Home Invaders Kill Two in Koreatown, One Arrested

Los Angeles: Police have arrested one of two men who broke into an apartment and a shot a family of three, killing the father and his daughter and critically wounding the man’s wife.

As Raul Cruz, 31, and his wife were sleeping on the morning of December 31, 2006, two men broke into their apartment, on the 700 block of Harvard Boulevard, around 4:15 A.M.. Raul tried to fight off the men, but one of the intruders fired, fatally wounding Raul and his 17-year-old daughter, Jessica Siriano. Raul’s wife was also wounded, and she remains in critical condition at a local hospital.

Both suspects ran from the apartment after taking some of the family’s belongings. In short order, Wilshire Area detectives identified and arrested 33-year-old Matthew Koontz, a Cruz family acquaintance, at 7:45 A.M. Koontz was booked for the Murder, and he remains in custody with no bail.

Detectives are now asking the public’s help in finding Koontz’s accomplice. He is described as Black and 25-30 years old. He stands approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall, and weighs about 150 pounds.

Anyone with information is asked to call Wilshire Homicide Detectives Barry Telis or Javier Hernandez at 213-473-0446. After hours and on weekends, phone the 24-hour toll-free number at 1-877-LAW-FULL (1-877-529-3855).