WEST LOS ANGELES : $25,000 Reward Posted in Slaying of Caterer

The Los Angeles City Council has posted a $25,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the killer or killers of Louis Weitzberg, the 72-year-old operator of a downtown catering firm.

Weitzberg was fatally shot as he parked his Mercedes-Benz sedan in the gated underground garage of his West Los Angeles condominium on the evening of Oct. 28 last year.

“We haven’t uncovered any eyewitnesses,” said LAPD Detective James Harper, “but more than likely, there’s someone out there who knows what happened and hopefully we’ll get a call.”

Weitzberg, who got his start operating hot dog stands around town, was an old friend and financial contributor of City Councilman Hal Bernson, who authored the motion approving the reward.

“We knew the guy that used to be called ‘Hot Dog Louie,’ ” said Greg Smith, Bernson’s chief deputy. “Once they said they needed assistance in getting clues, we were more than happy to help.”