This morning around 9 a.m. LAPD was called to the 3900 block of Meier for a dead body. After arriving at the scene, they found a male transient dead inside a brown van. The owner of the van, a female transient lived there with her dog. She was taken to the hospital suffering injuries possibly the result of an assault by the male transient. Those details are unclear, but she is considered a suspect in his death at this time. The coroner came, and given the copious amount of alcohol found at the scene - was unable to determine definitively if the death was a homicide. I guess we’ll know in the coming days if the female is booked.
Residents in the area said the female and varying male companions lived in that van, or around it on the area sidewalks. Always drinking and often stealing from the 99¢ store, residents have had quite the battle dealing with the attraction of the store for the homeless, which sells single beer and wine. The normal vehicle dweller/transient issues plague the nearby streets. Litter, feces, fighting, public intoxication… etc, with few arrests. The victim reportedly was taken to the hospital just yesterday, with the normal quick release. The van was full of empty 211 “Steel Reserve” cans and an empty bottle of Crown Royale. So was the gutter just outside the van. We will update with more information as it is available.
