LOS ANGELES – A man who was found fatally shot at a downtown Los Angeles gas station was identified Friday.
Officers responded around 3 a.m. Thursday to Figueroa Street and Washington Boulevard on reports of a man down, Los Angeles Police Department Officer Melissa Podany said.
William Castellanos, 30, was identified by the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office. Police found him in the gas station’s parking lot.
Castellanos was pronounced dead at the scene, and police were investigating the death as a homicide, although no suspect information was immediately available.
What appeared to be a high-caliber weapon was found next to Castellanos’ body.
“It appears the weapon that is at (the) scene here is some type of assault rifle,” LAPD Lt. Ryan Rabbett told reporters at the scene. “We’re still trying to verify the make and model of that.”
He said officers were reviewing surveillance camera footage from the gas station and other businesses. But he suggested there may have been an exchange of gunfire.
“We don’t know if it’s a shootout at this point, but there have been several pieces of evidence as far as casings located in the parking lot,” he said.
