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ROSEMEAD -- Detectives sought information from the public Friday in the fatal shooting of a man in a residential neighborhood.
The dead man was identified only as an Asian man in his 40s pending notification of his family members, coroners officials said.
The shooting was reported just before 11:30 p.m. in 3100 block of Charlotte Avenue, Lt. Dave Coleman of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau said.
Deputies from the sheriff's Temple Station responded to a report of suspicious circumstances and shots fired, he said.
"They found the victim lying on the sidewalk," Coleman said.
The man died at a hospital shortly after the shooting, according to Deputy Ed Hernandez.
He was unable to give investigators a statement before he died, Coleman said.
The initial caller reported hearing a male voice calling for help and a gunshot, sheriff's Lt. Mark Glatt said.
A motive or suspect description in the attack remained unknown Friday.
Though at least one person reported hearing the shooting, no one reported seeing what happened, Coleman said.
"It's a mystery," he said.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.

ONTARIO -- A West Covina man was found shot to death in the parking lot of an Ontario apartment complex Friday morning.
Police officers responded to the 2500 block of East Riverside Drive about 8:10 a.m. after reports of shots fired in the area, said Ontario police Sgt. David McBride.
Vincent Mejia II, 33, of West Covina had several gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police did not release any suspect information for the killing.
Family members in West Covina declined to comment Sunday.

EL MONTE -- The lead investigator in the slaying of a Southern California school board member in Mexico has been killed in an ambush, authorities said Saturday.
Mexican officials wouldn't say whether investigator Manuel Acosta's killing was related to the killing of Agustin Roberto "Bobby" Salcedo last month.
Acosta, 42, was ambushed near his office Jan. 15 by gunmen in a pickup truck. He was shot several times in the chest and torso, but survived in critical condition. He succumbed to his wounds Tuesday.
Authorities didn't immediately disclose the attack, saying they hoped to better protect Acosta by letting his assailants assume he was dead. Five others were killed in the attack.
His death was first reported in Mexico's Milenio newspaper and confirmed to an American newspaper Saturday by Martin Chavez, spokesman for the city of Gomez Palacio.
It's unclear what impact the death of Acosta will have on the case, in which little progress has been reported.
Rep. Judy Chu, D-El Monte, who expressed outrage after Salcedo's killing on Dec. 31, said she was "shocked and dismayed" to learn of the death of the lead investigator in the case.
"It shows the degree to which the drug cartels are out of control," Chu said. "It's unimaginable too that they would dare murder the investigator in such a high-profile case."
The congresswoman added that the recent development further demonstrates the need to have the investigation handled by federal authorities in Mexico, not just local police.
"This actually furthers my resolve to make this a federal case for law enforcement in Mexico," she said.
Based on a conversation with the U.S. ambassador to Mexico on Wednesday, Chu said she remains hopeful that may occur.
First, she said, "They need to find a legal means to do so."
Federal authorities in the U.S. have already offered assistance in the investigation, Chu said, primarily by examining forensic evidence.
Salcedo's family members could not be reached for comment Saturday.
El Monte <NO1>city <NO>Councilwoman Emily Ishigaki said she was "stunned" to learn of the investigator's death.
El Monte Chief of Police Tom Armstrong said it is always a sad occasion to learn of the death of a law enforcement officer.
"It's a tragedy wherever it happens," he said. "We pray for his family, and we pray that the perpetrators are arrested."
Armstrong said he knew Salcedo through city business.
"He was one of El Monte's current and future leaders," the chief said. "It was obvious not only by his involvement in his chosen profession, education, but being involved in public policy as it related to schools."
"It was a shock to everyone to learn of his passing in such an unnecessary and violent way," he added.
Salcedo, a 33-year-old assistant principal, was killed Dec. 31 while he and his wife were visiting relatives in Gomez Palacio. Salcedo and five other people were abducted from a restaurant and later found shot in the head, their bodies dumped in the outskirts of town.
Salcedo, a Southern California native, is believed to have been the first U.S. elected official killed in the 4-year-old Mexican drug war.
Gomez Palacio is ground zero of the drug war. Authorities suspect a drug cartel was involved in the killings, including Salcedo's.
A few days after his death, about 5,000 people gathered for a vigil in Salcedo's honor in El Monte, where he had been a teacher, coach and school administrator.

POMONA -- Authorities say a 17-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of killing two teenagers and wounding a third in a Pomona park.
Pomona police say witnesses called to report the shooting Friday afternoon at Ted Greene Park.
Responding officers found the two most seriously injured boys still at the park. Both died after they were transported to a hospital.
The third teen was treated for gunshot injuries and is expected to survive.
The suspect was found hiding behind a house near the park.
His name has not been released.

LA VERNE -- An allegedly intoxicated driver crashed his car into a tree while fleeing the scene of another minor crash early Saturday, killing his two passengers, authorities said.
Alan McConnell, 27, of Covina was booked on suspicion of murder, vehicular manslaughter, felony driving under the influence and hit-and-run, La Verne police Lt. Nick Paz said. He was unhurt in the crash.
Renee Hardy, 20, of Alta Loma and Telassie Dague, 22, of Alta Loma died in the crash, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Investigator Jim Blacklock said.
They were passengers in the 2000 Pontiac Grand Am McConnell was driving, officials said.
McConnell was allegedly involved in a minor collision with another car shortly before 12:45 a.m. on Foothill Boulevard at Damien Avenue just prior to the fatal crash less than half a mile to the east at Foothill Boulevard and Wheeler Avenue, police said.
"He hit the curb when he was fleeing eastbound (on Foothill Boulevard), lost control, hit a center divider and a tree on the center divider, and came to rest on the north curb," Paz said.
The woman in the rear passenger seat died at the scene, Paz said, while the woman in the front passenger seat was rushed to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
Initial tests indicated McConnell's blood-alcohol level appeared to be over the legal limit, and he failed a field sobriety test, officials said. Police were also looking into the possibility he was under the influence of drugs.
Official records indicate McConnell has had numerous run-ins with the law prior to Saturday's crash.
McConnell was charged with drunken driving and driving with a suspended license in December of last year in Pomona Superior Court, court records show. Information on the status of that case was not available Saturday.
He was also arrested on Tuesday and before that on Jan. 12 by deputies from the sheriff's San Dimas station, according to sheriff's booking records.
He was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of driving with a suspended license, Los Angeles County sheriff's Sgt. Alex Vargas said. It was not clear Saturday what the Jan. 12 arrest was for.
In September of 2008, he was convicted of driving with a suspended license in Pomona Superior Court, records show, and he was convicted of marijuana possession in December of 2001.
According to sheriff's booking records, McConnell was being held in lieu of more than $2.1 million. Information on his initial court appearance was not available.

EL MONTE -- The fatal shooting of an El Monte man by his blind brother last week was not a murder, but rather a tragic accident, a homicide detective said Friday.
Erik Diaz, 19, was fatally shot about 1 a.m. on Jan. 16 in the apartment where he lived with his brother in the 4100 block of Rowland Avenue, sheriff's and police officials said.
His brother, Alex Diaz, 24, who is completely blind, was initially arrested following the shooting but was released Thursday, Detective Q. Rodriguez of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau said.
"We don't believe it was an intentional shooting," said the detective, who described the incident as a "very unfortunate accident."
The brothers had a good relationship, and there was no argument prior to the shooting, he said.
Alex Diaz was devastated when detectives told him his brother had died, Rodriguez said. "He took it extremely hard."
The gun belonged to Alex Diaz, Rodriguez said, who told investigators he had it for protection from local gang members. He was not believed to be involved in gangs himself.
Officials were still investigating where got the gun.
The shooting took placed as the brothers were in the living room of their apartment, Rodriguez said.
"The gun was pulled out," he said. The men were examining it when, "somehow it went off."
Alex Diaz was holding the weapon when it fired, the detective added. The handgun was found at the scene.
Erik Diaz was taken to a local hospital, where he died about about 19 hours after the shooting, El Monte police Lt, Michelle States said shortly after the incident.
An official cause of death had not been determined for Erik Diaz Friday, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Chief of Operations Craig Harvey said.
Though Alex Diaz is not expected to be charged with murder, Rodriguez said, the District Attorney's Office may later decide to file other charges related to the incident against him.

Here's the story as told by Fox 11 back in 2008:

Here's the note from Tracy Ponce to friends and family:

Hi all,

Just wanted to share with you that I received an official subpoena from the District Attorney's office to report as a witness in my daughter's case on Feb. 11. So now it does look like, FINALLY, that the trial will soon begin. It will be two-years since we found my daughter Eileen on Feb. 15, 2008. Unfortunately, I'll be going to the same courthouse where I found my daughter's body, but either way, I'm thankful that the killer has been in custody and that we will be going to trial. I'm also going to court on Feb. 9 for the Readiness date (too see if both sides are actually ready to proceed) which now, I believe they both are since we received these subpoenas, and then on Feb. 11 is when they begin to select the jury, then afterwards the trial will start. I hear the trial may take up to 10-days.

Anyways, for those of you who have went to trial in your loved one case or who are still waiting, I wanted to share with you that after receiving the subpoena, it did something to me emotionally and I wasn't expecting to feel that way and just wanted to know from those who have went to trial already, is this normal, or is this our kind of normal???

See, like many of us Parents Of Murdered Children, I have prayed to get to trial so that part could be put behind us, but when the day actually comes, it seems sort of surreal and for some reason it put a fear in me, why? I don't know, because I pray everyday for Justice and I truly believe we will receive it, but I hate having that bit of doubt and confusion in my heart because it totally scared the hell out of me!!

Anyways, I presume the opening remarks will begin on that following Monday, Feb. 15 and if you have time available to support us in the courtroom, it will be greatly appreciated. The courthouse is located at 400 Civic Center Plaza, Pomona, CA. I'll let you know the exact room number as soon as I know it. And if you can't come, I understand, but if you believe in the power of prayer, I'm asking that you please pray for our family, the witnesses, the incoming jury and our DA during this time so that everything proceeds in an efficient manner and the killer is found GUILTY!!

Thank you!!

Tracy Ponce & Family

EL MONTE -- A man allegedly shot and killed his younger brother in El Monte, authorities said Sunday.
Erik Diaz, 19, of El Monte was shot about 1 a.m. Saturday in the 4100 block of Rowland Avenue, El Monte police Lt. Michelle States said. He died at a hospital about 8 p.m.
His brother, 24-year-old Alex Diaz, was arrested within an hour of the alleged attack, according to police and sheriff's booking records.
Alex Diaz was initially booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon before his brother died at a local hospital, States said, but the charge was expected to be upgraded to murder.
Family members of the brothers gathered Sunday at the apartment where the shooting took place declined to comment.
Alex Diaz has no criminal record in Los Angeles County, according to Los Angeles County Superior Court records.
Detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau are helping El Monte police with the investigation, and police deferred all further inquiries to sheriff's homicide detectives.
Sheriff's officials released no further information about the shooting, and the detectives handling the investigation could not be reached for comment Sunday.
"The incident is still under investigation," Deputy Jeff Gordon of the Sheriff's Headquarter's Bureau said.
Saturday's shooting was El Monte's first reported homicide of 2010. The city saw four homicides in 2009, and 12 in 2009.

POMONA -- A judge ordered a Baldwin Park man to spend the rest of his life behind bars Thursday for a murderous rampage in 2008 in which he killed his mother, a woman next door and her 4-year-old daughter.
Roy Perez, 30, was sentenced in Pomona Superior Court to three consecutive life sentences, as well as another term of 139 years to life in prison, Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Stefan Mrakich said.
The prosecutor said Perez had long suffered from mental illness, and that the attack occurred after he became enraged at his mother.
"Throughout his life," Mrakich said, "he had a great deal of irrational anger directed toward his parents -- both his mother and father."
Perez pleaded guilty last month to three counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder in connection with the shooting spree, which took place Feb. 25 in the 14500 block of Rockenbach Street in Baldwin Park. He also admitted the special allegation that he personally fired a gun in the crimes.
Perez's mother, 47-year-old Alicia Perez, neighbor Dalmy Mata, 31, and her 4-year-old daughter Briana were killed. Perez wounded Mata's other two children, Kimberly and Edwin, who were 9 and 14 at the time.
Mrakich, who prosecuted the case along with Deputy District Attorney Samer Hathout, said Perez had a long history of mental illness and went on his rampage after a bizarre confrontation with his mother.
"He was claiming that his mother was not his mother," Mrakich said. Perez then retrieved a handgun and opened fire.
After shooting his mother about 16 times, Roy Perez went next door where he attacked the Mata family, Mrakich and sheriff's officials said. It was unclear why the neighbors were targeted.
When officials arrived at the scene, Perez was still clutching a 9mm handgun used in the shooting, Lt. Dan Rosenberg of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau said.
Mrakich said Perez suffered from "severe paranoia," and his history of mental illness dated to his teenage years. He has been held by authorities on 72-hour psychiatric evaluation holds several times.
At Perez's sentencing, Mrakich said, he told the courtroom that he deserved the death penalty, saying that a "bad demon" had taken control of him. He also said that he missed his mother.
Perez pleaded guilty before his trial started, Mrakich said, so it was unclear if an insanity defense would have been attempted. Officials agreed to life in prison without the possibility of parole in the plea agreement. At the time, no official determination had been made on whether the death penalty would be sought against Perez.
"It's just a tragedy for everyone involved," Mrakich said. "For the Perez family and the Mata family, and I hope they all find some peace."

From Sandi Gibbons at the DA's Office:

POMONA - Two men were charged with murder by the District Attorney's office today in last week's shooting death of a 6-year-old boy who was killed while playing outside his home in Azusa.

Arraignment for both was scheduled for some time after 1:30 p.m. today in Department N. Pomona Superior Court.

Richard Paul Joseph Gomez, 21 (dob 10-17-1988), of Azusa, and Mathew Steven Loza, 20 (dob 11-3-1989), of West Covina, were charged in case No. KA 089283 with one count of murder. The boy, identified by authorities as Jessie Valencia, was shot to death outside his home in the 300 block of South Azusa Avenue on Jan. 8. The complaint alleged that Loza personally used a firearm, a 30-30 rifle, to commit the crime.

The complaint also charged Gomez, who authorities said lived across the street from the boy's home, with one count of being an accessory after the fact. Gomez additionally was charged with one count of unlawful firearm activity for having a 30-30 rifle in his possession. The complaint alleged that the defendant had been convicted of a misdemeanor count of spousal battery.

Bail for each defendant was recommended at $1 million. If convicted, both could face possible maximum state prison terms of life with the possibility of parole.

Deputy District Attorney Duke Chau was assigned to prosecute the case.

This comes from the Associated Press:

RIVERSIDE -- A serial killer has received a fourth life sentence
for the murder of a woman whose body was found in the desert near Blythe in 1992.
Keith Hunter Jesperson, known as "The Happy Face Killer," was sentenced Friday in Riverside after pleading guilty to killing the woman he picked up in the Cajon Pass.
The 54-year-old Jesperson has also admitted to killings in Washington, Wyoming, Oregon and Northern California.
Jesperson is known as the "Happy Face Killer" for drawing happy faces in letters in which he boasted of his crimes to prosecutors and an Oregon newspaper.

AZUSA -- Authorities Saturday identified a 6-year-old boy who was fatally shot as he played with toys in the driveway of his home, as well as two men suspected in the killing.
Jesse Valencia was killed in the shooting, which occurred about 3:50 p.m. Friday in the 400 block of South Azusa Avenue, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Investigator Denise Bertone said.
Richard Gomez, 21, of Azusa, Mathew Loza, 20, of West Covina and Noemi Poblano, 19, of Los Angeles were booked on suspicion of murder within half an hour of the shooting, Azusa police Lt. Mike Bertelsen said. Poblano was released Saturday due to insufficient evidence.
"We believe we have all the suspects involved in the shooting," the lieutenant said. "We've also recovered the weapon we believe was used in the shooting. It was a rife."
Valencia with his mother, playing with toys in the driveway of their home when a single shot rang out from inside the house across the street, Bertelsen said.
Police officers who heard the shot and went to investigate found the wounded boy in his mother's arms, officials said.
The mother initially reported she believed her son had been injured by an exploding toy.
Paramedics rushed the boy to a West Covina hospital where he was pronounced dead at 4:26 p.m., Bertone said.
Police declined to say Saturday what roles each suspect is believed to have played in the shooting, or if the shooting was believed to be accidental or deliberate.
"I can't go into details or specifics related to the shooting," Bertelsen said.
Many details about the shooting are of "evidentiary value," he added. "We want to make sure we don't jeopardize the case."
In addition to investigating the killing, Bertelsen said police are trying to reach out and offer help to the devastated family of the boy.
"We're also arranging to contact the family to see if there's anything we can due to assist them in this time of tragedy," he said.
According to sheriff's booking records, Gomez, Loza and Poblano are due for arraignment Tuesday in West Covina Superior Court.
A bank account has been set up at the Covina Chase bank branch at 1453 N. Azusa Avenue, police said. Anyone interested in donating to the family can deposit money into account No. 000009230570848.

PHOTOS of Richard Gomez, above, and Mathew Loza, left, courtesy of the Azusa Police Department.

AZUSA -- A call that started with officers spotting a mother running down the street with a bleeding little boy in her arms ended in tragedy Friday after the 6-year-old died at a nearby hospital.
An officer heard what sounded like a gunshot shortly before 4 p.m. and found the boy's mother walking down the 400 block of South Azusa Avenue, Azusa police Lt. Mike Bertelsen said.
The mother reported that she thought a toy had exploded and injured her son, the lieutenant said.
When police looked into the matter, they ruled out that the boy was injured by an exploding toy, Bertelsen said.
"We determined the boy was shot," he said.
Police said the shooting apparently occurred outside a home near where the mother was found walking with the wounded boy.
Paramedics rushed the boy to a local hospital within 20 minutes of the initial call for help, but he was pronounced dead there a short time later, Los Angeles County Fire Department Inspector Fred Stowers said.
Police arrested three people, but did not release their names or descriptions, citing an ongoing investigation.
No charges were expected against the mother, who Bertelsen said apparently did not witness the shooting.
Bertelsen declined to say where on his body the boy was shot, whether a gun was recovered or how police believe the shooting took place.
"All we can say is we have three in custody and we can't tell you their level of involvement," Bertelsen said.
Detectives continued interviewing witnesses and searching the scene for clues late Friday.

From KABC: 

ROSEMEAD, Calif. (KABC) -- A man and a woman were found shot and killed in Rosemead on Wednesday. Police are not looking for a suspect.

Authorities responded to the 2600 block of Earle Avenue just after midnight and found a male and a female, both in their 20s, shot in the head. The female victim was declared dead at the scene. The male victim was taken to a local hospital, where he later died.

According to authorities, the couple dated and broke up a few months ago, but they still kept the lines of communication open. The young woman came to the home on Tuesday to pick up the man to go out for the day, and when they returned, things seemed fine.