50K offered in L.A. cold case murder of man set on fire in his SUV

Police announced a $50,000 reward Wednesday in its year-and-a-half-long investigation into the brutal killing of a 50-year-old man who was set on fire while he sat inside his vehicle in the Green Meadows neighborhood of Los Angeles.

The incident, described as a murder by investigators, occurred around 1:30 a.m. as Clay Buchanan was seated in his parked SUV in the 400 block of East 102nd Street.

Another vehicle approached from slowly behind allowing the suspects to get out and throw an unknown accelerant onto the victim and his vehicle, the Los Angeles Police Department said in its news release.

“The suspects lit Buchanan on fire before getting back into their vehicle and fleeing the scene,” police said.

Buchanan was taken to a local hospital but was pronounced dead later the same day.

Within days, Buchanan’s family spoke out hoping that someone would come forward with information leading to his killers.

“We just want justice for him. We want the community to step forward,” Buchanan’s niece Larente Murray said. “Just do the right thing.”

Murray added that her uncle was a “good soul” who was loved by all. “Everyone in our family loved him from the smallest kids to the oldest niece, oldest cousin,” she said.

More than a year later, detectives have been unable to obtain any substantial leads in Buchanan’s murder and are turning to the public for new leads by offering the reward for information leading to the identity, arrest, and prosecution of the person or persons responsible.

“The objective is to not only solve this murder, but to provide the family of Clay Buchanan with some sense of justice, and to send a message that the community will not tolerate such senseless acts of violence,” police said.

Anyone with information was asked to call LAPD Robbery Homicide Division Detectives B. Smith or G. Stearns at 213-486-6890. Those who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or go to the lacrimestoppers.org website.