NORTH HILLS : Police Seek Killer of Male Transient

Los Angeles police were searching Wednesday for the killer of a transient whose body was found in a vacant lot in Van Nuys.

The body of Luis Ruiz, 42, was found lying under a stand of trees in the 8500 block of Noble Avenue about 7 p.m. Tuesday, Detective Tom Broad said. It appeared that Ruiz had been hit several times in the face and head.

Ruiz may have been involved in an argument that escalated to blows, Broad said.

It was unclear how long he had been dead.