CRIME BEAT: Murder Early Wednesday Downtown, Robberies Up in Echo Park

Los Angeles police are looking for suspects seen fighting with a man early Wednesday morning near the Chase Bank building in downtown Los Angeles.  The bank is at 855 South Hill Street.The victim, a man in his 40s with a full beard, was stabbed at least one time and died on the sidewalk.

According to a Central Detective Division release, a witness saw the men fighting near an alcove of the bank around 2.a.m.

“The two men, who appeared to be black, ran away, carrying trash bags, leaving the victim lying on the sidewalk. We don’t know if this was a robbery or just a dispute," said Lt. Paul Vernon, commanding officer of the Central Detective Divison in a release.

A security guard discovered the body just before 4 a.m. when the guard approached the bank’s ATM. Fire department paramedics pronounced the victim dead.

The victim appeared to be a transient. No identification had been found. The victim’s name will be released once his family has been notified.

Anyone with information on this crime is urged to call Detective Al Marengo, Central Homicide Unit, at (213) 972-1249. Online tips may be placed at www.LAPDOnline.org, click on “webtips” and follow the prompts.

Meantime, five robbery-related incidents were reported in Echo Park between April 1-April 7, according to LAPD crime data.

One occurred at Echo Park Avenue and Sunset Boulevards on April 7 at 1 a.m.  Firefighters responded initially. According to a Rampart Division report, the victim, a 20-year-old male, was taken to a local hospital, drowsy and perhaps unconscious.

When he woke up, the victim said he was on the sidewalk when two men approached him from behind and demanded money. He refused, and the next thing he knew he was in the hospital after being struck with an unknown object.

Rampart detectives are investigating the incident, which is being called an attempted robbery.