UPDATE: LAPD releases official press release regarding Venice transient murder.
FROM LAPD - CALL FOR WITNESSES TO CRIME:
On Thursday, 07/07/11 at approx. 2000 hours, the victim, a 52 year-old male, was transported to UCLA Westwood Hospital due to head injuries from a fall that occurred at the 600 block of Rose Avenue in Venice. The incident was treated as a medical emergency. LAPD was not notified. On 07/08/11 LAPD was notified by a witness that the victim was actually assaulted. The victim was punched, fell and hit his head causing major head trauma. The victim was in grave condition and the investigation was handled by Homicide Detectives. The victim was a 52 year-old male transient from the Venice area. The suspect, a 50 year-old male transient from the Venice area, was identified and arrested on 07/08/11.
On 07/10/11 at 1616 hours the victim died of his injuries. Murder charges were filed.
Pacific Homicide Detectives are investigating the murder. Detectives are asking anyone who witnessed the crime or has information on this case to contact Pacific Homicide Detectives.
Contact telephone numbers
8:00AM to 5:00 PM: Detectives (310) 482-6372
(310) 482-6373
5:00 PM to 8:00 AM: Watch Commander (310) 482-6333
NOTE: The coroner has not been able to locate next of kin for the deceased and his name is not being released at this time.
UPDATE: As of this morning, as shown in the below image Frank Smith is now charged with murder, and is being denied bail. Scroll down for full story.
Last Friday a call came across the police scanner to have units respond to the Venice Family Clinic at 604 Rose Avenue. The call was unusual, a Captain responded, and exchange was going back and forth between detectives. A perimeter was set up… and a short while later a suspect was taken into custody near McDonalds on Coeur D’alene. The only time that pattern has been heard in the past was when there was a murder.
After tweeting what sounded like the telltale signs of a possible homicide, I went to the Venice Family Clinic to see what was going on. The LAPD units had just cleared, but a person at the scene told me that the night before there was a fight between two transients - and one was taken to UCLA as a result of the injuries sustained during the fight. Venice311 knows many of the local transients, and we often help them with food, money or whatever we are able to provide. From regularly cleaning up Flower Ct., we have come to know several of the transients that frequent the Venice Family Clinic area, and the suspect in the assault was identified as “Frankie”, meaning Frank Smith… well known in the area. I called LAPD Pacific Division and Media Relations and was able to confirm that there was a fight, and a suspect had been arrested as was heard on the police scanner, but no further details were available.
The word on the street was that the night of July 7th, Frank and a group of transients were walking around, and Frank got into an argument with the victim in front of the Venice Family Clinic. The fight came to blows, and apparently Frank hit the other transient, and he fell to the ground and struck his head. He was immediately disabled from his injuries and paramedics were called to the scene. The victim was transported to the hospital. After being seen in the hospital the victims injuries did not seem consistent with a self inflicted accident or fall… and in short order an investigation and questioning among the local transients revealed a recounting of the fight, by several witnesses and the search was on for the suspect.
Frank Smith, a parolee, was initially booked on felony battery charges when arrested. Unfortunately over the weekend the victim died as a result of his injuries. It is expected that Mr. Smith is in the process of being re-booked with murder charges. A formal announcement by LAPD is expected shortly. Additional details will be provided when an official press release is issued.
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who was murdered?