53-Year-Old Homeless Man Killed in West Hollywood Fire

It was a 53-year-old man, with no address and no hometown, who died after being pulled out of a burning vacant commercial building in West Hollywood, a medical examiner said today.

The man was identified as Eric Von Young, said Coroner’s Investigator Joyce Kato.

Kato said she had no place of residence for Young.

Young was hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for smoke inhalation before his death, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

No other injuries were reported, said Supervising Fire Dispatcher Ray Jones.

The two-alarm fire burned in a vacant two-story commercial structure in the 9000 block of West Melrose Avenue, Jones said. It snarled traffic on Melrose and on nearby Santa Monica Boulevard that morning.

It was reported just before midnight Thursday and 150 firefighters were sent to the scene, Floor Supervisor Michael Pittman said.

The blaze was knocked down in about an hour, with county firefighters getting an assist from the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Los Angeles County sheriff’s Deputy Kelvin Moody said homicide detectives were investigating Young’s death.

OTHER PATCH HEADLINES

• Watch: 12 Great Whites Linger in Surfside as Memorial Day Crowds Head to the Beach
• Naked Man Tries to Snatch Baby at Graduation Ceremony, Police Say
• Terror Suspects Fantasized About Becoming Martyrs for ISIS, FBI Alleges
• Chargers, Raiders Complete Land Deal for NFL Stadium in Carson
• Former Supermodel Janice Dickinson Sues Bill Cosby, Alleging He Lied About Raping Her
• Watch: 3 Injured as Underground Explosion Sends Manholes Flying

City News Service