VALLEY VILLAGE, CA – Authorities have apprehended a murder suspect, Eric Escomia, after a comprehensive manhunt that left residents of a Valley Village apartment complex uneasy. The arrest was made after Escomia, captured on Ring doorbell cameras wandering the halls, was located at a local hospital, providing a sense of relief to the community.
This arrest concludes a tense period for residents who had been living in fear since the brutal murder late last month. While the apartment complex occasionally experiences transient individuals wandering through, the murder escalated those concerns significantly.
The suspect, identified as 27-year-old Eric Escomia, is reportedly a transient who was seen on surveillance footage attempting to open apartment doors at the Ashton Sherman Village complex on Riverside Drive. Escomia’s arrest at West Hills Hospital offers reassurance to tenants like Silvia, who expressed newfound confidence in walking her dog at night.
The surveillance images, captured on April 23, coincide with reports from fifth-floor residents who heard a man desperately yelling for help around 3 a.m. Just three days later, the body of 53-year-old Nasir Yermandi was discovered in apartment 514, following a welfare check initiated by a concerned friend.
The investigation revealed bloodstains on the building’s exterior walls, suggesting the killer scaled balconies to gain entry to Yermandi’s apartment. Additional blood was found on a nearby stairwell door handle, further piecing together the suspect’s path.
Police disclosed that Escomia has a criminal record and was out on bail for trespassing and resisting arrest at the time of the murder. The case has sparked questions about the initial police response, as officers who answered the calls of someone screaming did not enter Yermandi’s apartment, delaying the discovery of his body.
The Los Angeles Police Department is continuing its investigation into the incident, while the community hopes for closure after a harrowing few weeks.