2 Held in Parking-Lot Killing at North Hollywood Motel
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Two San Fernando Valley men were arrested on suspicion of killing a 46-year-old Panorama City man found shot to death in the parking lot of a North Hollywood motel, Los Angeles police said Friday.
Police arrested Frank Vela, 20, of Panorama City on Thursday night and Juan Blom, 24, of Sun Valley early Friday. Both men were taken into custody at their residences and are being held without bail in the North Hollywood Jail, Lt. Ron La Rue said.
They are accused in the death of Lonny Van Deford, a quality-control inspector at a Van Nuys firm. Van Deford was found early Thursday lying in the parking lot of the Fiesta Motel with several bullet holes in his chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said the shooting had no connection to the use of some of the motel’s units to house homeless families.
La Rue refused to disclose the motive in the shooting or to discuss the evidence against Blom and Vela. Police plan to present their case to the district attorney’s office Tuesday, he said.
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