A Canadian actor was found beaten to death Friday inside of a Hollywood Hills home, and neighbors say the man suspected in the homicide has been seen in the area before.
The male victim -- identified as Richard Hong, 41 -- was found at 2:17 a.m. as officers investigated a reported burglary in the 6700 block of Milner Road, said Los Angeles police Officer Drake Madison of the department's Media Relations Division.
Police said a man wearing a black jacket was seen "fleeing" the area, according to the LAPD. That man was described as black, about 5 feet 8 inches tall with a thin build and short black hair, according to Madison.
The Whitley Terrace Association said surveillance video turned into the LAPD shows the same man casing the area for the past two weeks.
"Many of you have seen the reports of a homicide, which occurred early this morning in the home I rent in Los Angeles,'' Canadian TV talk show host George Stroumboulopoulos, who owns the home, wrote in a statement. "I only have a few details but it seems like it was the result of a break-in. The victim was a dear friend of mine, who was staying at my place while I was away. I am heartbroken."
The broadcaster said he was "writing this from a plane en route to Los Angeles from New York, so I can be with my friends there, who are also devastated. There's so much to say but I'm at a loss for words so just love your people. I will have more to say when we know more about what happened."
Stroumboulopoulos hosted the CBC TV talk show "George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight" from 2014 to this year.
