Saturday Blotter: Silver Lake House Fire, Shooting Death Near Rampart

Saturday Afternoon House Fire in Silver Lake Sends Man to Hospital

A 27-year-old man was taken to a local hospital after suffering "significant burns" in a house fire in Silver Lake.

The man was listed in critical condition but was expected to survive, Fire Department spokesman Matt Spence said.

He is expected to survive.

Firefighters from LAFD station 20 responded around 4:30 p.m. to a report of a fire at a two-story house at 1500 Silver Lake Blvd., just north of the Silver Lake Reservoir. 

Later LAFD alerts gave the location as 2833 West Berkeley Ave.--south and east of the reservoir, and on the hill above the annual holiday shopping and artisans fair below on Silver Lake Boulevard near Effie Street. 

It took 28 firefighers 14 minutes to knock the fire down.

The cause of the fire is still being investigated. Rain was falling through much of the afternoon on Saturday.

Saturday Morning Shooting Near Belmont

A father of three was shot to death Saturday morning in the area just south of Belmont High School.

The shooting occurred around 12:15 a.m. Saturday outside 414 Witmer Street, near Third Street, said Los Angeles police Lt. Joy Smith, watch commander at the Rampart Station. The man was taken to a hospital where he later died.

The victim was identified by the coroner's office as Juan Barrajas, 41, who
lived at the address and was a father of three, Smith said. The victim's
parents also lived a few doors down the street, she said.

There was no word yet on the ages of the victim's children. Smith said
Barrajas was not in a gang, though at least one source is saying that the Rampart gang unit is handling the case.

According to a news camera crew at the scene, the investigation was
being handled by detectives from the LAPD gang unit.

The shooting call initially was reported as a traffic accident, but
officers have not found any indication of a traffic collision, Smith said. No
suspect description was available, and a motive for the shooting was unknown.

Police urged anyone with information on this homicide to call the LAPD's
Rampart station at (213) 484-3400.

Thanks to City News Service for both these reports.