John Winkler Identified as Murder Victim In Bloody West Hollywood Apartment Attack

Thursday, Apr 10, 1:43 pm

John Winkler via his Facebook page.

This is Breaking News from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department:

(The following is a statement from the LASD regarding the death of John Winkler who died in West Hollywood earlier this week at a horrific crime scene in a luxury apartment complex.  Winkler was a television film producer.  Tributes to Winkler have been posted to his Facebook page.)

Homicide Bureau detectives are continuing their investigation into the shooting death of a man and the stabbing of two other victims that occurred on Monday, April 7, 2014 at 9:29 PM, in the 900 block of Palm Avenue, West Hollywood. The deceased victim is identified as 30-year-old, John Winkler, a resident of West Hollywood.

West Hollywood deputies responded to a call of an “assault with a deadly weapon, man with a knife” in an apartment complex at the location. Upon their arrival, they were directed to an apartment where the suspect with the knife was said to be. The deputies were told by informants there were only two males residing in the apartment and described the suspect as a male, white, thin build, wearing a black shirt.

The field sergeant quickly assembled an entry team, along with deputies armed with less lethal weapons. The team staged at the front door of the apartment and announced themselves, but obtained no response. As deputies continued attempts to contact the people in the apartment, the apartment door suddenly opened and a male victim came rushing out. He was covered in blood and bleeding profusely from the neck. Simultaneously, Victim Winkler ran out of the door, lunging at the back of the fleeing victim. Both ran directly at the deputies. Winkler was similar to the description of the suspect and was wearing a black shirt. Believing Winkler was the assailant and the assault was ongoing and he would attack the entry team; three deputies fired their duty weapons at him. Victim Winkler was struck by the gunfire and fell to the floor, and the male victim also collapsed; struck once by the gunfire.

Once the door was open, the deputies could hear the sounds of a fight coming from inside the apartment. They made entry and saw another male victim and Suspect McDonald fighting on the floor of the living room. Suspect McDonald had overpowered the victim and was choking and tearing at his face. Deputies could see the victim was about to go unconscious and a large knife was on the floor near them. The deputies were able to use physical force to subdue the suspect and end the assault. The suspect was taken into custody without further incident.

Homicide investigators have learned the resident of the apartment, Suspect Alexander McDonald, held Winkler and two other men captive inside the apartment, holding them at knifepoint. In a rage, the suspect began stabbing the men and fighting with them as the deputies arrived. One of the victims was a roommate of the suspect; Winkler and the other victim were visiting at the time of the incident.

Winkler was transported to a local hospital where he later died from a single gunshot wound.

The second victim (from the doorway) was transported to a local hospital and treated for stab wounds to the neck and a gunshot wound to the leg. He is in stable condition.

The third victim was transported to a local hospital and treated for stab wounds to the legs, arms and chest and was released.

The suspect, 27-year-old, Alexander McDonald was transported to an area hospital where he was treated for minor injuries and released. He is currently in custody. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, has filed the following charges against Suspect McDonald; one count of murder, two counts of attempted murder, and one count of torture. His bail has been increased from two million dollars to four million dollars.

NOTE: Hews Media Group Community Newspaper would like to get your comments and reaction to this about information that was sent to members of the media on Thursday.  Also, feel free to leave any comment you would like below regarding the life of John Winkler.

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