DA's office declines to file charges against suspect in killing of 2 men in a West Hills park

WEST HILLS, Calif. (FOX 11) - Citing insufficient evidence on Wednesday, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office declined to file a case against a North Hollywood resident arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of two men last week at a West Hills park.

Ryan Vassallo Conrad, 31, was arrested last Friday in the 1400 block of Crenshaw Boulevard in Torrance in connection with the killings of Daniel Mercado, 27, and Cesar Ascencio, 42, both of the San Fernando Valley.

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Los Angeles police identified Conrad as the suspect, and said an argument led to the deadly shooting at 8:45 p.m. May 22 on a baseball field at Shadow Ranch Park in the 22600 block of Vanowen Street.

"This is not a gang-related shooting and this is not a random shooting,'' LAPD Detective Dave Peteque said last week. "All four individuals -- there is one witness that we're speaking with -- and all four are
acquaintances.''

Police said an argument escalated into gunfire, although no details have been released about the nature of the dispute.

Mercado died at the scene of the shooting, while Ascencio underwent surgery at a hospital, where he died. Police said he was able to speak to detectives and identify the gunman.

CNS contributed to this report.