to call detectives Ralph Hernandez or John Carlin at the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500, or Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.

--City News Service, photo courtesy of the LASD