Attorney Jeffrey Tidus' Death Ruled a Homicide

Police investigators stand outside the home of attorney Jeffrey Tidus in in Rolling Hills Estates on Tuesday at the site where Tidus was shot and died late Monday. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

Sheriff's Deputies have announced that the mysterious fatal shooting of prominent attorney Jeffrey Tidus outside his Palos Verdes Peninsula home is homicide. Initial speculation pointed to suicide, since the victim "was killed just hours after top executives at a firm Tidus represented, New Century Financial, were accused of fraud by federal regulators," notes the LA Weekly's crime blog.

However with no weapon found in the neighborhood and after reviewing autopsy results homicide, officials believe Tidus was killed by another person who may be related to his work. Considering the safe nature of the Rolling Hills Estates neighborhood, police believe it is unlikely this was a random crime.

Tidus was killed around 8:30 p.m. on Monday. He went out to his car to get a laptop, but never came back inside.

Lindsay William-Ross contributed to this story.