Convicted Felon Arrested for Clerk's Murder

Los Angeles:  Los Angeles police officers arrested a 33-year-old felon for the murder of an AM-PM store clerk early this morning in the San Fernando Valley.

Police officers from the Devonshire Police Station found Frank Kaatz on the roof of the Denny's restaurant in the 20000 block of Devonshire Avenue. Kaatz directed the officers to the AM-PM store nearby, where they found Rohan Rameukwella, 41, lying on the floor, bleeding from the head. Paramedics pronounced Rameukwella dead at the scene.

Kaatz then led the officers to a nearby alley and a baseball bat. Detectives will examine the bat and compare the blood and hair on it to the victim's.

Police officers became aware of Kaatz when his family called 9-1-1 around 1:45 AM, reporting a man was smashing furniture in the house with a baseball bat. When officers arrived in the 10000 block of Oso Avenue, the family members told them Kaatz had left. They described him as disturbed, and that he wanted to commit "suicide by cop."

The officers found Kaatz 15 minutes later on the roof of the Denny's restaurant. The officers were able to talk Kaatz down from the roof without using force.

Kaatz was booked for the murder, and he was placed on a no-bail hold due to his parole status.

Kaatz was convicted of attempted murder in 1994, after he nearly stabbed to death a 7-11 store clerk in an attempted robbery in the West Valley area of Los Angeles. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison, but was released in seven. His parole was violated in 2004, but he was released again and arrested several times in 2005. His parole was violated a second time, and according to his family, he was released in July of this year.

Rohan Rameukwella was a native of Sri Lanka. He had worked the night shift at the AM-PM for the last five years. He had no family in the USA.

Detectives have release Kaatz's photograph as they are concerned he may have been involved in other crimes since his release. The photograph will be forwarded to outlets when it is available.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Devonshire Homicide detectives at 818-832-0556. On weekends and during off-hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at 1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855).

Comments

[Disgusted]

What was this guy doing out on the streets in the first place? Arrested for nearly stabbing someone to death and set free after only 7 years? Then arrested several times after that, with 2 parole violations, and he was still free to go? He was undoubtedly involved in other crimes he wasn't caught for, and now a man is dead because of him. The California justice system is a joke, especially in LA. I bet if that would have been a DA or judge's family member he stabbed in '94 he would have never gotten out. A 7-11 clerk though, who cares? The DA and CDC lets pieces of garbage back out on the street everyday with minimal punishment, no wonder the LAPD can't do anything to control it. Who knows, this was an AM-PM clerk who died this time, he might just get off on probation.

[Vic]

I am completely unable to descibe my feelings over this event, it's so utterly sad but to the same degree, Avoidable!!I'm not a Mental health professional nor a corrections official, but just reading your short but descriptine article, it seems obvious Mr. Kaatz was definately suffering from a severe mental disorder. If reality is as stated,there wasn't a rational moment for mr.kaatz from the start. Why wasn't he being treated prior to his release, for gods sake!theres NO WAY, that his illness was unnoticable to the trained and experienced professionals charged with managing him while in custody. The persons responable know it.That poor guys blood is as much on their hands as it is on the killers',no... more so , as they, I assume, were sane before ,durring and after the release of a prisoner, obviously suffering from a severe mental illness, that has historically had shown to manifest itself by causing mr.Kaatz to act suicidal and HOMICIDAL. His behavior, as related by your article,was clearly irrational and not the act of a "sane" murderer. Good luck finding a motive,you know you won't find one.Because insane people aren't able to control themselves enough to act on behalf of reality based motivation or reasons.If there is any sane part of mr. Kaatz remaining at this point , he was merely along for the ride , and witnessed the horror of his own acts, while totally unable to do anything about it.Probably his best attempt to stop was, the unsuccessful try at provoking a suicidal confrontation with police prior to the random and senseless bludgeoning of the clerk.Bottom line is, the individuals truely responsible for the murder and the waves of remorse afflicting loved ones of both victim and perpetrator, will not be exposed to the light of Justice. Please, someone try to do something to prevent a similar sensless loss of life, that seemingly would be totaly avoidable. With minor, yet crucial adjustments to release procedure I believe future, obvious breakdowns in the system could be prevented.For one,start by implementing a clear and unambiguous,documented, chain of responsability as to the mental health and mental stability of the releasee, predicated on and prior to his release back into society.This alone would probably be enough to correct the problem as related to this case.
Thanks for your attention,
VA
Accountability canbe a stong vaccination used in the right circumstances.Especialy when administered to the top levels of management.