What:
Press Conference

Where:
Devonshire Community Police Station
10250 Etiwanda Avenue, Northridge

When:
Thursday, November 1, 2001
3:00 p.m.

Who:
Members of the Martinez family, a Representative of Councilman Bernson, Staff Officers and Investigators of the Los Angeles Police Department.

Granada Hills: On Saturday, September 8, 2001, at approximately 11:00 p.m., a verbal confrontation relative to gang affiliations transpired between two groups inside a "Ralphs" supermarket, located at 16940 Devonshire Street, in Granada Hills. The suspects, consisted of four male Hispanics, confronted the victims in the parking lot. One of the suspects approached the victim on foot as the victim prepared to enter a stopped vehicle. The suspect fired several rounds from a handgun, striking the victim multiple times in the upper body. The shooter and his associates fled from the location on foot and are outstanding. The victim was transported to Granada Hills Hospital by LAFD rescue personnel, where he was pronounced dead by an attending physician.

The victim has been identified as Melisio Martinez, a 27 year-old resident of Mission Hills. The slaying appears to be gang motivated. The Devonshire Division Homicide Unit retains investigative responsibility for the case.

Despite an exhaustive investigation by the assigned detectives, the identity of the shooter and his associates remains unknown. In an effort to generate additional avenues of investigation, a motion was presented to the Los Angeles City Council by the Honorable Councilman Hal Bernson, requesting a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest, prosecution and conviction of the suspect or suspects responsible for the shooting death of victim Melisio Martinez. The motion was passed and the reward will be announced during the press conference.

Anyone with information should contact Devonshire Homicide Unit Detective Mike Oppelt at 818-756-8291 and during off-hours contact the Department Command Post at 213-485-2504.

This media advisory was prepared by Public Information Officer Jason Lee, Media Relations Section, 213- 485-3586.