Man Assaulted and Killed in Pasadena

A man was assaulted and killed in the 100 block of North Catalina Avenue on Friday, March 8, shortly before 11 p.m., police said.

Initial reports indicated the man was a Pasadena resident, but on Saturday afternoon a police statement identified the victim as 35-year-old Desmond Terence Murrell, an Azusa resident.

Police said officers were summoned to the multi-unit residential building by the Pasadena Fire Dept., which was on the scene for a medical call involving a man who was not breathing.

Despite lifesaving measures performed by paramedics before the officers arrived, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene due to injuries, according to Locklin.

Authorities believe that an unknown suspect or suspects assaulted the victim and that he died as a result of the physical assault.

Pasadena Police Lt. Derek Locklin said no weapon is believed to have been used.

Detectives from the Pasadena Robbery Homicide Unit have taken over the ongoing investigation, Locklin said.

As of Saturday morning, there was no description available about suspects or motive in the killing.

The identity of the victim has not been released pending notification of next of kin.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to call the Pasadena Police at (626) 744-4241 or report information anonymously by contacting “Crime Stoppers” at (800) 222-TIPS (8477) via your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile App on Google Play or the Apple App Store, or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.