Erasmo Amaral, 56

Erasmo Amaral, a 56-year-old Latino, was killed in an apparent carjacking Sunday, Sept. 19, in the 10900 block of Jackson Avenue in Lynwood, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Los Angeles County sheriff’s homicide detectives responded to the area about 1:45 a.m. after witnesses reported seeing a man hanging from the window frame of a taxi as it moved down the street, Det. Bob Kenney said.

Officials believe that Amaral, the taxi driver, clung to the driver's side window of the taxi as it was driven west on Imperial Highway and then north onto Jackson Avenue. The suspect behind the wheel then sideswiped the driver's side of the taxi into three parked vehicles before exiting and fleeing the scene on foot.

Amaral was found lying in the street next to the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene, Los Angeles County sheriff's Sgt. Michael Thomas said in a statement. Amaral appeared to have been injured before he was dragged, although the extent of those injuries was not known, Kenney said.

-- Corina Knoll