The primary goal of South Bureau Homicide Division is to investigate homicides in South Los Angeles and Harbor Areas and solve them to provide justice for the victims and their families in pursuit of the truth in all matters.
South Bureau Homicide Division (SBHD) serves a population of approximately 470,000 residents, is composed of 698 street miles, and a total of 31 square miles. SBHD investigates more than 40% of the homicides that occur in the entire City of Los Angeles each year and serves the four patrol divisions in Operations-South Bureau – Southwest Division, Harbor Division, 77th Street Division, and Southeast Division.
A “Homicide” is defined as the killing of one human being by another human-being. A homicide is not always a criminal act. In some cases, it may be justifiable or excusable. Homicide and murder are not the same. All murders are homicides, but not all homicides are murder.
For instance, California Penal Code section 195 says in part that a killing is “excusable” when committed by accident and misfortune, in the heat of passion, upon any sudden and sufficient provocation, or upon a sudden combat, when no undue advantage is taken, nor any dangerous weapon used, and when the killing is not done in a cruel or unusual manner.
Additionally, South Bureau Homicide Division also investigates deaths deemed not a homicide but that are suspicious in nature to include some suicides and drug overdose cases. We also feature a unit that solely focuses on unsolved homicides. SBHD is committed to solving every case and pursuing justice regardless of when the homicide occurred.
SBHD regularly works with a multitude of partnerships to include the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), United States Marshall Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) whenever their assistance helps us achieve our goal.
If you have any information regarding a homicide or suspicious death, please contact us at South Bureau Homicide Division, (323) 786-5100 or (323) 786-5153.