A man whose body was found Monday inside a Canyon Country apartment unit has been identified and his death has been ruled a homicide, officials said Tuesday.
Samuel Harmon Van Dusen, 50, of Santa Clarita, was found with a gunshot wound to the chest Monday morning in the Sierra Canyon Apartments, said Los Angeles County Coroner and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau officials.
Van Dusen’s death is being investigated as a homicide, said Lt. Fred Corral with the Coroner’s office.
“(Monday) morning a woman came home and she had been gone for the weekend,” said Lt. John Corina with the LASD Homicide Bureau. “She came home to find her husband appeared to be deceased on the living room floor.”
Sheriff’s Department homicide detectives are investigating the death of a man in the Canyon Country area, officials reported Monday
Van Dusen was last seen around 7 p.m. Saturday night, Corina said. Detectives initially were unsure if the case was a suicide or a homicide.
“It looks like the victim has had a couple suicide attempts,” Corina said, adding that the incident didn’t appear to be a robbery and there was no sign of a struggle. A firearm consistent with the victim’s wound was found at the scene.
“There’s a lot going on here,” Corina said. “We have to find out what’s been going on in his life.”
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.
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125 Comments
The article suggests that it was likely a suicide. Not sure why they would rule it a homicide. Guess we’ll have to wait for more facts to come out. Condolences to the family.
Betty-Larry Trebaol
Kevin Rieke, they were guessing it was probably a suicide due to prior attempts by this man, it’s so sad and even worse now that it was a murder.
James Campbell oh my god! Are you OK
He’s dead
Brienne Michelle, isn’t this where you used to live??
Yup. And we left after the last murder.
Yea…that area has always been bad news…
Thankfully, I used to work in property management, so I knew where not to move…
We definitely had no idea when we moved there and then we got stuck. SOOOO glad to be out and far away!
I’m glad for you!! And in the cutest little place ever!!
The place next door is for rent if you’re looking. ;) 2 bedroom house on a big lot! :)
Hmmm…how much? What’s the sqftg?
$1400/mo and it’s probably around 900 sq/ft. Master bedroom is a good size, 2nd bedroom is smallish.
So Brienne – what’s your address?
LMAO – creeped you out a little…didn’t I?
HAHAHAHA
Brienne Michelle can u tell me more about this 2 bedroom?
Tell her if it’s not in C.C.!
Not a bad house. Especially considering the price.
Welcome to the hood yes I live in Canyon Country
Palmdales the hood
I live in CC and love it. Small quiet neighborhood w hard working, REAL people
Cc is gangster it allways has been low key lol
Some just never wanted to see it lol
Here we go again. Compton Country
Hilarious. Just pure comedy gold. I mean, how do you come up with this stuff? So original! Insightful! And not mindlessly generalizing at all! Impressive.
You’re a douche bag. Is that comedy gold?
Moron, Compton Country? Ok Awesome Town..
I’d say someone who generalizes as haphazardly as that pretty much has bigger problems than having a douche bag in their vicinity.
Where are we going?
Wtf!!!!! Kris Carrion
Brienne, how much?
Admins – Some rules please about denigrating certain areas of town, please. It is all Santa Clarita.
What’s the big deal they are giving you the news!
What news? That I live in a ghetto because I live in Canyon Country? Or that I am trash because I live here? That everyone who lives here is low income/poor?
Best to ignore the small minded scum suckers that insist on denigrating a particular part of town, and generalizing without regard for compassion or fact. One day they’ll learn. Until then, try to ignore it.
Seriously tired of the “awesome town people” trashing CC!!
Linda, i couldn’t have said it better. Why do people think they are better cause they live in Saugus or Valencia?
Bigger question is why do certain people have zero compassion or concern for people that aren’t neighbors or are from a different part of town?
What’s the big deal about living in canyon country I lived their 18 years and now I own a house in newhall don’t worry about what people think about canyon country just because a few people died in that area don’t mean your not a good person
George damn right bro
I’ve been in c.c and valencia my whole life and I don’t get offended by these comments obviously it’s coming from residents who have seen the trash move in and the abundance of people… This is the internet and a public forum for a reason .. Ever hear of the 1st amendment? I think it’s become horrible out here now and I’ve experienced things and don’t feel safe anymore .. Demographics have completely changed as well .. Its called a perception..There’s at least 3 helicopters out every night over my home location and it use to be some of the nicest area in town of c.c.
Yes Krystal Mora Patrick Drury I have heard of the First Amendment. Did you ever hear of being considerate to those who live in other parts of the city. We have lived here in the same location for 31 years. Have seen a lot of change. But I would never refer to people as “trash” as you did. Really?
Yes Krystal Mora Patrick Drury I have heard of the First Amendment. Did you ever hear of being considerate to those who live in other parts of the city. We have lived here in the same location for 31 years. Have seen a lot of change. But I would never refer to people as “trash” as you did. Really?
How did no one here the gun shot????
people are dropping like flies in CC
Here we go again, no its not Compton Country, its Canyon Country, nobody trying to be like compton or south central. Trying to SCV and thats all. For people who live there they know whats going on.
Wtf is happening to canyon country? !!!
The same thing that’s been happening to Canyon Country for the last 25 years plus.
Seems worse lately
Look this is right next door to our old apartment. 20 years ago it was a crazy complex, this is really sad. Kimberly Kelly
Time to buy the house next to us!
No! I’m far enough away from canyon country.
Thanks Obama!
Your an idiot
Omg… obama killed this man!!?? Well @ least they know where he lives n could go arrest him in the white house!!
You’re
Learn how to spell a contraction if you’re going to throw ill mannered words around, such as “idiot”.
It’s you’re not your
He was loved by someone.
Thanks Jared. Yes Sam was loved. He was a good friend and always ready to lend a helping hand. He spent a lot of time coaching those tender souls in recovery. He was a troubled soul. But, we will wait to hear what the authorities finally decide really happened.
Taylor Boothe
Wow…I need bars for my windows.
Probably doesn’t change much but this is why I like the second story
I’m thinking get some cow prods
Next person who whines about c.c being like Compton or turning ghetto should just be banned from the page
Ghetto ghetto ghetto
Just block the person and you won’t have to see it anymore.
What’s wrong with you people if it’s the way the person feels they have every right to voice there perception… Or are we supposed to all day the same thing ???
Wow! That’s like one a week. Perfect , and CC people say it’s a safe place to live ?!?! I think I will go rent a place on Whites Cyn.
Top of whites is nice
I was kidding…
The cheapest rental complex in the whole Santa Clarita Valley. No wonder.
Don’t get your comment!! So the tenants deserve to be murdered?? These are humans!! God bless the family.
Comments like this aren’t meant to be understood. It’s just a way for a small brained, small penised, ungrateful idiot to try and get some attention. Ignore him, and he’ll scuttle away to his next can of Red Bull and X Box.
If you know which apartment complex is the cheapest, you either live there currentlt or applied to live there at some point. Just a guess.
Is there section 8 going on in that complex. That may be an underlying issue. The rent isn’t that cheap.m2 bdrm1 bath is ? 12-14 hundred?
How is Section 8 an underlying issue?
How is Section 8 an underlying issue?
Just buy your own rental property and rent it to section 8. That will be the best way for you to find out
Danielle Esqueda I don’t see why the conclusion is genocide upon renters who belong to that unit.. Really??? Oh and all of a sudden I should have been alerted that in that complex dwell human beings, and a few yards across are less of their kind? More so, miles away when agony, sufferings, and losing someone have become a norm. We all humans have been blessed by the one and only, God, who gave us life and are still being blessed, yet we forget the source. Life happens and death happens in a twinkling of an eye of different routes and experience everywhere since the existence of mankind. We’re not an alien to death and harm and we are susceptible to these so long as we live, not just from a man shot dead as breaking news in SCV. Yes give everyone all words of blessings, but true blessings come from obedience to God. Remember that He has the power to give and take away. He loves justice. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Your life will only be affected by what you surround it with. Know your God, not just by name and “blessings” for not everyone who calls Him Lord will enter His Kingdom.
Kelli Nichole Yes I have encountered it over the course of my apartment search, thereby, I am well informed of certain communities and histories of particular neighborhoods. The reality is, the buildings are beautiful and, of course, man made. They are bound to deterioration. However, there’s nothing more deteriorated and corrupt than a person that cannot conquer their evil desires. The property’s lax implementation of background checks and screenings, just to profit easily, result in a poor neighborhood, on a business perspective. Discriminatory, if seen on a humane level. I like where I have chosen to live, but we can never be ready assured. In every forest there’s a snake. Or better yet, a person that dies in his/her sleep. Then life happens we say?
Jared Gardner as for you, my educated friend, I am glad of your frequent activity in replying to some of the comments here that obviously are their freedom to express, as it becomes more obvious who has all the time in the world to garner attention. It’s amazing how you can browse through people’s Facebook profiles and , somehow, visualize male genitalia dimensions? That all others who commented here should trust your delusions of omnipresence and knowing peoples’ lifestyle. And you’re supposed to be who?
Actually, what I should have commented is that, the aforementioned apartment is not well run. In which realistically still has a correlation to its affordability..
Btw Marco Alvarez the whole Rico suave look went out in the 90’s… maybe you should move into those apartments so you can save some cash and buy a new look
Marco Alvarez what does the cost of rent have to do with it
What low paying struggling folks are more likely to be murdered.
Lighten up on Canyon Country! It happens everywhere.
Its dangerous over here!
Canyon country used to be safe… I moved in 2011 after 25 years of living there… The last straw was seeing some white guy all tweaked out naked and jacking off behind the park sierra sign on Jakes way… disgusting
I don’t want to lighten up on Canyon Country. It doesn’t happen everywhere else. Only in Canyon Country will you find this kind of heinous violence.
I disagree.
It definitely happens all over. I think saying Canyon Country in general is where the most violence happens is incorrect. It’s more the specific area of Soledad/sierra hwy and Jakes Way apartment complexes that have the most issues in CC ( I live off Jakes Way). Most of the crime reported in CC is limited to those areas. They are congested with too many people, many of which, I believe, have drug issues/criminal backgrounds. Canyon Country has a lot of great neighborhoods. Growing up here in the more recent years (I was raised in both CC and Valencia), I can tell you that A LOT of drug use and crime comes from kids/teens from Valencia/Saugus area that are bored with mommy and daddy’s money at their disposal. It is everywhere.
All Santa Clarita Valley is having issues
And has been for years, like any city. Difference nowadays is the speed and ease at which news travels.
And has been for years, like any city. Difference nowadays is the speed and ease at which news travels.
Yeah I know that’s why but some freak out .
Yeah I know that’s why but some freak out .
No, Canyon Country is isolated and it has all the heinous violence.
Manny Colon
May he rest in peace
Brian D. Martinez, this is where I used to live up the street…
Oh boy! Glad you’re not there anymore
I need to move..but where..oh a hole somewhere since this happening everywhere. .ahhhh..
Are u kidding?? This is definitely not happening every where… Get out of California perferrable middwest or up north and u will not have any of this b.s
You guys didn’t tell me Karina Neri Kris Carrion
Sounds like he may have asked someone to help him do what he couldn’t accomplish himself. Threes the charm. Remember there are close to 200 thousand in this valley. Percentage wise there is less homicides now than 40 years ago per capita. The sheriff dept do a great job, and CC is no worse on average than newhall,Saugus,or Valencia per #s of homes in each of these areas. Lived here 50 years and watched the changes.
Your statistics are incorrect. Canyon Country is the worst possible place to live, in all of Southern California.
It is loaded with heinous violence around every corner.
3 body’s in short time wtf
There really seems to be quite a bit of homicides this year
Taylor Rupp, 10 now?
Uh oh, some one is pulling the “Canyon Country” card.
CANYON COUNTRY again proves that is the DARK side of our beautiful city!
Canyon Country is not that bad. I’ve lived here by whole life. Try going to the valley, it’s a lot worse. There are problems everywhere. It just so happens that THAT part of canyon country takes the lower income people. It never used to be that way but unfortunately it is now. Yes I believe that this complex should do better background checks. I drive by that area all the time and still feel safe compared to other areas. Sad that people keep getting killed here in Santa Clarita, but violence will never stop in all areas of the world.
Well said!
Crime has no address!!! It can happen anywhere!
Smh this is turning out to be a bad place to live, what’s going on in this town of newhall and canyon country I’m seeing more and more drug addicts and homeless people,I’m starting to wonder if I need eyes on the back of my head, beware of your surroundings.
Condolences to the family. Such a tragic time. I hope they find the suspect for the safety of our city and for the justice of the family.
Kayelin Neri said it well. Just like ALL (enter race) aren’t (enter stereotype), not all of CC is crime ridden. Some areas of CC have less crime and feel safer compared to areas of Valencia. It’s not a SCV problem as much as a humanity issue.
Attention O Neal, checka and bureta …you guys suck as police !!! Obviously crime has been up in CC in the last month no arrests ( maybe one) no leads but always ready to point the finger at your usual suspects …part that sucks is the community is paying your salary and you “wanna cops ” or rookie sheriffs can’t even do your job right….little said it!!!!
People easily forget that this went on in Newhall. Hate crimes went on in Valencia, the huge drug problem in high schools. I too am disturb by everything that has gone on in Canyon Country but just because you live in Valencia doesn’t mean your untouchable.
Ha.ha.ha yup its Summertime in SoCal. ACTIVE.
There’s actually just as much crime on the “awesome?” side of Santa Clarita, if not more!!!
Eric Corado