Raz Chowdhury, who spent years in encampments along Sixth Street and Wilshire Boulevard in Koreatown, was moved into a hotel room on June 25 as part of an Inside Safe operation that housed 31 individuals that day.
One week later, on July 2, Chowdhury was discovered deceased at the Mayfair Hotel in Westlake, according to LAist. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner has deferred the cause of death while the Los Angeles Police Department's Rampart Division continues its investigation.
Volunteers with Ktown for All, who had assisted Chowdhury over several years, recalled his habit of distributing supplies to others in need rather than keeping them for himself. Sherin Varghese noted that he often sought tents and tarps specifically for companions affected by city sweeps.
At a vigil held August 29 near his former encampment site, friends described Chowdhury as a central figure who helped create a sense of safety and community among those living outdoors. Cynthia Zhang and David Strugar both emphasized his role in connecting volunteers with residents and looking out for newcomers.
LAHSA data cited by LAist shows that of more than 6,400 people who have entered interim housing through Inside Safe, over 1,800 have since returned to the streets and 126 have been recorded as deceased. Officials have not confirmed Chowdhury's enrollment status at the time of his death without authorization from next of kin.
Chowdhury had recently acquired a puppy named T-Rex and was seeking shelter options outside restricted zones when he was offered the hotel placement. Volunteers said he valued companionship and had expressed reluctance to be isolated indoors.
This report is based on coverage by LAist: https://laist.com/news/housing-homelessness/la-moved-raz-chowdhury-off-the-streets-of-koreatown-and-into-a-hotel-room-a-week-later-he-was-dead