LAPD arrests suspect in death of young boy found in Panorama City

Vigil
Photo credit KNX News 97.1 FM

A 20-year-old man was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of murder in connection with the death of a young boy whose body was found in or near a dumpster in Panorama City.

Bryscon Malik Gaddis was taken into custody by officers from the Los Angeles Police Department's Hollywood Station and was being held on $2 million bail, according to police and sheriff's jail records.

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A second person was arrested on unrelated charges, police said. Their identity was not immediately released.

The arrests followed the detention of five people for questioning after the child's body was found about 7 a.m. Saturday in a parking lot in the 8200 block of Van Nuys Boulevard, just south of Roscoe Boulevard.

Authorities have not said how Gaddis or the others may be related to the boy. However, broadcast reports indicated that one of those detained is the child's parent or guardian.

Police initially said the child appeared to be 3 to 4 years old, but updated that estimate Wednesday to 5 or 6 years old. Broadcast reports indicated the child was found inside a trash bin. The cause of death has not been disclosed.

Detectives with the LAPD's Abused Child Unit were leading the investigation.

"Since then, detectives have worked tirelessly. On July 15, a tip led them to a large Panorama City apartment complex in the 14500 block of Lanark (Street)," the LAPD announced Wednesday. "Around 9:30 p.m., a search warrant was served at one unit -- two adults (one male, one female) were detained, and two children were at the unit."

A vigil for the young victim was taking place as police arrived at the apartment complex, less than a half-mile from where the boy's body was found.

Then at around 1 a.m., while detectives were still collecting evidence at a second unit, LAPD personnel detained two more men and a woman near Sunset Boulevard and Ivar Avenue in Hollywood, police said.

All five adults were taken in for questioning, and the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services took custody of the two children, police said.

No further information was immediately available.

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