Authorities this week today identified a 30-year-old man who was killed in Compton when he was struck by a vehicle driven by a man with whom he had gotten into a fight.
The incident was reported at 10:56 p.m. Monday in the area of Cypress and Crane streets where the victim was with some friends, said Deputy Kelvin Moody of the Sheriff’s Information Bureau.
Mario Melbourne Jr. of Long Beach died at the scene, said coroner’s Assistant Chief Ed Winter.
Melbourne’s friends told NBC4 he was working his security job and they were there to visit him.
The suspect, whom the friends claim was a friend of Melbourne, drove up to the group, exited his vehicle, and began arguing with the victim, Moody said. The argument led to a fist fight.
The suspect re-entered his vehicle and began to drive away but then made a U-turn and struck Melbourne, Moody said. The suspect fled eastbound on Cypress Street in a gray sedan, Moody said.
Anyone with information on the case was urged to call the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.
