Vincent Coleman Roper, 64

Vincent Coleman Roper, a 64-year-old black man, died Friday, Aug. 25, after he was stabbed in the 37600 block of Patty Court in Palmdale, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records. 

Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies were called to Roper’s home at 8 a.m. after someone reported that his front door was open, Lt. Joe Mendoza said.

There were signs of a struggle and blood inside the house, Mendoza said, and Roper was found lying on the floor.

Roper was pronounced dead at the scene at 8:50 a.m., according to coroner’s records. He had been stabbed in the head, records showed. 

Investigators don’t have any information about suspects or a motive for the slaying. There was no evidence of a forced entry. Roper lived alone and it’s unclear whether anything was taken, authorities said. 

NBC Channel 4 News reported that two of Roper’s friends went to check on him after he didn’t respond to text messages for two days. They called deputies when they saw muddy footprints and the house in disarray.

Roper was a native of Jamaica and had a flooring business in Palmdale, NBC reported. A brief online obituary said Roper is survived by three children, four siblings and several nieces and nephews. One of those nephews is hip-hop artist Safaree Samuels, from VH1’s “Love and Hip Hop: Hollywood” show.

“He’s not a problematic person,” Samuels told NBC News. “He’s just, you know, a working man. I don’t know who could have done this. He doesn’t have any enemies. He’s not that kind of person.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.  

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @latimeshomicide on Twitter.