Security guard killed in shooting outside student apartment complex near USC, police say

UNIVERSITY PARK, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A security guard for an off-campus apartment complex was shot and killed early Wednesday morning outside the student residential building located less than a mile from the USC campus, police said.

The shooting was reported about 12:30 a.m. in front of the Lorenzo student apartments in the 300 block of West Adams Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The Lorenzo's website describes the facility as "an upscale student housing community near USC."

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene, said LAPD Lt. Ryan Rabbett. Police initially described the man as being in his 30s. The Los Angeles County coroner's office later said he was in his 40s, adding that his identity was withheld pending notification of his family.

A man described as person of interest was detained after police said he was found in possession of a gun. That man was being questioned by detectives and his arrest was announced in the evening.

"Detectives were able to review video and determined that the person detained was the suspect in this incident," police said in a news release.

The suspect, identified by police as 31-year-old Alexader Crawford, was taken into custody and booked on suspicion of murder.

Police said Crawford matched the description of the suspect, and he was in possession of a gun that matched the handgun caliber used in the murder.

The shooting was possibly prompted by a dispute over trespassing, Rabbett said.

"It appears at this point it was some type of dispute that led up to it, so I don't think he was targeted or the location itself was targeted," Rabbett said.

The "security guard, to my knowledge, was not armed and did not shoot," the lieutenant told reporters.

USC student Pedram Zamanpour told Eyewitness News he was on the balcony of his apartment when he heard almost a dozen gunshots. He said he immediately ran inside and called police.

"It's somebody who woke up not expecting this and they're at a job where yes, their job is security, but you don't expect it," said Zamanpour. At the Lorenzo, nothing like this has ever happened before and to wake up and have that happen, it's a terrible feeling."

USC's campus is half a mile away from the Lorenzo. Zamanpour said he has always felt safe because of the security guards who patrol the building.

"The area has gotten a bad rep for many years, it's up and coming and because of that, there is a need for a little bit more security," he said. "The security guards at Lorenzo, I feel that most of the residents who live here have a good relationship with them. They're kind people at the end of the day who are here to make our lives easier and keep us safe."

Meanwhile, Quyvonne Perry, who told ABC7 her doctor's office shares a parking lot with the Lorenzo, believes she knows the security guard.

"He would make sure that I got to my parking, that I got in and out of the parking," she said. "If I needed help, since it's kind of confusing sometimes. Nice man, and he did his job well and he gave his life for his job, and I'm going to pray for them because this world is getting very wicked."

Several yellow evidence markers were seen on the sidewalk where the shooting occurred. Investigators looking to obtain any surveillance video that may have captured relevant footage.

Metro E Line (Expo) light-rail service was temporarily suspended after the incident, the agency said on Twitter. A bus shuttle was offered between the Pico and Jefferson/USC stations. The E Line service was expected to resume sometime after 8 a.m.

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