HARBOR GATEWAY : Body of Man Found Hogtied, Rigged With Explosives

Firefighters discovered the body of a man hogtied and rigged with explosives in a Harbor Gateway apartment, authorities said Wednesday.

The body, covered and lying next to a material resembling dynamite, was discovered early Tuesday after firefighters extinguished flames in the walkway and living room of the third-floor apartment, said Los Angeles Police Detective Larry Kallestad.

Authorities suspect that the man was murdered and had been dead at least a day. They have no suspects but believe that the incident was drug-related.

Whoever rigged the man with explosives probably wanted to destroy evidence of the murder, Kallestad said, but the blaze was doused before flames reached the explosives.

Firefighters were called to the apartment in the 1500 block of West Torrance Boulevard about 4:30 a.m. Tuesday after neighbors reported hearing a “whooshing” sound and then watched as gasoline-fueled flames rushed down a walkway, officials said.

The exact cause of the man’s death was unknown, Kallestad said. Police believe the man was about 30 years old and lived in the apartment, but they did not release his name. An autopsy is expected to be completed today, Kallestad said.