LASD announces $20K reward in killing of marine in Bellflower

Homicide detectives with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department are searching for three people in the death of Peter Chounthala, a 42-year-old Marine.

Two of the suspects beat up Chounthala severely and left him in the street at Virginia Ave. and Artesia Blvd in Bellflower. The third man ran over Chounthala and didn’t stop. The vehicle was described as possibly a 2021 to 2023 Kia K5 dark-colored four-door sedan, according to LASD Lieutenant Patricia Thomas.

The sheriff’s department is offering a $20,000 reward in the case.

Chounthala’s wife Jurina said their three-year-old son doesn’t understand his father is gone.

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“He's so used to seeing his dad and hearing his dad. His dad is of Laotian descent, so his dad only ever spoke to him in Laos,” she said. “ And so waking up and seeing pictures of his dad and not hearing his dad speak to him in his native tongue has been difficult.”

Anybody with information is asked to call the L.A. County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500 or on lacrimestoppers.org , if you want to remain anonymous.

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