Investigation underway of child's body found in Panorama City parking lot
Los Angeles Police Department officers are investigating the death of a young boy, possibly between 3 to 4 years old, who was found dead Saturday morning in a Panorama City parking lot. By Monday, authorities estimated the boy to be between 5 to 6 years old, but still had not identified him.
Officers responded around 7 a.m. to the 8200 block of Van Nuys Boulevard, to a large parking lot adjacent to a medical building. LAPD Detective Meghan Aguilar said LAPD's Juvenile Division/Abused Child Unit is handling the investigation. "It is customary in these sorts of situations, a child this age, deceased, for them to respond and take over the investigative responsibilities," she said.
Officers were in the immediate area, canvassing for potential video and witnesses. Detectives aren't releasing details of exactly where the child's body was found in the parking lot.
"It's outraged many people, so everyone is trying to think of anything they could have possibly seen, or any way they can help … We would encourage anyone who thinks they may know even who this young child is, to contact the Los Angeles Police Department," Aguilar said.
She noted that the medical examiner would usually rely on fingerprints for identification. "We wouldn't expect there to be fingerprints of this child in a database. So we do need to hear from the public, if they have any idea who this child may be."
The detective said one of the key steps in the investigation is identifying this child first. "We're already working within LAPD and local law enforcement to reach out if someone matching this description -- again, a 3- to 4-year-old male, African-American, has been reported missing, or is missing."
