Gerld Aundre Burrell

Gerld Aundre Burrell, a 63-year-old man, was shot and killed inside his apartment in downtown Los Angeles, California, in the early hours of Sunday, June 19, 2022. His death is the subject of an ongoing homicide investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department.

The incident occurred at an apartment complex in the 500 block of South San Pedro Street, near San Julian Park in the area often referred to as Skid Row. At approximately 12:30 a.m., LAPD Central Patrol officers responded to a radio call for an “Ambulance Death Investigation.” When they arrived, they found Mr. Burrell lying on the floor of his apartment unit. He had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Paramedics with the Los Angeles Fire Department were called to the scene and pronounced him dead.

Homicide detectives from the LAPD’s Central Bureau began an immediate investigation. A motive for the shooting has not been determined, but the investigation revealed the violence of that night extended beyond the killing of Mr. Burrell. According to police, the gunman also attempted to shoot three other people within the apartment complex. Fortunately, no other injuries were reported. The case was assigned to Detectives Carrero Ortiz and Detective Wright.

As part of their investigation, detectives reviewed surveillance video from the apartment building. The footage captured a suspect fleeing the location shortly after the shooting. Police identified the man they believe is responsible for Mr. Burrell’s murder as Deshawn Dequan Porter, who was 27 years old at the time. His date of birth is June 3, 1995. The surveillance video also showed that Porter was not alone.

Police stated that a woman, described only as a female Black, was seen with Porter and assisted him after the shooting. The video clips released to the public show the woman walking down a set of stairs before meeting up with Porter. The two are then seen talking before entering an elevator together and leaving the building. While Porter was named, the woman who was with him has never been publicly identified.

In early July 2022, the LAPD publicly appealed for help in locating both Deshawn Dequan Porter and his unidentified female companion. They released the surveillance footage and asked anyone with information to come forward. The department circulated photos of Porter and stills from the video showing the woman who was with him.

As of the latest available information, no arrests have been made in the killing of Gerld Aundre Burrell. The case remains an open and unsolved homicide. Deshawn Dequan Porter is still wanted by the Los Angeles Police Department in connection with the murder.

Anyone with information about the shooting, the whereabouts of Deshawn Dequan Porter, or the identity of the woman who assisted him is urged to contact LAPD Central Bureau Homicide Detectives Carrero Ortiz or Detective Wright at 213-996-4118. To provide information during non-business hours or on weekends, calls can be directed to 877-527-3247. For those who wish to remain anonymous, tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.