The name of the man who died has been released. The names of all the other people who were reported to have been involved in the incident were not issued.
By Jonathan Friedman / Assistant Editor
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department confirmed last Thursday that the man who was killed in an incident on June 24 at a turnout near Lunita Road and Pacific Coast Highway was 43-year-old Van Nuys resident Christopher Kamsler. No further information about Kamsler was issued.
The Sheriff’s Department has not released the name of the man who, according to a report written by Sheriff’s Deputy Oscar Butao, subdued Kamsler to prevent Kamsler from continuing to attack his elderly mother and her friend. Sheriff’s officials also declined to say whether the unnamed man could be charged with anything, or to discuss the condition and names of the elderly woman and her friend. Also, the exact cause of Kamsler’s death was not released.
“Sheriff’s Homicide detectives are continuing their investigation,” Butao wrote.
According to Butao’s report, “The suspect [Kamsler] was involved in an argument with his elderly mother and her friend when he became enraged and assaulted the victims by violently hitting and kicking them.
“A man who witnessed the attack intervened and attempted to subdue the suspect. He was able to take the suspect to the ground, at which time he stopped resisting. The suspect appeared to be unconscious. Paramedics responded and began initial treatment of the suspect at the scene. The suspect was then transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.”
A man named Greg Lewis, who said he witnessed the incident, called The Malibu Times last week and told a similar story to the one in Butao’s report. Lewis said last week that the man who allegedly subdued Kamsler was a good Samaritan.
“I witnessed the man save the lives of these two people,” Lewis said.
Lewis said he knew the name of the man who allegedly subdued Kamsler, but said he did not want to say what it was in respect of the man’s privacy. Lewis also said the man was arrested that day, but later was released and told he would not be charged with anything. Sheriff’s officials would not comment on whether that happened.
It was reported that there were several witnesses to the incident. Anybody who did see the events unfold should contact The Malibu Times at 456.5507 ext. 105.
Look for updates on the newspaper’s Web site this week at www.malibutimes.com.