On Thursday, February 15, 2018, at approximately 6:00 A.M., Frank walked out of his girlfriend’s house in the 300 block of East 139th Street in the unincorporated area of Los Angeles after having celebrated Valentine’s Day with his girlfriend and daughter. Frank then crossed the street and entered his parked, white late model Dodge Challenger. As he sat in his car waiting for it to warm up so he could drive to work, a suspect approached the driver’s door and fired through the closed window.
Homicide Detectives believe Frank never saw it coming. Frank was struck multiple times and died at the scene.
Today, homicide detectives and family members of the avid basketball player and fitness enthusiast, made a plea to the public, with hopes that someone may pick up the phone and provide any information, anonymously or not, related to his murder.
“The video surveillance footage we have obtained at this point depicts what we believe is possibly the suspect vehicle and the actual suspect in this murder,” said Lead Homicide Detective Dean Camarillo.
Click on this link to view the surveillance footage clips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1ub5hk0EeA&feature=youtu.be
The first of three clips of the surveillance footage shown at today’s press conference focuses around a white, four door sedan with possibly tinted windows that travels south on San Pedro Street and then enters into an alley from San Pedro Street. That vehicle had been circling the area and the actual residence where Frank and his girlfriend were at the time.
In the second clip, the suspect is seen walking out of the same alley as in the first clip. The suspect crosses San Pedro Street and onto the east sidewalk of San Pedro Street nearest to 139th Street. It’s at that time that Homicide detectives believe the suspect saw Frank exit the residence, prompting the suspect to run back across San Pedro Street and proceed through the alley. The alley looped around to 139th Street, positioning the suspect behind Frank’s vehicle.
Frank is seen in the third clip walking out of his girlfriend’s residence to his white, Dodge Challenger. Unbeknownst to Frank, the suspect had ran across the street and circled back around the back alley. And as he entered and warmed up his car, Frank was murdered.
At this point in the investigation, the motive for the brutal killing is unknown. Frank did not have any gang affiliation, no gang ties and detectives do not believe the incident is gang related. Detectives also do not believe that Frank was in bad standing with anyone, had debt or owed anyone any money.
It is possible, however, that the suspect may have known the victim. “The fact that somebody might have objected to the relationship that Frank had with his girlfriend – that is a possibility,” stated Detective Camarillo. “Clearly, the suspect waited for Frank to exit that residence and enter his vehicle on his way to work.”
Frank, who attended Lynwood High School and was named Defensive Player of the year in 2010, was popular among many friends and old teammates throughout his life. His work ethic and commendable achievements did not end there. Just last year, he was recognized for his “exceptional leadership and devoted service” for his five years as an inspector at a refinery in the city of Torrance, and was honored as “Technician of the Year.”
Additionally described as “rock solid,” Frank enjoyed playing video games with his friends and going places with his daughter.
Frank’s mother, Monique Watson, shared a loving description of her only son. “Frank was a very caring young man that was known for his kindness, big heart, and his big Kool-Aid © smile. He was a father to his daughter and he enjoyed spending wonderful hours with her, his girlfriend, his friends and his family.” With a heavy-hearted she continued, “This action left a big void in my and our family’s life, so much so that I wear a charm that I carry around my neck that contains his ashes. This gives me the strength to know that soon someone will come forward with information that‘s needed to assist the police in catching my sons murderer.”
Vividly shattered, Katrina Arnold, Frank’s girlfriend, tearfully spoke, “He was my best friend. And I’m just empty. And my daughter is empty, and his mom and his daughter. If anyone knows anything, I just pray that you have it in your heart to come forward because he didn’t deserve that. He was one of the best men that I’ve known, ever met and I really want justice for him and to help me with closure to move forward.”
Many homicide cases are solved with the help of the public. Please help bring Frank’s killer(s) to justice and a sense of closure to his family. If you have any information, you are 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
Prepared by:
Juanita Navarro-Suarez, Deputy
Sheriff’s Information Bureau
211 West Temple Street,
Los Angeles, CA 90012
213-229-1850
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Jim McDonnell, Sheriff
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