Warrant Issued for 2nd Man in Fatal Carjacking

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY — Police have issued an arrest warrant for a second suspect in the February kidnapping and death of a young telemarketing businessman in Woodland Hills.

Police identified the suspect Friday as Boris George “Booney” Graham, 27, of Pacoima.

Graham and an alleged accomplice, Kirell Taylor, 24, of Pacoima, who was charged with the crime in August, are accused of attacking Christopher Rawlings and forcing him into the trunk of his Bentley. Rawlings died when the car crashed and burned after a police pursuit.

Graham is a gang member and ex-convict with a record for robbery, said Los Angeles Police Det. Rick Swanston, who heads the West Valley homicide unit. For the last several months, Graham has used the name of Kato Austin, an associate in prison for attempted murder, as well as another alias, Juba Pattis, Swanston said.

The fugitive has been seen in various locations, including Canoga Park, Van Nuys, Omaha, Chicago and Las Vegas, Swanston said. “His name surfaced early in the investigation, but it took time to put together sufficient information to connect him to the crime,” Swanston added.

Taylor was charged with murder and kidnapping Aug. 20 after an investigation into an anonymous tip.

Investigators said they suspect that Taylor, whose criminal career began at the age of 13, and several of his associates were involved in a car theft ring.

Rawlings, 30, was attacked by at least two men wearing ski masks after he pulled into his garage in the 20700 block of Quedo Drive in Woodland Hills. Rawlings’ wife called police, who arrived just as the attackers sped away in the Bentley.

The car crashed into a pole on Tampa Avenue and burst into flames. Rawlings was thrown from the trunk and died of his injuries the next day at a hospital.

The robbers fled from the crashed car in the dark, then one allegedly carjacked a woman at Wilbur Avenue and Erwin Street.