Mission Hills - On Sunday, January 8, 2001, at approximately 10:30 p.m., Foothill Area patrol officers responded to a radio call of an "Assault with a Deadly Weapon/ Shots Fired," at the intersection of Sepulveda Boulevard and Chatsworth Avenue. Upon arrival, the officers discovered John Michael Meriwether, a 25 year old resident of Lake View Terrace, seated in his vehicle while stopped in the southbound lanes of Sepulveda Boulevard south of Chatsworth Avenue. Meriwether had suffered a gunshot wound to the head.

Foothill Area Homicide Detectives responded to the crime scene. Preliminary investigation revealed that Meriwether had possibly been involved in a dispute with occupants from another vehicle. During the dispute, the unidentified suspect(s) fired several gunshots at the victim.

Meriwether was transported by rescue ambulance to a local hospital where he is listed in critical condition.

The motive for the crime has not been established.

Detectives from Foothill Operations Support Division are handling the investigation and are seeking assistance from the community. Anyone with information that may assist in the investigation is urged to contact Foothill Detectives at 818-834-3115 or 818-834-3105 during daytime hours. The evenings phone number is 818-756-8861.

This information was provided by Foothill Detectives R. Broker and C. Lenane.

This Press Release was prepared by Officer Guillermo Campos, Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.