Cops Hope Clues Will Help Solve Mid-City Murder
By Edwin Folven, 7/05/2012
Victim is Shot and Killed In Front of His Residence
Police are searching for the suspect or suspects who shot and killed a Mid-City resident to death on July 1 outside his residence north of the Santa Monica (10) Freeway.
The shooting occurred around 10:50 p.m. in the 5400 block of Apple Street. Det. John Shafia, with the Los Angeles Police Department’s west Bureau Homicide Unit, said the victim’s family members heard gunshots outside their residence and called 911. A few minutes later, they realized 51-year-old Vada Faniel was lying on the sidewalk, suffering from gunshot wounds. The victim was taken by paramedics to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The motive for the shooting is unknown.
“This is one of those cases where we are just beating ourselves up trying to get some information,” Shafia said. “He seems to be a resident without any history of problems. There are no red flags. He was shot multiple times, and was found by his family. We have nothing to go on at this time. It is really unfortunate.”
Shafia said Faniel was not involved with gangs, and that while the area where he was murdered has experienced gang activity in the past, there is nothing specific to lead authorities to believe gangs were involved. Shafia said he is hopeful someone may have witnessed the shooting and can provide a description of a suspect or vehicle. Apple Street runs east and west, north of the 10 Freeway, and the shooting occurred just east of Hauser Boulevard. Shafia said one puzzling detail is that the street is blocked off at one end by a school, so anyone in a vehicle would have likely had to leave the area using Hauser Boulevard or Ridgeley Drive.
“It’s not a heavily traveled street, so we are just trying to find out if anyone knows anything,” Shafia added. “He was just an older guy who lived down there, and it’s hard to make a rhyme or reason out of it.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives with the LAPD’s West Bureau’s Homicide Unit at (213)382-9470. During weekends and off-hours, call the LAPD’s 24-hour hotline at (866)LAPD247.
Tags | Apple Street, Homicide, Mid-City
