Downtown: On Thursday, October 18, 2001, approximately 9:30 a.m., an employee of the Hayward Hotel which is located at 206 West 6^th Street, detected a foul odor emanating from room 1041. The employee notified the hotel supervisor who went to the room and decided to call the Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics to investigate. The door to room 1041 had to be forced open because the door was still locked. Upon entry, the paramedics discovered what appeared to be the bodies of a male and female in the advanced stages of decomposition. Central Area Homicide Detectives Mahony and Shepard responded to the hotel and assumed investigative responsibility.

The investigation revealed that the male, identified as Ronald L. Allen, a 35 year-old male Black, shot his girl friend, who was identified as Regina A. Harmon, a 43 year-old female Black, and then shot himself. The two had been in a relationship together for approximately two years; however, in the weeks preceding the shootings, their relationship had deteriorated to repeated threats of physical violence.

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