On July 31, 2023, the body of a man was found inside a 55-gallon drum at Malibu Lagoon State Beach. The man was identified as 32-year-old Javonnta Murphy, an aspiring rapper and musician. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s report revealed that the cause of death was a gunshot to the head, and it was ruled a homicide. Murphy was found naked and sealed inside the barrel.
The discovery was made by a park maintenance worker who noticed the barrel floating in the water near the Pacific Coast Highway bridge. The worker attempted to drag it to shore but found it too heavy, leaving it in the water. The following day, a lifeguard arrived at work and saw the barrel, leading them to retrieve it. Upon opening the barrel, they discovered the body.
Authorities from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department initiated an investigation to determine the identity of the victim and the circumstances surrounding his death. It was unclear how long the body had been inside the barrel, and it was suggested that high tide might have brought the barrel into the lagoon from the ocean.
Javonnta Murphy had recently moved into his first apartment in Sylmar, according to a family friend named Patrick Nelson. Nelson described him as a good young man with aspirations in music and no apparent involvement in gang activity. The incident left the community of beachgoers and surfers deeply concerned and shocked.
As of the report, further details regarding the investigation, suspects, or potential motives were not released, and authorities were continuing their efforts to gather information, including searching for clues, witnesses, and surveillance footage relevant to the case.
