Man charged with murder in death of girlfriend in North Hollywood, prosecutors say

A man who was arrested over the weekend on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and domestic violence in North Hollywood has been charged with murder after his girlfriend died at a hospital, according to prosecutors. 

Police were called to the 12900 block of Willard Street, just near the 170 Freeway and Roscoe Boulevard, at around 4:40 p.m. on Saturday after a female victim was found in the area suffering from major head trauma, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. 

The woman was rushed to a nearby hospital where she was listed in grave condition until she died on Monday, police said. 

During investigation, detectives were able to identify the suspect as Panorama City resident Edgar Gutierrez. They say that he and the victim had been dating for nearly two years and were involved in some sort of altercation outside of a home in the area. 

According to police, Gutierrez entered a car in the area while the woman was standing near the driver's side door. He attempted to drive away as she was holding onto the car, they noted. 

It was then that he allegedly accelerated as he drove through residential streets "making violent maneuvers to force the victim from the car," police said. 

Eventually she was thrown from the car and struck the pavement, at which point Gutierrez fled the scene, police said. 

During a search warrant served by Burbank Police Department officers on Sunday, Gutierrez was located and taken into custody without further incident. 

He has been booked at the LAPD Valley Jail on suspicion of attempted murder and is being held in lieu of $1 million bail. Police say the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office filed murder charges against him on Tuesday. 

Anyone who knows more about the incident is asked to contact LAPD at (818) 374-9550.