Street Fight in front of Downtown Nightclubs Results in Murder $50,000 Reward Offered in Connection with Case NR12146rf

March 28, 2012

Los Angeles:  Detectives released video of two suspects from a January 2012 murder in downtown Los Angeles and announced a $50,000 reward sponsored by District 9 Los Angeles City Councilmember Jan Perry in an effort to identify the two key suspects.

On Jan. 28, 2012, as patrons spilled out of two downtown nightclubs, two groups of men got in an argument on the sidewalk.  Their encounter escalated into a shooting during which four men were shot and one died at the intersection of Hill Street and Olympic Boulevard.

“This literally started over one guy bumping into another guy on the sidewalk,” said Detective Thayer Lake, lead detective for the investigation out of the LAPD Central Detective Division.  “By all accounts, this was testosterone and liquor driven and never had to happen.”  

Fernando Hernandez, 23, of Culver City was one of four men shot that night.  He died of a head wound.  The other three men recovered.  

In spite of dozens of witnesses, no one has come forward with names of the shooters.  Detectives have pored over video footage from the area and interviewed witnesses.  “We’ve narrowed down the investigation to two men seen walking in a video with two women in front of the Mayan night club on Hill Street,” Detective Lake explained.  “We need someone to come forward and tell us who these two men are.”

**Video footage of the suspects is available at www.lapdtv.org or by recording from monitors at LAPD’s Central Police Station.**

Anyone with information on this crime is urged to call LAPD Central Homicide Unit Detective Thayer Lake at 213-972-1254.  Anonymous tips can be called into Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477) or by texting 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”  Online tips may be placed at www.LAPDOnline.org by clicking on “webtips” and following the prompts.