Crime & Safety

Chatsworth Double-Killing Suspect Shot, Captured

Detectives were searching for a homicide suspect after he shot at officers near a Ralphs supermarket on the corner of Ventura Boulevard and Libbit Avenue on Sunday night.

  • Click here for previous story.

Bulletin, 4:30 a.m.: Brent D. Zubek, 43, who is wanted in connection with the killing of a Chatsworth couple, was captured on an Encino rooftop this morning, his gun beside him. KABC-TV reports that he may have been wounded in the hip. More than 100 officers, including a SWAT team and K9 dogs, were involved in the hunt. Separately, there is a report of a fire at the house on Lassen Street where the decomposing bodies were found. Return to Patch later this morning for more details.

Update, 4:19 a.m.: Officers searching for Brent Zubek report that shots have been fired within the search perimeter in Encino. He's wanted for the slayings of two people whose decomposed bodies were found in a dumpster in Chatsworth.

Update: Police were still searching for the suspect at 1 a.m. LAPD released the following alert: "Suspect is armed and dangerous. Please stay inside and secure your residence. If you see or hear anything suspicious, please call 911."

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A perimeter was being set up Sunday night near Ventura Boulevard and Hayvenhurst Avenue in Encino in search of a Chatsworth double-homicide suspect who fired shots at police, West Valley LAPD confirmed.

Sgt. Vik Walia from the West Valley station told Patch that detectives spotted the murder suspect near a Ralphs supermarket on the corner of Ventura Boulevard and Libbit Avenue around 9:30 p.m. Sunday.

Walia said that the suspect may have been wearing a wig when he fired shots at the officers and fled the scene.

Find out what's happening in Northridge-Chatsworthwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"I don't even know if the officers shot back," he said at 10:54 p.m. "They're sending K9 units now."

Preliminary reports suggest the suspect may be Brent D. Zubek, 43, who is wanted in connection with the discovery of the murdered  Chatsworth couple on August 13. (Click here for that story).

Officer Gary Shanahan of the West Valley station said a SWAT team and officers with police dogs began a systematic search of the area about 9:45 p.m.

Los Angeles Councilman Mitch Englander announced Friday a $75,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in connection with the slayings of a man and woman found dead in a trash bin at a Lassen Street home in Chatsworth.

Englander called the killings a "heinous, vicious crime.''

Zubek’s connection to the man and woman has not been made clear by authorities. But they did say Zubek lived in the home for a time.

When police announced him as a suspect they also said he was armed and dangerous.

The victims' decomposing bodies were found at a home in the 20400 block of Lassen Street by homicide detectives.

Police believe the crime occurred about five to six weeks ago, according to LAPD Cmdr. Jim Cansler. Police received information "during the first week of August'' about a potential homicide in Chatsworth and discovered the victims after serving a search warrant at the location, according to LAPD Capt. Kris Pitcher, the Devonshire Division's new commanding officer.

Anyone with information is asked to call West Valley detectives at 818-374-7611. Anonymous tips can be made through Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

City News Service contributed to this report.


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