Parolee Sought in Slaying of Man After Shooting Dog : Violence: Family mourns Transito Velado, who was killed when he confronted the gunman. Police say the suspect, nicknamed ‘Psycho,’ is ‘extremely unstable.’

Transito Velado, the father of five who was gunned down when he confronted a manwho had wounded his dog, was buried Thursday as detectives requested the public’s help in apprehending the suspected killer: a 23-year-old reputed gang member on parole for manslaughter.

Los Angeles police detectives identified Michael Anthony Leslie, who uses the nickname “Psycho,” as the man who shot Velado’s German shepherd in the leg Friday morning. Velado raced out of his home to confront the man and was killed with a single bullet to the head.

The gunman was heard laughing as he fled the scene on a residential street south of USC, leaving the 39-year-old security guard to die on a neighbor’s lawn as his children watched.

Police said Leslie--described as 5 feet, 11 inches tall, and weighing 210 pounds--is believed to have headed for the Riverside area and said he is considered extremely dangerous. The weapon, a semiautomatic handgun, has not been recovered.

“He is extremely unstable. He does know he’s wanted,” Lt. Sergio Robleto said. “There is some speculation that the suspect may have been involved in being violent toward animals before. It could be this whole incident was precipitated because this person had a dislike for animals.”

Detectives declined to provide details of Leslie’s alleged violence toward animals or the circumstances of the manslaughter conviction. They only said that he lived near Velado andthat search warrants served at two residences turned up evidence leading them to believe he is the killer.

“We are, as you might say, in hot pursuit,” Robleto said at a news conference outside the Velado’s modest home, where family members mourned, still in their dress clothes from the burial. Velado’s dog, Oso, lay on a couch on the front porch, his left front leg in a cast and a protective collar around his neck to keep him from nibbling at the wound.

Mirian Velado said her husband was preparing to take his daughters to school when he was killed. “Why did he take him away from me, why?” she moaned.

A neighbor from the next street over, still in his Caltrans uniform, approached the widow gingerly and put a $20 bill in her hand. He wanted to do something sooner but pay day was Thursday. He cashed his check after work and came straight to the home.

“I’ve lived here 20 years. These fools are going crazy around here,” Maurice Johnson said as he walked away. “We need to make more of an effort to get together and do something about it.”

Since news of the shooting broke, scores of callers--from working-class people to a television producer--have sought to donate money to the family. Mirian Velado earns $6 an hour as a dental assistant and is now the sole support of her children, ages 17 months to 14.

Anyone wishing to make a donation can do so by calling The Times’ Community Affairs Department.

The murder was one of scores in a city that averages three a day, but detectives at LAPD’s South Bureau were particularly moved by this one, sending counselors and taking advantage of television cameras to make a personal plea for donations to the family.

“We have the opportunity to try to help this family. They have a financial need too,” said Robleto, who was invited to the funeral.

He intended to be there, but was detained at the last minute.

“We had another murder,” he said.