Los Angeles: On Monday, May 19, 2003, at 2:48 a.m., police officers from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Hollywood Division responded to a radio call of a vehicle taken in a Robbery with shots fired, in the 1800 block of North Cherokee Avenue.

Upon the officers’ arrival, they observed a male, the victim of a gunshot wound, lying on the sidewalk. Friends of the victim informed the officers that two male Black suspects confronted the victim and demanded he give them his personal property. One of the suspects then shot the victim. At least one suspect fled in the victim’s vehicle.

Los Angeles City Fire Department paramedics responded to the location and transported the victim to Cedars Sinai Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

The victim’s vehicle is described as a 1999, Lexus GS 300, four-door silver colored vehicle with chrome rims that spin. The vehicle’s California License plate is 4CVB868.

The suspects were both described as male Blacks, 25 to 30 years of age with thin builds. The suspects have not been identified, yet were seen by a witness loitering in the area prior to the crime.

The victim has been identified as Ryan James Groetken, a 25 year-old resident of Long Beach, California.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact Hollywood Homicide Detectives at 213-485-6410, or the Hollywood Area Tip Line at 213- 485-9168. On weekends and during off-hours, please 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 Public Information Officer Lucy Diaz, Media Relation Section, 213-485-3586.