Burned Body Found Near Cerritos Border in Apparent Suicide

The body of a man who appears to have set himself on fire was found near a La Palma strip mall parking lot close to the border of Cerritos today, authorities said.

The body was found alongside the parking lot at 7002 Moody St. about 6:15 a.m., according to La Palma police Sgt. Raul Morales.

Morales said authorities received a 911 call from a witness who had seen the man aflame in the parking lot behind the multi-unit shopping/office building near the McDonald’s  restaurant at the corner of Moody Street and Orangethorpe  Avenue (also know by Cerritos residents as Carmenita Road and South Street).

“We responded with OCFA (Orange County Fire Authority) and when we arrived he was on the ground still on fire,” the sergeant said, adding that when the flames were distinguished the victim was declared dead at the scene. Firefighters also found a can of gasoline nearby.

Morales said a crime scene has been set up to determine the exact circumstances of the death.

“Detectives are leaning toward it being a suicide, but were not ruling out homicide until the investigation is complete,” he said.

The victim has yet to be identified, but he is described as a 50 to 60 year old Asian man, according to the police department.

Moody Street is closed between Houston and Orangethorpe avenues to accommodate the investigation.