DATE: Tuesday, February 22, 2022
REPORTED AT: Approximately 3:15PM
LOCATION: 20th Street West / Avenue G., Lancaster
VICTIMS: Male Adult
SUSPECT: Unknown
UNIT: Homicide Bureau – Lieutenant Alfred
NARRATIVE:
Sheriff’s Homicide Investigators are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a 43 year-old Black male in Lancaster.
Deputies from Lancaster Station responded to the desert area of 20th Street West north of Avenue G regarding a medical rescue call. The call indicated several people had been attacked by a dog and one man was unconscious. Deputies arriving to the homeless encampment discovered at least two people suffering from injuries one of whom was unresponsive lying on the ground.
The unresponsive man was transported to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Investigators learned a physical altercation occurred between the deceased victim and another man outside of a motor home in the encampment. The other man’s dog got lose from inside the motor home and attacked the victim and at least one more person trying to intervene. The victim was able to walk away but stumbled some distance away and fell unresponsive to the ground.
The victim does not appear to have died as a result of being bitten by the dog. His cause of death will be determined at autopsy.
The owner of the dog has been detained and is cooperating with the investigation. The dog was removed from the scene by Animal Control. The dog did not appear to have sustained any injuries.
This investigation remains active and there is no other information being released at this time.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.
If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call "Crime Stoppers" by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile APP on Google play or the Apple App Store or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org
Forwarded by:
Deputy Tracy Koerner
Sheriff's Information Bureau
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
211 West Temple Street
Los Angeles California 90012
http://www.lasd.org
213-229-1700
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Alex Villanueva, Sheriff
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
