Police are investigating King's death as a homicide, Lt. Tracey Ibarra said. Washington Boulevard was closed to traffic for a block east of Lake Avenue for most of the day Wednesday.
Walt Butler, owner of a building adjacent to the barber shop on Washington near Lake Avenue, said the victim was stabbed, a fact police did not confirm. Butler said the parking lot where the body was found was a source of disturbances in the neighborhood.
“It has not been a peaceful place,” Butler said. “There was always chaos.”
Ibarra said King was known to have conflicts with some residents in the area.