Crime & Safety

$50,000 Reward Announced in Venice Stabbing Murder of Guillermo Carmona-Perez

The Los Angeles Police Department hopes the reward will generate information on the killing, which happened on street in Venice near the beach.

The Los Angeles City Council Friday unanimously approved a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whomever is responsible for the stabbing death of a 24-year-old restaurant worker in Venice.

Guillermo Carmona-Perez was found mortally wounded about 12:15 a.m. Monday at Pacific Avenue and Washington Boulevard. He was rushed to a hospital, but doctors were unable to save him.

The Venice resident worked as a prep and line cook at Mercedes Grill, a restaurant and bar located close to where he was found, and also held a second job at the nearby Baja Cantina.

Find out what's happening in Marina Del Reywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Witnesses have yet to come forward, even though Carmona-Perez was attacked during a busy time of night with plenty of bars and restaurants still operating, authorities said.

City Council member Mike Bonin, who introduced the reward motion, urged people who were in or around Washington Boulevard that night to jog their memories by looking at the photo of Carmona-Perez being circulated by the Los Angeles Police Department.

Find out what's happening in Marina Del Reywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

LAPD West Bureau Detective Steven Katz said that the morning before he was killed, Carmona-Perez assembled a tricycle for his 13-month-old son. He never got the opportunity to see the toddler ride it.

Carmona-Perez was known to his loved ones as "Memo." His partner, Miriam Guirguis, said his death shattered their family.

"We are now left alone; my son is an orphan," she said.

The Indigenous Front of Binational Organizations, which serves indigenous groups living in the U.S. and Mexico, hopes to raise several thousand dollars needed to send Carmona-Perez's body home to the Mexican state of Oaxaca for burial.

Bonin said anyone looking to contribute funds to the effort should contact his office at (213) 473-7011.

The operator of Mercedes Grill, where Carmona-Perez worked, was also collecting donations on behalf of his family.

- City News Service


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.