By Richard Winton and Dalina Castellanos, Los Angeles Times
LOS ANGELES — A music executive critically wounded by a gunman who opened fire Friday in Hollywood died Monday of his injuries, Los Angeles police said.
John C. Atterberry, 40, of Hollywood Hills, was driving near the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Vine Street when he was shot three times in the face and neck by the gunman, later identified by authorities as Tyler Brehm, 26, of Los Angeles.
Brehm repeatedly fired a .40-caliber handgun at motorists, police said. Atterberry’s silver Mercedes-Benz coupe was one of several cars Brehm shot at from close range. He refused to surrender to a plainclothes detective and officer first on the scene. Brehm screamed he wanted to die and pointed his weapon at the officers, who shot him.
Atterberry’s car came to rest near the intersection, where LAPD detectives found him, severely wounded. LAPD Sgt. Mitzi Fierro said Atterberry died about 3 p.m. PST Monday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
His sister Cynthia Atterberry posted on her Facebook page following his death. “Today, I lost my JOHN, my baby, my guardian angel, my protector, my little brother at 3:00 p.m. I do not understand now nor will I ever is why such senseless act of violence was inflicted upon such a GOD-fearing, kind compassionate, loving individual,” she wrote.
She added: “Maybe GOD just needed JOHN to get the ‘real party’ started.”
Atterberry, a Los Angeles native, got his start working in artists and repertoire for Tabu Records, according to a biography on Facebook page for the GridLock Group, where he served as senior partner and chief financial officer.
Early in his career he served as a vice president of Death Row Records, which at the time was home to Tupac Shakur, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. He later worked on albums for Christina Aguilera, Michael Jackson, Brandy, the Spice Girls and Jessica Simpson.
LAPD homicide detectives are still seeking to determine the motive for Brehm’s rampage.
According to coroner’s investigators, Brehm was despondent after breaking up with his longtime girlfriend days before the shooting occurred.
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©2011 the Los Angeles Times
