Dateline Cerritos — Sheriff’s deputies responded to a vehicle fire on Denni Street on Sunday morning.
A late model Honda was fully involved. The Fire Dept. extinguished the flames. Hews Media Group-Community Newspaper exclusively confirmed there was a badly burned body in the car.
A resident claimed he heard gunshots the night before.
It was unclear if the death was a homicide or suicide.
One Cerritos resident told us, “Last night during the (Democratic presidential candidates’) debates, we heard the helicopters above. They said there was a bad motor vehicle accident over on the north side of the Regional Park. They couldn’t find the driver.
“I heard the helicopters about 9 p.m. As I understood, a car hit a light pole north of the park, and south of the 91 Freeway.
“Then we heard a gunshot. This morning around 7, we heard the helicopter above. A car was on fire behind my house. My brother was out there. He and another neighbor tried to pull the body out. But they did not succeed. The body was too hot.”
The burned car is registered out of the city of La Palma.
The coroner’s office was investigating to determine if it was a murder or suicide. The body, in the front seat, was too charred.
When the body was pulled from the car, it was of a smaller male.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Dept. Homicide Bureau at 323.890.5500.
Mr. Hews may be contacted at loscerritosnews.net
