Woodland Hills, CA — Topanga Area Homicide detectives are asking for the public’s help to identify and locate the suspect(s) responsible for killing a 17-year-old high school student. On Wednesday, January 11, 2012, at around 6:10 p.m., uniformed officers assigned to Topanga Division responded to an “Assault with a Deadly Weapon-Shots Fired” radio call in the 6900 block of Cozycroft Avenue in Winnetka. When the officers arrived, they saw a young man lying in the front yard of a residence suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The victim was unconscious and not breathing. The officers immediately rendered medical aid until Los Angeles Fire Department personnel arrived. The victim, Francisco Javier Rodriguez Jr., was transported to a local hospital where he died a short time later. Topanga Division Homicide Detectives are handling the investigation and are following-up on all potential leads.
Anyone with information is asked to call investigators at 818-756-3363, during business hours, or 818-756-4800. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers 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 may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on “webtips” and follow the prompts.