What:
Press Conference for Unsolved Murders

When:
Friday, May 24, 2002, at 11:00 a.m.

Where:
7600 South Broadway Avenue
Seventy-Seventh Street Community Police Station
Community Room

Los Angeles: Seventy-Seventh Street Area Homicide Detectives are requesting the public's help in solving six separate murders. Detectives will be releasing information regarding each case in hopes of attaining new information to assist in their investigation. Family members of the victims will be attending this press conference and will be available for questions. The following victim's cases will be covered:

On Wednesday, February 28, 2001, at approximately 12:40 A.M., Ms. Pamela Taylor and her companion were at the rear parking lot at the 8700 Block of South Western Avenue. Unknown suspect(s) exited a blue Lincoln Continental and approached Ms. Taylor. The suspect then shot both Ms. Taylor and her companion for no apparent reason. Ms. Taylor was struck casing her death. The companion was transported to a local hospital where he was treated and released.

On Sunday, May 27, 2001, at approximately 2:00 A.M., Ms Hermelinda Garay was lying down on a sofa in the living room of her son’s residence, at the 100 Block of East 82^nd Place. Unknown suspect(s) drove by in an unknown vehicle and shot multiple times at the residence. Ms. Garay sustained a gunshot wound causing her death.

On Friday morning, July 27, 2001, at approximately 4:45 A.M., a passerby reported a fire in rear garage of a vacant residence, which is located at the 1500 Block of West 80^th Street. The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the location and discovered the victim inside the detached garage. The victim was identified as a 15-year-old runaway missing from the City of Hawthorne since March 18, 2001. The Los Angeles Coroners Office ruled the victim’s death as a homicide.

On Wednesday, December 26, 2001, at 6:40 P.M., unknown suspect(s) were burglarizing Mr. Egger’s residence at the 900 Block of West 62^nd Place. Mr. Egger arrived at his residence and was confronted by the suspect(s). The suspect(s) shot Mr. Egger, fatally wounding him.

On Tuesday, January 8, 2002 at approximately 7:10 P.M., Mr. John Lee Roy Bullock Jr. was arguing with a suspect over a parking space in front of his apartment complex located at the 6100 block of south 8^th Avenue. During this argument, the suspect pulled out a handgun and shot Mr. Bullock multiple times, causing his death.

On Saturday, January 12, 2002, at approximately 8:00 a.m., Mr. Manuel Edgardo Rivas was at the pawnshop in the 4400 Block of South Vermont Avenue. As he attempted to open the business, a blue compact vehicle stopped in front of the location. The suspect exited the vehicle, approached Mr. Rivas and shot him causing his death. The suspect took Mr. Rivas' bag and fled the location in the awaiting vehicle.

Note: Family members will be present at the press conference and requesting help from the community in solving these cases. A Spanish-speaking officer will be available for the Spanish media.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Seventy-Seventh Street Homicide Detectives at 213-485-1385, Monday through Friday, between 7:00 A.M. and 3:30 P.M. On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at the Detective Information Desk, 1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855).

This press release was prepared by Officer Esther Mya Pe, Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.