Ila Packman, 39

This case sounds similar to the one below -- another medical marijuana dispensary targeted and the surveillance video taken. Could they be related somehow?

It seems that there were two murders at two separate medical marijuana pharmacies, one in Echo Park and this one in Hollywood. That would seem something of a coincidence.

Condolences to the families and friends of Mr. Packman and Mr. Butcher. As Mr. Butcher's mother said, "There's no reason to kill anyone over marijuana."

packman was a good friend of mine for years he was very nice and well liked wherever he went. I give my condolensces to his family and girlfriend. may god bless his soul and he rest in peace. I don't understand why anyone would murder him. he died an honorable death

There's a website with photos of Ila and other subjects here:

http://packman.fotopic.net/
It seems like he's listed on the IMDb as well with a lot of Grip credits.

The medical marijuana dispensary Ila worked at was really hidden from the street. It's bascially an apartment inside a building on El Centro, across from a Bally's Fitness. It doesn't seem like the kind of place that someone would randomly decide to rob.

It's interesting to note that, (according to the Homicide report), Robbery Homicide is investigating this murder. From their LAPD website: "Robbery-Homicide Division is responsible for investigating a wide variety of high profile crimes. Detectives assigned to RHD have a high level of experience and investigative expertise." This may turn out to be a botched robbery but with RHD getting involved it feels like there may be more to Ila's death than it appears.

"there's is no reason to kill someone over marijuana" makes me sick. When is there a reason to kill someone anyway except if your life is in jeopardy. Killing anything is wrong. It's the first thing you learn in life if you have a conscience. LA is nothing but a killing field. Full of drugs and gangs who don't care about anything. Although this murder is terrible, it will happen again.

Ila was also my friend: a gentle and pensive soul. Solid work ethic, soft spoken, talented eye for composition and light. I am angered and saddened at this tragic, cold-blooded end to his kindness, his generosity. I agree with JB's blog: this seems like a crime of passion and may have twists and revelations. nothing was stolen at the holistic. except a brilliant mind. bastards. he told me recently that he got burned for almost ten grand unpaid invoices. i wonder.

From what I knew of Ila, he was a creative, kind person. After not seeing him for a year or 2, the last time I saw him a few months ago, he greeted me with a hug. I used to be a neighbor of his. One never knows 100% what someone does in private, but having lived very near him for a year, he was a good human being. This is a sad senseless loss. BTW, this weed shop is in a small office building, and had a metal security cage when you entered. So it cant be robbed unless someone opens the cage door. Might explain why the robbery was botched. I really hope there is justice for this crime.

No words can capture how much this whole senseless killing of my friend affects me! Ila,regardless of the motives of his killer,definitely did not deserve this! I will truly miss his positive spirit,kindness & genuine persona....R.I.P. PACKMAN.

RIP!!! How sad. I never been to this dispensary but thanks so much for everything you have provided us with.

Ila was my ex husband and my best friend i miss him every day like crazy,i cant think of anybody who would want him gone,he was so bright and sweet always to everybody around him.

No loss, anyone involved with Marijuana deserves what they get.

Wow Paul. That's pretty cold. This guy was working legally in a legal marijuana dispensary and gets viciously stabbed to death and you think he deserved it? I can't fathom your point of view. Even if you disagree with CA's medical marijuana law, surely you don't condone the cold blooded murder of this man, do you?

I was a friend of Illa. Is there anybody who can give me any more info on his passing, especially the investigation? I feel foolish for finding out this late. Illa didn't deserve this.

This tragic death is very sad it pains me to think about the final moments of what went down, people that work in this line of buisness need to hire armed security because of the undesireables that have no love for life

LEGALIZE it and away the corruption!

I moved away from Hollywood a few years back and fell out of the loop. It broke my heart when I found out about Ila from a mutual friend just yesterday. He was a true free spirit with a seemingly permanent smile and a style all his own. He will be truly missed. My condolences to all who have lost this tower of Hollywood.

Still missing you and your smile Packman. Always will.

Ila Packman was one of my closest friends and I loved him dearly. Not a single day has passed since June 24 that I haven't thought about him and missed the sincerity of his smile and the warmth of his hugs. There are VERY few people on this planet who are as loving, genuine, compassionate, loyal, kind, and generous as Packman, and I hope that all who knew him will continually strive to be as beautiful a human being as he was.

ila wa such a extrodinary and kind person he just exuded this warmth and people were drawn to him. paul you should keep your nasty comments to yourself ila did not deserve to be murdered i think about ila every day and he comes up in conversation all the time and all anyone has to say is how kind and what a great person ila was and how much hes missed. ila was so talented ands really the best at what he . theres nobody else as good as ila at what he did and no one else had his eye for art. its sad he only got to have one gallery show. he should have gone all the way. I pray your killer is apprehended and put to justice soon. for the familys sake so they can have closure. i miss you so much.

I was as close to Ila as any human can be to another. We always referred to each other as brother and sister. We lived together with my son for one summer. He was so special. This has been unspeakable for me until now. I know that Ila was not killed for anything that involved money. It is too personal to stab someone. I think it was a jealous person. Ila used to say "perfect flow, perfect time"....I hope that time will reveal what really happened. He was so smart and kind....jealousy is very powerful.

Ila was an a--hole! I was an a--hole! We were a--holes together! Here's hoping the cretins behind this wind up praying to die somewhere terrible!

Ila was my friend, neighbor, personal photographer, partner in painting the town red & getting kicked out of bars all at the same time as being my confidant & an absolutely unforgettable amazing soul & unbelievable creature. No matter if it was when he passed out in the corner, camera in hand at an afterparty at my house or celebrating our birthdays together in crazy mansions in the hills or even chillin outside our place with our neighbors on movie night where we would project the movies on our Apt buildings... Ila was always happy & inspired by life... He was pretty good at Lemon Baseball, lol... He made me the most amazing bed... the world lost something truly unique & unreplicatable when his spark was put out.... I love & miss you ILA... may your birds of your soul always fly free...