Police Believe Man Found Dead In Burning Car Was Murdered
SYLMAR (CBSLA.com) — Emergency crews responding Saturday to a car engulfed in flames near the 210 Freeway reportedly found a dead man seated in the front seat.
The gruesome discovery shortly after 7:30 p.m. when firefighters arrived to a secluded area of Harding Street under a pedestrian bridge, LAPD Lt. Paul Vernon reported.
Investigators believe they're dealing with a homicide.
"It appeared the man had bled a great deal and we think he may have been shot prior to the fire starting," Vernon said."It appears someone wanted to torch the car to destroy the evidence."
The victim was a large Hispanic man in his mid-to-late 20s, Vernon said. He was inside a blue 1993 Lexus.
Witnesses told investigators they saw someone running across the pedestrian bridge just after the fire started, Vernon said.
Anyone with information about the case was urged to call Detective Ryan Verna at (818) 838-9976 or leave anonymous tips at Crimestoppers (800) 222-TIPS (8477) or LAPDOnline.org and click on "webtips".