Alphonse Bernardin Jr., 80

Alphonse Bernardin Jr., a 80-year-old white man, was shot and killed Saturday, Aug. 11, in the 2400 block of Colby Avenue in Sawtelle, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Los Angeles Police Officer Sara Faden said officers responding to a call for an ambulance early Saturday found Bernardin inside his home with two gunshot wounds to the chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators believe that Bernardin was killed in an apparent-murder suicide resulting from a long-term business partnership. The body of Bernardin’s 56-year-old tenant was found just outside the home’s back door. The man had a single self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head and a 9-millimeter handgun beside him, Faden said.

“The suspect was renting a converted garage in back of the home and in recent weeks, there seems to have been some sort of ongoing landlord-tenant dispute,” she said.

The landlord also may have been taking steps to evict the tenant, Faden said.

Police are asking anyone with information to call West Bureau Homicide Det. Herman Frettlohr at (213) 382-9470. Tipsters who’d like to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Rebecca Trounson