(Thechieftainspear) – Tensions are running high at a luxury apartment complex in Valley Village after a resident was found murdered inside his unit — days after neighbors reported hearing disturbing sounds coming from the apartment.
The unsettling discovery was made at the Ashton Sherman Village Apartments on Riverside Drive. According to police, 53-year-old Menashe “Manny” Hidra was found dead in his fifth-floor unit on April 26 during a welfare check requested by a concerned family member. The death is being investigated as a homicide.
Audio from an LAPD dispatch call reveals that at approximately 3 a.m. on April 23 — three days before the body was discovered — a resident reported hearing violent commotion coming from Hidra’s unit. The caller described crashing sounds and screams before contacting both the building’s security and the police.
“I heard shouting and what sounded like something breaking,” the tenant told KTLA. “I called security, and then the police right after.”
But by the time police responded, the apartment was reportedly quiet. Resident Kaci Harabedian believes that’s why officers didn’t attempt to enter the unit at that time.
Doorbell camera footage later revealed a man walking through the halls and attempting to open several apartment doors that same night. LAPD has since identified him as a possible suspect.
Investigators and residents believe the intruder may have accessed Hidra’s balcony by climbing from an adjacent, vacant apartment. Photos taken by tenants show what appear to be bloodstains along the building’s exterior walls and on a door handle to an exit stairwell, suggesting a violent struggle and possible escape route.
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In a brief statement, LAPD confirmed that a suspect had unlawfully entered the apartment, leading to a deadly altercation. However, no arrests have been announced, and the department has released few details about the investigation.
Residents say the tragedy highlights ongoing security lapses in the upscale building — complaints they claim were raised long before the murder occurred. Broken entry systems, faulty security fobs, and unauthorized individuals reportedly gaining access to the rooftop have all been concerns.
Many tenants believe the suspect is a transient who had been living on the roof — a suspicion supported by recent surveillance images released by authorities.
Some residents say management has been reluctant to acknowledge the gravity of the situation, referring to the murder simply as “the incident” in communications. They also claim that posted photos of the suspect have been removed by staff.
“They’re not taking our safety seriously,” one resident said. “We’re left wondering what they’re going to do to protect us.”
On May 1, management issued an email to tenants announcing the addition of around-the-clock “courtesy patrols.” The message noted that patrol coverage may change as needed and encouraged residents to report suspicious activity near roof access points. Management also clarified that rooftop doors cannot be permanently locked due to fire safety regulations.
Despite multiple requests, building management has not responded to media inquiries about the murder or resident concerns.
