Even as residents of Cashew Patch Settlement, La Brea, struggled to make sense of the death of Derron Phillip, 32, on Monday evening, some admitted that he had been disturbed for some time. Some described Phillip as quiet while others said that at times his behaviour showed that he was in need of help.
Police are investigating reports that the unemployed man locked himself inside his shack in a La Brea slum after setting it on fire.
He had been served with a summons to appear in court for a domestic violence matter and told he had to vacate the house which belonged to his girlfriend. A neighbour said at around 5 pm, Phillip attempted to harm himself and when that failed, he set the shack on fire.
He said he saw other neighbours trying to calm Phillip to calm down but he shouted at them to stay away, went into the burning house and locked the door.
Phillip had moved into the shack with a female friend just a month ago.
That friend declined to comment and his grandmother with whom he lived previously, was too grief-stricken to speak.
