Suspect in killing of Venice woman pregnant with twins might be linked to other incidents

The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating whether a man arrested in the rape and killing of a Venice woman pregnant with twins might be responsible for other sexual crimes on the Westside.

A 39-year-old woman was sexually assaulted and stabbed to death in her apartment in the 1600 block of Electric Avenue late Tuesday night. A 22-year-old man was detained at the location and has been booked on suspicion of murder, police said.

Authorities identified the suspect as Boneetio Kentro Washington of Culver City. He was allegedly spotted running from the house as police responded to a 911 call.

On Thursday, residents expressed shock over the crime.

According to KTLA News, the woman may have been taking groceries to and from her car at the time she was attacked. A neighbor -- possibly the landlord of the duplex -- saw the suspect go into the woman's apartment and called police, who arrested the suspect as he was leaving the apartment.

The woman's name was not immediately released. It's unclear whether the attack was random.

The LAPD said this morning that officers were trying to determine if Washington was tied to other recent assaults in Venice.

-- Richard Winton and Ruben Vives

Photo: The crime scene in Venice. Credit: KTLA News.

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Comments

[Bob S.]

What is that picture of? How does it relate to this story?

[daphne]

I used to live so close by to this- when I was a single woman and it was a scary place back then- 15 years ago. It was common place to hear gunshots a few times a week. I thought it had improved. What a horrendous, horrendous thing.

[KK]

What an awful crime but I guess there is nothing you and I can do about. We are literally on our own. Too many bad guys roaming the street. Cops cannot be everywhere. The self defense law sucks too. One can only shoot an intruder if you are being attacked. That may not happen because you are probably dead.

[Schigolch]

You print a picture of the front door, but cannot find a picture of the perpetrator?

[Peaches]

Would it be possible to get some information on the "other recent assaults in Venice?"

[Jonathan]

This is really sad. I cannot believe that knives are so prevalent and easy to obtain in our society. I hope something good will come of this and people will wake up and see that we need stricter controls on knives. They are way too dangerous just to let people walk into a store and buy one, without even a background check.

[yvette]

i cant believe the landlord didnt go and try to do something just called the police?!!we have to make these criminal know that we will help each other. many people see things but dont come forward.

[Don F.]

What was the time line for 911-LAPD response? Seems like if call was made when suspect entered home, it took a long time for police to respond. Please clarify.

[CommonSense]

What took so long for the police to come that he was able to rape and kill her when the neighbor called immediately when they saw him go into her house?!!! And the comment about Venice PD being too busy...Bullsh*t. I have watched them give someone a ticket because a plastic bag blew by them and harrassed vendors but ignore the knife fight going on a block away.

[Bob]

The front yard of that house looks like a Jungle with that Bamboo and other various plants. It may not be the killer's fault. I think the Plants triggered an animal savage instinct in the killer. I remember seeing similar plants during the killing scene of Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman. I think the plants trigger the animal instinct to hunt and kill in some human beings. It may not be the killerrs fault. He just resorted to what goes on with instinct. I had a cat try to stalk me the other day.

[peter wolf]

Venice. Used to be a nice place. then came the drug culture in the 70's. the decent people moved out, the scum moved in. the rest is history.

[Mel]

The picture a snapshot of the front of her house.

[ndirish]

If this clown is guilty just hang him or execute him right away, why should anyone that does that to rape and kill a woman pregnant with twins be even allowed to breath? If guilty he killed 3 defenseless people, coward and a punk that is all that he is. I dont want to read this crap about treating him with dignity and respect. He dont deserve nothing but torture until he is dead.

[Hello]

Um, who hired this writer? How many months pregnant was she? Did the babies survive? Maybe that would be something we'd want to know, you think?

[wait a second]

The landlord saw the suspect follow the victim into her apartment. The landlord called 911. The police didn't arrive until the suspect was leaving. If the landlord had just instantly gone to the unit, shouted, yelled, said "police are coming," the woman might not be dead. He didn't have to confront the suspect directly, just distract him from the crime. It sounds like police arrived probably 20 minutes later after the woman was raped and murdered.

[wait a second]

The photo is of the house. See the house number on it. It matches the one in the story.

[skaz]

The landlord called the police when the animal was first going into the woman's house, and he had time to rape and murder her, and already start to flee before they showed up?!!

[dr]

why would she be taking groceries to her car?

[LOU BON]

another black crime.

[so]

So the landlord called the police but didn't do anything else? They could have saved this woman's life! How long did it take the cops to get there? There is a police substation right there in Venice, always lots of cops patrolling around. Something doesn't sound right. Before the cops got there this woman was raped and murdered? We really are on our own in this world. I've heard and seen enough. I left Venice earlier this year for the deep forest. I'll take my chances with the cougars and bears.

[Jim Q. Citizen]

No one seems to know that Venice is chock-full of housing projects and that the extremely violent Shoreline Crips gang claim the area and often feud with another violent gang calling itself Venice 13. Both of these groups of hoodlums have been in Venice for generations. Greedy landlords aren't about to tell future residents what they may be getting themselves into when moving into Venice. It's true that the police cannot be everywhere but there are many places a prudent person should not be in the first place.

Hats off to the L.A.P.D. for their quick work in busting the low-life monster who committed this horrific crime.

[steve]

I don't understand how he had time to rape the woman if the neighbor saw him going in there? How long did it take to respond? Poor woman. I always say everyone always thinks they're fine until something happens to them. The laws we have are a joke. Cops don't bust other cops wives or girlfriends for carrying a gun without a permit but everyone else is fair game for them. SICK OF THE HYPOCRISY. They live by no laws and expect all of us to live by the rules...LIKE SITTING DUCKS.

[GEE]

Could this be the same person who is the alleged suspect? If so, it appears that he first committed a crime at age 16:

http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi/viewoffender.do?method=view&offenderID=824836

Is is possible that a young person's bad behavior that is not corrected by suffering consequences gradually leads to more severe crimes as the person gets older?

[PC BS]

Why no picture of the suspect? I call BS!

We all know the cops have a mugshot, and we all know they would release it quickly, if requested, as an aid to investigation. Instead we got his name, age, city of residence and a full color photo of the landscaping near the crime scene! No photo, no detective name & no phone #!

Likely the photos of the killer & his victim reverse the normal PC casting on Law & Order, etc, and so the LA Times gives it the back-burner treatment. Stop this PC BS and protect the public!!!

[Linda B]

It's sad that when these animals go to prison they are usually? protected from the general population same with baby and child killers all protected....Why? Let them enjoy the freedom in prison all have, would save $$ on clothing food medical rom and board ( if you get my meaning)!