Detective Says Death of L.A. Lawyer Might Be a 'Targeted Killing'
Although no weapon reportedly was recovered, authorities say they have not yet ruled out suicide in the case of a prominent Los Angeles lawyer who was shot in the head outside his upscale home Monday night and died the next morning at a hospital. (Subsequently, authorities did rule out suicide and said Tidus was murdered.)
Meanwhile, a homicide detective says the death of attorney Jeffrey Tidus could also be a “targeted killing,” reports the Metropolitan News-Enterprise.
Officials are looking at the complex cases that Tidus worked on, to try to see if there could be a link between his job and his death, reports the L.A. Now blog of the Los Angeles Times.
A close friend, attorney Brian Hennigan, says he doesn’t believe the 53-year-old civil litigator would have killed himself, reports another L.A. Now blog post.
“From numerous conversations with Jeff over the past few years, I can say that it is inconsistent—and contradictory—with everything that I know about my friend,” says Hennigan of the suicide theory, citing Tidus’ dedication to his wife and children and enjoyment of long-distance running, among other factors. The two men ran together on Sunday.
Adds Hennigan: “He loved life, loved being a lawyer,” reports the Associated Press.
No suspect has been publicly identified, and the news agency says witnesses who heard a shot in the quiet residential neighborhood and rushed outside didn’t spot either an individual or a vehicle fleeing the scene.
Earlier coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Lawyer Shot in Head Outside His Upscale Home Dies at Hospital”
Updated at 3:26 p.m. to include Associated Press coverage and on Dec. 10 to include subsequent information that Tidus was murdered.
