Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department’s Wilshire Area Homicide Unit is investigating the kidnapping and murder of a 42 year-old male.

On Friday, September 27, 2002 at approximately 11:25 p.m., LAPD Wilshire Area Patrol officers responded to an "Assault with a Deadly Weapon in Progress" radio call at a residence on the 400 block of south Harvard Boulevard in Los Angeles.

Arriving at the incident location, officers discovered a crime scene that displayed evidence of a struggle. Witnesses said that four Black male suspects physically forced Los Angeles resident Cedric Wright into a dark colored sport utility vehicle. Witnesses also said a handgun was used during the kidnapping of Wright.

An hourly crime broadcast was initiated with neighboring LAPD divisions. In addition, adjacent law enforcement agencies were also alerted to the circumstances of the crime. On Saturday, September 28, 2002 at approximately 7:40 a.m., investigators from the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Homicide Section contacted LAPD Wilshire Homicide Detectives and reported a discovered vehicle that matched the description of the one fleeing the Wilshire Area kidnap crime scene. The vehicle, reported the Sheriff’s investigators, was found on fire near 197^th Street and Vermont Avenue, in the City of Gardena.

Inside the burning truck, fire department personnel discovered a body, a victim of an apparent homicide.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Wilshire Homicide unit at 213-473-0400, 213-473-0444. 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 Public Information Officer Jack Richter, Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.