Skid Row Murder Suspect Behind Bars
Authorities did not immediately determine a motive
A 27-year-old woman was behind bars Tuesday on suspicion of murder after she allegedly shot another woman on Skid Row in front of dozens of witnesses.
Michelle Cato was locked up at the Los Angeles Police Department's 77th Street Station early Tuesday, her bail set at $1 million, according to the Los County Sheriff's Department Web site.
Los Angeles police detectives think the shooting may have resulted from a dispute over narcotics and that the victim's 23-year-old son was the original target, according to the LA Times.
"Based on the suspect's criminal background, she was on parole for drug-related convictions, and not living on skid row, we suspect that narcotics was at the root of this dispute," Det. Paul Vernon told the Times.
Witnesses, including the victim's 23-year-old son, chased Cato south on San Julian Street, then west on Sixth Street toward LAPD's Central Station, where a motorcycle officer took her into custody.
"This appears to be a cold-blooded shooting," Vernon said. "The suspect shot this woman in full view of the victim's 23-year-old son and dozens of bystanders."
The motorcycle officer grabbed Cato and held her while witnesses directed detectives to a small caliber handgun lying on the sidewalk, where Cato had tried to escape.
"This is a tragic, senseless murder, but thankfully we see far fewer shootings on Skid Row than we used to," Vernon said. "Clearly, this suspect had no compunction" against taking a life or getting caught.
"There's no street with more cops or more cameras per square foot than San Julian Street," he said.
Neither Cato, the victim, nor her son lived on Skid Row, according to police. They all had addresses in South Los Angeles.
Cato was initially held Monday without bail because she was on parole for a prior narcotics conviction, authorities said. Jail records show she was arrested Oct. 7 and held for an undetermined time at the 77th Street Station on $50,000 bail. It was not clear when she was released.
