Pasadena Homicide Detectives Deep in Local Mountains This Morning, Investigating Gunshot Murder

A gruesome gunshot murder deep in the Angeles Crest Forest miles north of Pasadena is being investigated this morning by Pasadena police homicide detectives because a century-old water rights agreement puts the crime scene – technically – within Pasadena’s jurisdiction.

A person driving along Angeles Crest Highway encountered the body lying in the roadway about 1 a.m. near Mile Marker 26.85, approximately 13 miles north of Pasadena, according to scanner reports.

The victim, an unidentified man, was lying face down with gunshot wounds to his back, according to RMG news.

Los Angeles County Fire department personnel along with Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies were called to the scene, but they soon summoned Pasadena officers.

“It goes back to the 1800’s when [Pasadena] got water rights up in that area,” explained Pasadena police Lt. Pete Hettema. Officially, that means the homicide must be handled by Pasadena police.

L.A. County Fire Department paramedics pronounced the man dead.

Authorities interviewed the driver of the car who reported the body. The California Highway Patrol closed the road as of 2:46 a.m.

Little else is known at this time, Hettema said. Pasadena detectives were still in the mountains conducting the investigation at this writing.