A 38-year-old homeless man was arrested on suspicion of killing another homeless man whose body was found at a Venice encampment, police said Saturday.
Police said there may have been an ongoing argument between the victim and his killer, and the person who made the 911 call that reported the death said there had been a dispute between the two.
The body bore signs of blunt force trauma, and was discovered at an encampment near Ocean Front Walk and Dudley Avenue around 3:30 p.m. Friday, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
CBS2 reported that he was 49-year-old Michael Hall.
Around 5:50 p.m. Friday, at Third and Sunset avenues — the site of a different homeless encampment — police arrested Michael McClain of Venice on suspicion of the killing after LAPD homicide detectives learned that a fight had been overheard earlier in the day and that the 911 caller who reported the death said the victim had an ongoing dispute with McClain.
A motive for the killing was unknown.
No bail or court information was immediately available.
Anyone with information on this homicide was asked to call LAPD’s West Bureau Homicide unit at 213-382-9470 or the LAPD’s 24-hour tipline at 877-527-3247. Tipsters can also call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.