Man Shot to Death After Calling Police

A Sylmar construction worker, who told police Sunday that he suspected that a co-worker may have burglarized his home, was found shot to death about an hour after he reported the burglary to police, authorities said Monday.

The body of Kevin Long, 38, was found by police at 10:40 p.m. Sunday in the living room of his home in the 15100 block of Paddock Street, said Sgt. Frank Reynoso of the Los Angeles Police Department. Long, who was pronounced dead at the scene, was shot once in the face, authorities said.

Fernando Vasquez, 33, also of Sylmar, was booked on suspicion of murder Monday in connection with Long’s death, said Police Sgt. David Hall. Vasquez was being held without bail at Van Nuys Jail, Hall said.

Vasquez was arrested without incident at Holy Cross Medical Center at 2:15 p.m. where he was being treated for injuries that police suspect he suffered in a fight with Long, said Lt. Gary Hallden.

Police are looking into the possibility that as many as two other men may be involved in the slaying, Hallden said.

When Long reported the burglary at 9:30 p.m., he told police that he had confronted and fought with Vasquez at an undisclosed location near the intersection of Roxford Street and Foothill Boulevard after he discovered the burglary, Hallden said.

He told police that he suspected Vasquez because he had seen Vasquez’s truck parked in his neighborhood when he arrived home, authorities said. Long also told police that Vasquez had threatened to return, said Lt. Joseph Garcia, head of the Foothill detective division.

It was still unclear how many people were involved in the killing because there also were witness reports that three men had entered Long’s home, Hallden said. Witnesses told police that they saw three men in construction-style clothing driving away from Long’s home in a white or tan Chevrolet truck with a camper shell.

No property was recovered and Long provided no specific list of items that were taken, Hallden said.