Homicide Report > Arrest: Police capture man suspected of killing marijuana dispensary employee

Arrest: Police capture man suspected of killing marijuana dispensary employee

Photo: Matthew Butcher, Credit: DMVPolice have made an arrest in connection with the shooting death of an employee at a medical marijuana dispensary in Echo Park.

On June 24, Matthew Butcher, a 27-year-old white man, was working at Higher Path Holistic Care, a medical marijuana dispensary, when four assailants entered the facility about 4:15 p.m. At gunpoint, they ordered Butcher and another employee to lie face-down on the ground as they ransacked the dispensary for marijuana and money, police sources said.

Although Butcher and the other worker did not resist, the attackers shot them, killing Butcher and critically wounding the other person, according to police sources.

Before fleeing, police officials said, the suspects removed the videotape from the facility's surveillance system.

Photo: Daniel “Scooter” Hinton, Credit: LAPDA little less than a month after the shooting, Daniel "Scooter" Hinton, a 31-year-old black man, was arrested and charged with murder and attempted murder in connection with the incident.

He is being held without bail at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility downtown. His next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 23 at the Los Angeles Municipal Court.

Following Hinton's arrest, City Councilman Ed Reyes offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the remaining suspects.

On Aug. 3, authorities charged Raymond Lemone Easter, 27, with murder and attempted murder. He is being sought by police.

Anyone with information related to this case or the suspect’s whereabouts is asked to call Robbery Homicide Division Dets. Dennis English or James King at (213) 486-6890. Tipsters who wish to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).

— Sarah Ardalani and Ruben Vives

Upper photo: Matthew Butcher. Credit: California Department of Motor Vehicles

Lower photo: Daniel "Scooter" Hinton. Credit: Los Angeles Police Deaprtment

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Updated: Aug. 13, 2010 at 6:27 a.m.

 
 

22 reader comments

Hats off to the L.A.P.D. detectives for capturing this cold-blooded killer. May his fellow murderers be arrested soon. Throw away the keys.

— Jim Q. Citizen
Aug. 13, 2010 at 9:17 p.m.

Why did he do this? really, why? This is destroying our very society.

— Brian
Aug. 14, 2010 at 4:46 p.m.

Brian, with all do respect you're naive.What do you mean why did he do this? Evil has no logic

— Outraged Father
Aug. 15, 2010 at 10:37 a.m.

This young man will never smell a freshly mown lawn in his back yard, he'll never watch his son being born, walk his daughter down the aisle, hold his wife in his arms, drive down the street for a soda. He'll never drive a car again and we know what he'll be holding in his arms and it won't be his bride. Kissing a stinky inmate is a lot less appealing than kissing your wife and children but these idiot thugs don't think of the consequences. There is an abberation in their brain I'm certain. They sacrifice a life worth living for what?

— Comadre Chepa
Aug. 15, 2010 at 3:05 p.m.

so what did he do with the cash he stole? he got a few burgers he bought some clothes? so killing sombody hmmm was that worth it? Now the guy is still dead and this guy will be in prison getting on swole on the taxpayer's dime

— 562vert
Aug. 15, 2010 at 6:25 p.m.

Look at that clown, I mean the suspect. He looks like he never had a job. to take the life of someone, anyone, just for a few dollors and some weed, I mean he has to have an IQ of 2. Now he's in county jail begging for an extra breakfast & lunch.He's begging a loveone to come visit. I hope and pray that they see he is a monster that does'nt deserve the time of day.

— M.C.J. 721
Aug. 16, 2010 at 6:33 p.m.

I just think some of these cutthroats have no impulse control, no empathy and little thought of consequences. Sorry the young man is dead, but his killer is in for no cakewalk. His girl probably already has her eye on another man. Sureno/Eme/AB/Nazi Lowrider inmates are waiting to welcome him in their own special way. No privacy using the bathroom, stuck with mean violent people all day long-and that's just the guards.
And that will be his life every damn day for the rest of his life. A living death, I call it.

— 90caliber
Aug. 17, 2010 at 11:53 a.m.

I am glad that the police were able to get someone in custody and to be hunting down the others. I feel for the victims parents and others who loved them.

— Weezy
Aug. 17, 2010 at 2:51 p.m.

Damn these worthless thugs. They're taking over the city! We have to start treating gangs as terrorists so we can clean up our streets. Another legal businessman targeted by the filth. California will go down unless we do something about the power these gangs have garnered.

— Ballistic
Aug. 23, 2010 at 9:45 a.m.

You sell drugs whether they are considered medically or not and you run the risk of getting killed. No different than a drug dealer selling at a street corner.

— Jag
Aug. 26, 2010 at 10:39 a.m.

So, Jag, cashiers at Ralphs should expect to die since they sell nicotine, caffeine, and alcohol?

— Sara
Aug. 27, 2010 at 5:45 p.m.

I notice there's no response from Jag's naive, uninformed, inconsiderate (probably Republican) ass! You would think the message would have gotten through their skulls but even the next generation has a few brainwashed idiots who still buy the Nancy Reagan propaganda scare tactics. Legalizing drugs will generate tax revenue in many places and will put the drug cartels OUT OF BUSINESS OVERNIGHT! Of course then many corrupt officials, probation officers, prison guards etc. would be out jobs too huh...you can count on these idiots every time to chime in with their brainless drivel.

— DannyDiamond
Aug. 29, 2010 at 3:37 p.m.

— DannyDiamond, so warning kids of the dangers of crack and heroin is a bad thing?

— syscom3
Aug. 29, 2010 at 9:41 p.m.

Maybe Nancy Reagan should have been warning her husband about the dangers of it, while he allowed it to come to America and ruin American lives... oh wait it was mostly black people's lives it ruined and we all know how America feels about black people.

— Bill
Aug. 30, 2010 at 12:38 p.m.

— Bill, do you really believe in that tripe?

— syscom3
Aug. 30, 2010 at 1:26 p.m.

Bill, It's people just like you that represent what's wrong with this place. Blurting out uneducated, factless, ignorant garbage. As if Reagan was solely responsible for the flow of drugs in to this country. Trying to inject you're uninformed, racial prejudice. A small mind has finite parameters. Yours extends to about your nose.

— John
Aug. 30, 2010 at 2:45 p.m.

syscom3—> Bill, do you really believe in that tripe?<

He wrote what he wrote what you think is of zero consequence.

I believe it and thats of zero consequence to you either, this blog is not jc debate class. when people write something they usually mean it, don't you believe the silly posts you put up everywhere for no reason except to insight?

— Nosyscom3
Aug. 30, 2010 at 6:59 p.m.

Sara, in fact yes, there's a lot of liquor store owners that get killed when they are robbed. In the early 1900's liquor was illegal and it caused a lot of crime and killings. You sell any drugs medically or non medically and you run the risk of getting killed.

— Jag
Aug. 31, 2010 at 9:15 a.m.

DannyDiamond, the tax revenue generated from legalizing drugs will not be sufficient to cover the medical expenses for idiots like yourself who in the long or even short term will end up with severe medical problems. Up to date there are a lot of people dying from smoking cigarettes. People like yourself can't look at the bigger picture and can only think of getting high.

— Jag
Aug. 31, 2010 at 9:22 a.m.

Wow that's my babydaddy I know for a fact he didn't do it.. ppl do make mistake but who are you to Judge him.. it was other PPL in there robbing too don't just point the finger at Him.. He has a set of twin daughters and gives them everything so plz stop with the Jokes! Its even harder on me Knowing that somebody has tooken another person life..

— amber
Aug. 28, 2011 at 2:58 p.m.

@ Amber,

Unfortunately for those that care about him, he is an accessory to the crime. So whatever crime was committed, whether he physically had a hand in it or not, he will share the same penalty since he made the decision to partake.

Maybe others that have children who love them can learn from a story like this. Sure, we're all desperate at times especially in this economy but was it worth it, not being able to raise your twin girls?

As far as people making "jokes" about who awaits him in prison...he will soon find out, it ain't no joke!!! He may as well spill the beans on his homies so they aren't runnin' free while he pays their bill!

As for the innocent life taken, such a shame. RIP.

— mightymike33tm3
Aug. 29, 2011 at 9:42 a.m.

Ppl always blaming one person..blame everyone..& every race is the same we all do the same shyt sometimes..

— young tazz
Aug. 29, 2011 at 11:09 a.m.

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