No Arrests Yet in Echo Park Shooting Death

No one has yet been arrested in connection with Saturday’s killing of a 30-year-old man in downtown Echo Park early Saturday, but, according to Detective John Motto, a homicide detective at the Los Angeles Police Department’s Rampart Division, a number of leads are being pursued. He said detectives hope to release composite sketches shortly.

The victim collapsed at Sunset Boulevard and Logan Street just around 12:20 a.m Saturday after being shot in the back as he was chased down the street.   The victim was transported by paramedics to L.A. County U.S.C. Medical Center where he underwent surgery, and died at 12:25 p.m. on Saturday.

According to a preliminary LAPD report, multiple shots were fired by as many as  three male suspects, with the victim taking a gunshot wound in the chest. The suspects fled down Sunset Boulevard and  disappeared after the shooting.

The LA County Coroner’s office told Echo Park Patch Sunday that the young man was described as a “white male in his 20s” by police. The coroner has not yet announced the name of the deceased, but The Eastsider LA reported it Sunday as Michael David, 30, a resident of Echo Park.

Detective Motto said he spent Saturday talking to business owners and others along the retail and restaurant strip on Sunset Boulevard near Logan Street.  He said several mentioned that the incident could well be a symptom of the clash of “gangster and hipster” culture that’s been brewing in the area for a while and peaks Friday and Saturday nights as outside visitors flood local clubs and restaurants.

If you have information about the shooting, you can call Rampart homicide Detective John Motta at 213-484-3641. You can also report anonymously at  877-LAPD247.