CALIFORNIA BRIEFING

By Jack Leonard

Sept. 14, 2009 12 AM PT

A man was killed early Sunday when a heavy metal gate fell on him as he apparently tried to break into a South Los Angeles business complex, authorities said.

Police believe the man was trying to slip past the gate in the 1800 block of East 41st Place near Alameda Street when he was crushed.

The man “was allegedly trying to open the gate . . . to enter the business for some sort of nefarious reason,” said Los Angeles Police Lt. Faryl Fletcher.

The man’s body was discovered at 2:30 a.m. Several businesses operate at the location, including an auto mechanic shop.

Los Angeles County Coroner’s Lt. Cheryl MacWillie said authorities had yet to identify the man.

-- Jack Leonard

More to Read

California

Jack Leonard

As senior editor of investigations, Jack Leonard oversaw the work of a team of investigative reporters. As a reporter, he was part of the team that exposed fraud and abuse in California’s conservatorship system, a series that won several national awards. He went on to investigate how early releases from L.A.’s jail system perverts justice and fosters more crime on the street. Later, he worked on a sweeping expose of abuse and corruption in the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department.

CALIFORNIA BRIEFING

More to Read

More From the Los Angeles Times