Update: Police search for clues in Glendale’s first homicide of the year

Police investigators were combing a northwest Glendale neighborhood Monday morning searching for clues into the death of an 81-year-old man who was severely beaten, which has now been confirmed as the first homicide this year in Glendale.

Family members reported that their grandfather may have suffered a gunshot wound at 5:31 a.m. and was bleeding profusely inside his apartment in the 1800 block of West Glenoaks Boulevard, Glendale Police Sgt. Tom Lorenz said.

Police arrived and found no evidence of a shooting, but discovered he had been beaten during a possible home-invasion burglary.

The man, whose name hasn’t been released, was taken to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, where he later died, police said.

Lorenz described the incident as “heinous.”

Investigators have ruled out the man’s family as suspects in his death, while neighbors have also told them they didn’t hear anything that morning.

Police are still looking into a possible motive in the man’s death as they go door-to-door to talk with neighbors and local business owners. Detectives are also looking for surveillance video in the area.

The man’s family lives on the second story of the apartment building, Lorenz said. The man lived alone on the first story, where he said detectives did not find any signs of a forced entry.

Still, neighbors were stunned about the violent nature of the man’s death.

Resident Robert Argundi walks his dog every morning and often saw the man watching TV inside his apartment.

While Argundi never talked to the man, he said his death comes as a shock, especially because the neighborhood has been relatively unscathed by crime.

“I am surprised,” he said. “It’s a pretty safe neighborhood.”

But resident Andres Rico said the neighborhood has been stricken by crime in the past year.

He attributed a string of car burglaries to possible drug activity in the area.

Still, Rico said he occasionally spoke to the man, whom he described as calm.

“Nothing like this has ever happened here,” he said.

Anyone with details about the man’s death may call Glendale Police Department’s robbery/homicide detail at (818) 548-3987. To remain anonymous, call Glendale Crime Stoppers at call (818) 507-7867.

-- Veronica Rocha, veronica.rocha@latimes.com

Follow on Google+ and on Twitter: @VeronicaRochaLA

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