Hollywood Hills mansion victim died of shot to neck

Tuesday December 31, 2002

LOS ANGELES (AP) The victim of a possible robbery at his Hollywood Hills home died of a gunshot wound of the neck, the county Coroner's office said Tuesday.

A friend arriving at the home of Robert Michael Lubin, 56, found him dead Saturday morning, Los Angeles police said.

Neighbors reported Friday evening that they heard two gunshots and saw two men running toward a car, police said. They asked neighbors to check their security camera videotapes for anything showing the men and their car.

Investigators have not said if anything was taken from Lubin's home. He was believed by police to be independently wealthy, LAPD Hollywood Division Detective John Miller said.

Lubin lived alone in the modernistic home above Sunset Boulevard. The home with a security gate, barbed wire, alarm and security camera has a sweeping view of the Los Angeles area and has been used as a location for photographers, television shows and films.

(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)