A well-known Skid Row resident, Conrad Fitzgerald Phillip, 41, known by the nickname, Dread, for the long dreadlocks he wore, was murdered early on the morning of April 20.

Just after 5:00am, security guards from several buildings reported hearing a gunshot in the vicinity of the SB Lofts on Los Angeles Street.  One guard saw an African-American male, wearing a green jacket, running toward Main Street from Los Angeles Street.  A few minutes later, the guard found Phillip lying on the west sidewalk of Los Angeles Street at 6th Street, next to a skateboard shop.  Paramedics pronounced Phillip dead from an apparent gunshot wound to the head.

“Despite the early hour, we know there were many people in the area who saw this happen,” said Lt. Paul Vernon, commanding officer of the Central Detective Division.  “We’ve already had several persons come forward with information, but we need more.”

Patrol officers retraced the route of the suspect’s escape and detained a man a few minutes after the shooting, on Main Street.  That man had no gun, but is currently out on parole.  Detectives interviewed him at the police station, then released him without charge.

This shooting was the second murder in downtown this year.  Last year saw a total of 5 homicides downtown, including the double murder at the Lamp Lodge.

“Unlike twenty years ago when we had nearly 50 murders a year downtown, I can count on one hand the annual number of shootings and murders downtown,” Vernon said. “That’s a big change for the better.”

Anyone with information on this crime is urged to call Detective Al Marengo, Central Homicide Unit, at (213)842-0727.