PORTER RANCH (CNS) — Three men gunned down inside a home in an upscale Porter Ranch gated community have been identified, and police said the victims apparently knew their killer or killers, disputing speculation the crime was a burglary gone bad.
Gary Davidson, 34, a renter who lived at the home in the 20300 block of Via Galileo; Benny Lopez, 45, of Anaheim; and Jesus Perez, 34, of Perris, were found dead when officers responded about 3:50 p.m. Monday, Feb. 18, to a call of unknown trouble at the location, Los Angeles Police Department Capt. William Hayes told reporters.
Hayes said detectives believe they know what precipitated the killings, but details were being withheld because of the ongoing investigation.
He said reports the homicides may have stemmed from a botched burglary appear to be unfounded, saying Davidson allowed the killer or killers inside the home.
The triple homicide was “not a random act and the suspect or suspects were likely known to the victims,” Hayes said.
“… I can’t tell you whether items are missing from the home,” he said. “I know there was a theory (in the media) … that it was a burglary and that this was the result of a failed burglary attempt. It’s clearly not that. Mr. Davidson allowed these individuals into the house and the shooting occurred in there.”
According to Hayes, a woman who lives at the home was in an upstairs bedroom and heard what she believed to be a gunshot. The woman tried to somehow contact Davidson, but when she was unable to reach him, she called police, Hayes said.
The killer or killers “were in there for some period of time,” Hayes said, adding that there did appear to be some type of a struggle.
Video from the scene Monday showed shattered glass by a door leading to a backyard and a person sitting in front of the home wrapped in a blanket and appearing visibly distressed.