Few Clues in Death of Internet Entrepreneur

Sheriff’s investigators Thursday had scant clues about the shooting death of a prominent Internet entrepreneur from Japan during a robbery in Hawthorne.

Roger Boisvert, 50, was on a business trip to Los Angeles last weekend when he was killed after cooperating with a robber by handing over his money and cellular phone, authorities said.

The case is difficult because “only three people were witnesses,” said Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Larry Lincoln. “One is deceased, one survived and the other is the perpetrator.”

Investigators said Boisvert and a friend, whom authorities declined to name, were headed to a Torrance hotel about 4 a.m. Sunday when they became lost and stopped the car to study its computer navigation system. They were on Imperial Highway between Hawthorne and Inglewood boulevards.

Boisvert was a Canadian citizen who lived in Japan, according to Canadian officials. He is survived by his wife, Yuriko; and two sons, Christopher, 21, and Steven, 18.