Little Information Released on Recent South Gate Homicide

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The fatal shooting of a man that took place at the 9500 block of California Avenue in South Gate on Thursday, October 18, 2012, is still under investigation.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) Homicide Bureau, the agency handling the investigation, did not release an update to their earlier statement despite having spent more than 8 hours at the scene.

“The victim was pronounced dead at the scene,” said the LASD press release. “There is no additional information available at this time.”

LASD investigators arrived at the scene at 4:19 a.m. and took over from the South Gate Police Department (SGPD). The latter agency was the first to arrive on scene after receiving a call at around 4:00 a.m.

The SGPD was also the first organization to inform Patch of the incident.

“Upon arrival, officers determined the subject was deceased,” said Captain Keith Hupp of the SGPD to Patch via telephone that morning. “There is currently a criminal investigation that is being handled by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau.”

Residents from the area did not want to speak about anything related to the shooting out of fear for their safety. Most, also confessed to not having heard any sort of gunshot.

The half a dozen residents interviewed by Patch said that they usually felt safe in this area, but that this incident did cause them to worry.  However, the traffic disruption that the investigation was causing to residents and businesses did allow some to grow annoyed.

“They are not letting me go by,” said Sandra Maciel, 43, a resident who after walking her child from school was forced to wait for some time outside her block that the morning. “I have got to do my work.”

Maciel, who recently moved to the area, also told Patch that she felt safe despite this violent incident.

The name of the victim has to be released and will only be done after notification of kin.

Anyone with information on this shooting should contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Anonymous tips can also be submitted at http://lacrimestoppers.org or by texting the letters TIPLA with your tip to CRIMES (274637). 

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