Los Angeles police have arrested a man in the shooting death of a onetime local basketball star at a heavily promoted New Year's Eve party at a rented Coldwater Canyon mansion.
Gilbert Llewelyn McDonald, 34, was booked on suspicion of murder late Friday night in the death of Felix L. Lang Jr., 28. The onetime Los Angeles Valley College basketball star's body was found slumped on a curb across the street from the trashed four-story stucco home in the 3900 block of Avenida del Sol on New Year's Day.
The shooting occurred near Harvard-Westlake School and St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church and is the latest incident involving so-called party houses, sprawling hillside mansions that host illegal, professionally catered and paid events.
According to authorities, Lang was killed as a raucous New Year's Eve party was winding down about 4 a.m. Lang reportedly got into an argument over a taco plate with McDonald, who was acting as a self-appointed bouncer, police said. Lang, according to authorities, did not pay for the food, and McDonald followed him outside, where the confrontation turned physical.
Shortly after the men began fighting the suspect produced a handgun, and as the two struggled, the weapon discharged. No one was apparently hit by that round.
After some moments, the suspect pointed the handgun at the victim and fired several rounds at close range. It was this decision to fire that prompted police to book McDonald on suspicion of murder. It did not appear to be a case of self-defense, they said.
"He had the option to stop before he shot him," said Lt. Alan Hamilton.
Afterward, McDonald was admitted to a local hospital for treatment of a broken femur. Detectives interviewed him at the hospital Friday and arrested him there. He was being held on $1 million bail.
Police described McDonald as a friend of a female party promoter who organized the New Year's bash at the hillside estate on a winding street of three- and four-story houses with canyon and ridge-top views. The property, police said, is in foreclosure.
The home had been rented by three men, one of whom was out of town.
Police described the event as a "pay-at-the-door, illegal party," a type that has become increasingly popular during the real estate foreclosure crisis. "Unfortunately, we're seeing these in foreclosed homes," Hamilton said of the parties. "You get what you get in that type of situation."
