Parolee sought in transgender murder

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (KABC) -- Thursday, police named a person of interest in the case of the murder of a transgendered person in Hollywood, and they're hoping someone will step forward with information to help find him.

Detectives don't believe the killer was specifically targeting transgendered people. But they have not ruled out that possibility.

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Police held a news conference in Hollywood Thursday.

Los Angeles Police investigators say the transgender community was key in indentifying this person of interest in this murder case. They released a photograph of Jesus Catalan Thursday. Catalan, 24, is a wanted parolee at large and the man that detectives want to question about Paulina Ibarra's murder.

Ibarra, a 24-year old transgendered woman, was stabbed to death inside her Hollywood apartment on August 28.

Investigators say they know that Catalan was inside Ibarra's apartment but they don't know exactly what happened between the two. Police do know that Catalan is known to frequent transgender prostitutes.

Catalan is homeless. Detectives say they believe friends are currently helping him hide. Authorities are asking for the public's help in tracking him down.

"There was an argument or a fight of some type and Ms. Ibarra was fatally stabbed," said LAPD Lieutenant Wesley Buhrmester.

"We're here to say that we're not going to let somebody come in and kill one of our members and just let it happen and let it be forgotten," said transgender activist Victoria Ortega.

Jesus Catalan is 24 years old, 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing 140 pounds, and has a tattoo on his right arm. He is known to frequent the Hollywood and West Hollywood areas. If you have any information on his whereabouts you're urged to call the LAPD tip line at (877) LAPD-24-7. That is (877) 527-3247.

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