HOLLYWOOD HILLS—The suspect in the murder of 41 year-old Canadian actor, Richard Hong, in a Hollywood Hills home has been arrested, according to reports. The Los Angeles Police Department met with residents on the night of Monday, October 3 to announce the arrest.
“As a result of evidence obtained that the suspect left at scene, as a result of cameras that the community had, they were able to track him down and make an arrest,” said LAPD Capt. Cory Palka at the meeting.
The suspect was described as a drifter in his early 20s who is believed to be homeless. He was seen in the Whitley Heights neighborhood the day of Hong’s murder. Canyon News had reported on Hong’s murder where the suspect was described as a male who was about 5 feet and 8 inches tall, with short black hair and was wearing a black jacket.
The suspect was arrested in another state, the LAPD confirmed to Canyon News, but the suspect is not in the LAPD custody yet. The Los Angeles Police Department told Canyon News that the suspect is being extradited, which could take up to two weeks, and once he is in the LAPD’s custody his identification and information will be released.
“He does have a criminal history. He has a couple of violent crimes that he has been arrested for,” said Palka.
Hong was staying in the Hollywood Hills home of Canadian TV personality and friend George Stroumboulopoulos who was out of town at the time of Hong’s murder. The LAPD had responded to a suspected burglary in progress and upon arrival had found Hong bludgeoned to death.
“The manner in which he committed the crime was brutal. He was bludgeoned to death. It was very violent and just a tragedy,” said Pallka at the Monday meeting.
