Man Held in Fatal Torching; 2nd Is Sought

One of two teenagers accused of killing a man by setting him afire in a convenience store parking lot in May has been arrested, authorities said Wednesday.

Jose Manuel Carranza, 18, of Sylmar, was arrested Monday and was being held at the Men’s Central Jail, said Det. Lance Steaman of the San Fernando Police Department. Authorities were still seeking his alleged accomplice, Edward Bazaure, 19, of Woodland Hills.

According to authorities, Luciano Lugo Olmeda, 45, of Los Angeles was set afire about 3 a.m. May 18 in the parking lot of the store at Glenoaks Boulevard and Maclay Street.

When police arrived, Olmeda was conscious but severely burned, Steaman said. He was taken to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center and treated for third-degree burns over half of his body. He later died at County/USC Medical Center’s burn unit.

Initially, it was thought Olmeda may have been homeless and the injuries may have been accidental, authorities said.

But witnesses later told detectives and Los Angeles Fire Department arson investigators they saw Olmeda come from behind the building with his shirt on fire about the same time some youths jumped into a gray car and sped away.

Olmeda had been sitting against the wall of the store when he allegedly was approached by Carranza and Bazaure. Carranza kicked Olmeda, breaking his jaw, Steaman said.

When Olmeda tried to get up, Carranza poured a canister of flammable liquid into Olmeda’s lap and torched him with a lighter before the two youths fled in a 1981 Chevrolet El Camino, Steaman said.

The incident appeared to be a random act of violence, Steaman said. Olmeda “just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time,” he said.