Los Angeles: On February 14, 2004, at about 8:30 p.m., North Hollywood patrol officers responded to an Assault with a Deadly Weapon radio call in the area of the 11600 block of Victory Boulevard, in North Hollywood. The officers met the victim, a 33-year-old male Hispanic who had been shot in the head. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was treated for his injury and released.

The investigation revealed that the victim had been walking with two other males at the above location when the suspect approached him and his friends. The suspect challenged the victim’s friends to a fight and the victim intervened to prevent the fight. For no apparent reason, the suspect took out a handgun and shot the victim. The victim’s friends chased the suspect eastbound on Victory Boulevard and northbound on Beck Avenue, but were not able to catch him.

The suspect then approached a man and his two children as they were parking their Ford Explorer in their driveway on Haynes Street. The armed suspect entered the family car and forced the children’s father to drive away from the area. The suspect kidnapped the three victims and made them drive him to the Costco Warehouse in the City of Burbank. The suspect exited the victim’s car, after robbing the father of his money and left the location on foot. It was their belief that the suspect lived in the area and was headed towards his residence. The family was unharmed.

Witnesses described the suspect as a male Hispanic, black hair, brown eyes, 5’09’’/5’10’’ tall, 170/185 lbs., 23/27 years old, with wavy hair.

A composite drawing of the suspect is available via e-mail through Media Relations Section.

Anyone with information is requested to contact North Hollywood Area Detectives J. Rodriguez or M. Pinner, at 818-623-4045. On weekends and during off-hours, contact the 24-hour, toll free number at the Detective Information Desk, at 1-877-LAWFULL or 1-877-529-3855.

This news release was prepared by Public Information Officer Lucy Diaz, Media Relations Section, at 213-485-3586.