Gardena kidnap hoax: 3 facing homicide charges

GARDENA, Calif. (KABC) -- Three suspects are facing homicide charges after allegedly killing a 34-year-old man they claim tried to kidnap them Friday, police said.

Gardena police responded to a radio call of a kidnapping in the 13100 block of Daleside Avenue at 5:06 p.m. The caller stated that a man tried to kidnap them but they were able to knock him out and that the man was now unconscious in their truck.

When officers arrived at the truck, the victim was unconscious and not responsive. The man later died, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. He was identified as Bradley Hayes, 34, of Hesperia.

During the later investigation, officials determined the three subjects had never been kidnapped. The suspects and the victim were acquaintances. The victim was assaulted for unknown reasons and later died of his injuries, Lt. Steve Prendergast of the Gardena Police Department said. The medical examiner's office will perform an autopsy to determine his exact cause of death.

The three suspects have since been detained and charged with homicide. They were identified as Jennifer Nichols, 36, of Hawthorne, Alejandro Terrazas, 23, of Hawthorne and a 15-year-old juvenile from Hawthorne.

The investigation is being led by the Gardena Police Department Detective Bureau Robbery/Homicide Detail.