"SERVICES TODAY FOR SLAIN LONG BEACH DEPUTY"

Shot in L.A. by unidentified assailant as he was driving home from work

The body of slain Los Angeles County sheriff's Sgt. George Lynn Arthur was brought home Tuesday to Long Beach, where he will be buried today.

The 37-year-old deputy was shot to death Saturday night by an unknown killer near downtown Los Angeles as he was driving home from work.

Homicide detectives have kept a tight lid on details of the slaying, and the identities of some members of the deputy's family are being kept secret for security reasons.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. today at St. Barnabas, 3955 Orange Ave., where more than 200 friends and relatives gathered Tuesday night for a rosary.

Interment will be at All Souls Cemetery, 4400 Cherry Ave.

Arthur, a native of Long Beach, attended St. Barnabas Elementary School and St. Anthony High School, where he starred in track and played baseball before his graduation in 1966.

Arthur attended California State University Long Beach, where he earned a bachelor's degree in criminology, before joining the sheriff's department.

In addition to his parents, who were not identified for security reasons, Arthur is survived by his wife, Linda, son Jeffrey, daughter Christine, brothers William, Robert and Eddie, and sisters Louise Arthur and Diane Simon.

The family has suggested contributions, in lieu of flowers, to the Sheriff's Relief Association, 11515 S. Colima Road, Whittier, CA 90604.

Arrangements are under direction of the Stricklin/Snively Mortuary, Long Beach.

Arthur, according to homicide investigators, was killed on a freeway entrance ramp shortly after he had finished his shift at the Men's Central Jail in Los Angeles.

He had driven his 1979 Chevrolet van out of the jail parking lot at 9:50 p.m. Five minutes later the van crashed into a wall, at Mission Road near an onramp leading to either the southbound Santa Ana Freeway or the eastbound San Bernardino Freeway.

At first, it was believed that Arthur was killed in the crash.

However, early Monday, a coroner's examination determined that he had been shot. The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating the slaying because it occurred in that city.

Tuesday evening, police said they had no suspects in the killing.

LAPD Lt. Ed Henderson, of the major crimes section, said Arthur had been "shot from inside the van," but detectives did not know if the killer had forced his way into the vehicle or had hidden inside.

Henderson said Arthur suffered "multiple gunshot wounds" and he described the death weapon only as a "handgun."

The van's windshield popped out following the crash, Henderson said, and a man "seen climbing out of the van" through the windshield ran off "limping and holding his head."

The man was described as white or Latino, age 25 to 35, about 5-foot-10 and between 140 and 175 pounds.

Arthur previously had worked the sheriff's department gang detail, and Henderson said "that aspect has to be looked into."

Arthur's mother said he had become interested n law enforcement after participating in a youth volunteer program.

"In high school, he thought he'd like it, and so he tried it," she dded. "He was happy with his career."

She said Arthur was popular with high school and college classmates and with other deputies.

We don't know why it happened," she said quietly. "George had no enemies."

--Press Telegram, 6/5/1985