Man suspected of killing former ‘Deadliest Catch’ producer found dead

LOS ANGELES – A 24-year-old man suspected of killing a former producer on the Discovery Channel reality program “Deadliest Catch” early Friday has been found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, authorities said.

The man, whose identity hasn’t been released, was found dead inside his vehicle about 4 p.m. PDT in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, authorities said. Los Angeles County sheriff’s detectives had identified him as a suspect in the shooting death of Joseph McMahon and later located him inside the vehicle.

Sheriff’s officials did not say how the men knew each other.

Deputies responded to a report of a possible gunshot victim about 2:19 a.m. in Pasadena, according to Lt. Holly Francisco of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

When deputies arrived, they found McMahon with multiple gunshot wounds to his torso, lying on the street not far from his parents’ home, where he lived, she said. He died at the scene.

KCBS-TV reported that family friends identified McMahon as a former associate producer on the show.

McMahon’s family could not immediately be reached for comment.

Detectives say they don’t know why McMahon was gunned down. He had no history of drug use and wasn’t involved in gangs, Francisco said.

Witnesses told KABC-TV that after the gunshots were fired, they heard a car speeding away from the neighborhood.

Detectives were looking for surveillance video footage in the area, Francisco said. They want to interview friends, family, former co-workers or anyone who knew McMahon.

“We want to talk to the last group of people who he was with,” she said.

Two weeks ago, there was a police shooting in the same neighborhood. On July 10, deputies shot a woman who they said fired at one of them outside a home.

The woman’s wounds were not considered life-threatening. Deputies said the woman’s husband had called authorities to report that she had medical issues and was armed with a gun.

When deputies went to the couple’s home, they found the woman holding a gun and standing outside.

Francisco said the shootings are not related.