UPDATE
April 6, 2011
Today, District 3 Los Angeles City Councilman Dennis Zine and LAPD Valley Traffic Division personnel held a press conference to offer a $50,000 reward for information that would lead to the arrest of the hit-and-run suspect who killed 92-year-old Jafar Amirshahida. Family members of the victim were also in attendance at the press conference to honor the memory of Amirshahida and support the councilman’s motion. Also, please note that some details in the original release below were incorrect or incomplete. Updated details are as follows: The victim was crossing Reseda Boulevard at Victory Boulevard and was in a marked crosswalk on Reseda Boulevard when he was struck. Additionally, the victim died from his injuries at the hospital.
Los Angeles: Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Valley Traffic Division (VTD) detectives investigating a recent hit-and-run incident are asking for anyone who may have witnessed the tragic event to provide them with whatever details they can.
Yesterday at about 6:08 pm, a 92-year-old man from Reseda was critically injured by a hit-and- run driver while crossing Victory Boulevard at Reseda Boulevard. The pedestrian was in a marked crosswalk walking across westbound lanes on Victory Boulevard when a vehicle on Victory Boulevard struck him and then failed to stop and render aid as required by law.
Witnesses described the suspect’s car as a dark-colored, four-door sedan making a left turn from eastbound Victory Boulevard to northbound Reseda Boulevard when the incident occurred. The elderly victim was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries. At this time, his identity is being withheld until family members are notified.
Anyone with information about this crime is urged to call VTD Officer R. Talley at 818-644-8116 or VTD Detective Bill Bustos at (818) 644-8021. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crimestoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters can also go to www.LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.