Who:
Los Angeles Police Chief Martin H. Pomeroy, LAPD Deputy Chief David Kalish, Robbery Homicide Detectives

What:
A Press Conference Announcing the Arrest of Three Murder Suspects Wanted for the Killing of Four West Los Angeles Residents

When:
Monday, July 29, 2002 at 2:30 p.m.

Where:
Los Angeles Police Department, Parker Center, 150 North Los Angeles Street

Los Angeles: On May 4, 2002, at 11:15 P.M., detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department, Robbery Homicide Division responded to the scene of a residential fire at 2833 Lakeridge Drive. The Los Angeles Fire Department extinguished the fire and located four dead bodies, three females and one male, inside the residence.

The fire was reported by one of the residents, 47 year-old Harish Kumar. Mr. Kumar was questioned by the detectives and has been cooperative with the investigation. Mr. Kumar confirmed that he lived at that residence with his wife, son, daughter, and mother.

The preliminary investigation conducted by the Los Angeles Fire Department Arson Investigators and detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department indicates that the fire may have been arson related. The deceased victims were identified as Gita Kumar, age 42, Sitaben Patel, age 63, Paras Kumar, age 18, and Tulsi Kumar, age 16.

Based on information and evidence secured as a result of an ongoing investigation, Los Angeles Police Department detectives arrested three suspects including Carlos Amador on July 25, 2002, at approximately 12:00 p.m., in the City of Cerritos, for the murders of four members of the Kumar family. Amador is a 26 year-old male Hispanic, resident of Los Angeles. On the same day of July 25, 2002 at approximately 10:30 p.m., LAPD Robbery Homicide Detectives also arrested 33 year-old Pravin Govin in the area of Southgate. The third male suspect, 35 year-old Victor Govin was apprehended by detectives approximately 45 minutes later, at 11:15 p.m. in the North Hollywood Area. All three suspects were booked for First Degree Murder and held without bail.

Anyone with additional information that may assist in this investigation is urged to contact the 24-hour toll free number at the Detective Information Desk, 1-877-LAWFULL, 1-877-529-3855.

This press release was prepared by Public Information Officer Jack Richter, Media Relations Section, 213 485-3586.