$50,000 Reward Offered for Information in the 2023 Unsolved Murder of Clay Buchanan 

March 20, 2025 – Los Angeles, CA – Los Angeles Police Department officials report that Robbery Homicide Division, along with family and friends of Clay Buchanan, are asking for the public’s assistance in his 2023 murder.

On August 6, 2023, around 1:30 a.m., 50-year-old Clay Buchanan was seated in his parked vehicle, in the 400 block of East 102nd Street, when the suspects’ vehicle approached him from behind. The suspects exited the vehicle and threw an unknown accelerant onto Buchanan and his vehicle. The suspects lit Buchanan on fire before getting back into their vehicle and fleeing the scene. Buchanan was transported to a local hospital and was pronounced deceased later that day.

This investigation has spanned over a year and detectives have been unable to obtain any substantial leads in this homicide. The City of Los Angeles is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the identity, arrest, and prosecution of the person or persons responsible for the death of Clay Buchanan. The objective is to not only solve this murder, but to provide the family of Clay Buchanan with some sense of justice, and to send a message that the community will not tolerate such senseless acts of violence.

Anyone with information is urged to contact LAPD Robbery Homicide Division, Detectives B. Smith or G. Stearns at (213) 486-6890 or contact 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org. Lastly, tipsters may also download the “P3 Tips” mobile application and select the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.

Source: Los Angeles Police Department