Man shot and robbed in Irwindale

A 27-year-old Azusa man was robbed of his necklace then shot in the foot when he told a gunman he didn’t have a wallet.
Irwindale police Lt. Mario Camacho said the man was in stable condition at a local hospital and was expected to recover from his injuries.
The station received a 9-1-1 call just after 9 p.m. about the shooting and robbery.
Camacho said the victim was walking down Vincent Avenue from Arrow Highway when a car stopped near him.
Inside the car were three Latinos in their 20s.
“One of the passengers got out, pulled out a revolver and demanded the victim’s gold chain,” Camacho said.
The robber, who spoke English and fluent Spanish, also demanded the Azusa man’s wallet. But the victim told him he didn’t have a wallet.
“The suspect kept arguing with him and shot the victim in the foot once,” Camacho said.
The robber and his companions drove off after the shooting. Their car was last seen heading north on Vincent Avenue.
The wounded victim called 9-1-1 on his cell phone.
The getaway car was described as a newer model two-door red Honda Civic with tinted rear windows. The model is from 2006 to 2008. It has paper plates from an unknown car dealer.
Camacho said the car also a white sticker across the back window. Part of the sticker says, “www”.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Rene Sapien at 626-430-2239.
– Ruby Gonzales
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Whittier home destroyed in fire

WHITTIER — A couple were left homeless Thursday night after a fire that started in the kitchen destroyed the home they were renting.
Whittier police Sgt. Dominic Iraldo said damages were estimated at $250,000 to the structure and $75,000 to the contents. He said no one was injured.
The fire was reported just after 11 p.m. in the 5300 block of Carley Avenue. He said arriving officers saw the fire rapidly spreading throughout the residence.
The fire began in the kitchen while one of the residents was cooking Thursday night.
“She turned away from the stove approximately two minutes. When she returned, the stove was ablaze,” he said.
The woman thinks the cooking grease caught fire, according to Iraldo.
She also told police she saw an oven mitt hanging above the stove catch fire then fall onto the stove.
“When she realized there was a grease fire she put water on it. (She said) she put it out,” Officer Hugo Figueroa said.
Figueroa said the woman and her boyfriend walked out of the house because the kitchen was full of smoke. But when they were outside, he said the couple realized the fire hadn’t been extinguished.
Los Angeles County firefighters knocked down the blaze at 11:31 p.m.
Police said the Red Cross was helping the residents find shelter.
– Ruby Gonzales
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Investigation continues in Irwindale Edison office shooting

IRWINDALE — Homicide detectives are continuing to try to make sense of a shooting in a Southern California Edison office earlier this month that left three people dead, including the gunman, and two others wounded.
Andre Turner, 48, of Norco showed up at the facility in the 4900 block of Rivergrade Road at his usual time on the morning of Dec. 16 and gave no indications of the violence that was to follow in the afternoon, Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials said.
At about 1:30 p.m., Turner produced a handgun and began a murderous rampage, killing two of his supervisors and wounding two others before fatally shooting himself in the office building which primarily housed information technology employees, Lt. Holly Francisco of the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau said.
While Turner’s exact motivation remained under investigation, he was believed to have a work-related grievance of some kind, Francisco said.
“We don’t really have a motive yet, and may never have that,” she said. “But we do know the the supervisors (who were shot) were all in different levels of management in that I.T. group.”
“The victims were specifically sought out, due to the fact that he walked past other co-workers who were not shot,” Francisco said.
Turner even engaged co-workers in conversation in between shooting his superiors, officials said.
Other than being “counseled” regarding a missed deadline on another day earlier in the week, detectives had found no reason why Turner would have been angered at his employer.
When spoken to regarding the missed deadline, “he didn’t get into an argument,” Francisco said.
His job did not appear to be in jeopardy, she added. “He was not going to be laid off.”
Detectives remained busy with the investigation, Francisco said. “There’s still numerous interviews to do.”
She said the investigation had not yet focused on Turner’s financial situation.
Court records indicate his home in Norco home had been listed for sale in November at $590,000 — $121,000 less than it was purchased for in 2004. Records indicated he was also had a civil judgement against him and was being sued.
Killed in the shooting were Henry Serrano, 56, of Walnut and Robert Lindsay, 53, of Chino Hills, SCE officials said. Serrano had worked for the utility for 26 years, while Lindsay had 29 years on the job.
Turner shot and wounded two other supervisors who survived the attack, officials said.
Angela Alvarez, 46, of Glendale remained hospitalized due to the shooting, Francisco said. She is in stable condition, however she is still recovering from the wounds she suffered Dec. 16.
Contractor Abhay Pimpale, 38, of Montebello was also wounded in the shooting, but was released from the hospital in the days following the incident, according to SCE.
SCE has started a fund for employees to contribute to to benefit the families of the victims. The company seeded the fund with $100,000 and promised to match employee contributions.
Public donations can be sent to Wells Fargo Bank’s “SCE Rivergrade Victims Fund,” 1803 Walnut Grove Ave., Rosemead, CA, 91770.
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Abused cat from La Puente placed in new home, abuser sentenced to jail

57449-PEPPER the cat-thumb-300x261-57448.jpg
A kitten rescued from an abusive home in La Puente has been placed with a new family, while the 18-year-old man convicted of beating the animal has begun serving a 6-month jail sentence, authorities announced Wednesday.
Willis So, 18, of La Puente, was sentenced Dec. 20 in El Monte Superior Court to 180 days in jail, as well as three years of probation, 300 hours of community service, and $1,100 and restitution and fines, Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control officials said in a written statement. He took a plea deal at at pre-trial hearing.
Officials arrested him on suspicion of animal cruelty and seized injured animal Dec. 7, according to officials and booking records.
The cat has since recuperated and been placed with a family in Tujunga, animal control officials said.
“Lily, now re-named Pepper by her new owner, is acclimating nicely and recovering on schedule according to their family veterinarian,” animal control Director Marcia Mayeda said.
Despite a traumatic history, the 8-month-old short-haired cat maintains a friendly disposition, officials added.
“My staff was amazed at how loving and carefree (Pepper) was when she was in our care, considering what she went through,” Mayeda said.
So was accused of beating the cat when he would argue with his mother, animal control Deputy Director Aaron Reyes said.
“Whenever the suspect would argue with his mom, he would take out his frustrations on the cat,” Reyes said.
Investigators discovered an old fracture in the kitten’s leg, as well as other injuries such as a broken tooth and swelling of the cheek and eye socket, officials said.
But Pepper is now well on her way to a full recovery, Reyes added. “She’s in great spirits, and over all, a tough little girl.”
Several people expressed interest in adopting Pepper, Reyes said, and she was placed with her new home just before Christmas.
“This is quite the holiday present for not only the new owner, but for her as well,” he added.
In addition to the pain cruelty can cause to animals, it can be a sign of dangerously violent tendencies, officials said.
“Cruelty to animals is a precursor to violence toward human beings,” Mayeda said.
Anyone who believed they’ve witnessed animal cruelty is asked to call local animal control officials. If an animals life is in danger, officials advise calling 911.
PHOTO of Pepper the cat courtesy of Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control.
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Bicyclist arrested on suspicion of carrying 23 pounds of pot in South Pasadena

SOUTH PASADENA — Police arrested a bicyclist early Thursday after he was found carrying 23 pounds of pot, authorities said.
Marco Solis, 53, of San Gabriel was booked on suspicion of possessing and transporting marijuana for sales, South Pasadena police officials said in a written statement. He was already on felony probation for a previous drug conviction.
Cpl. Jason Lucas was working a burglary suppression patrol about 2:30 a.m. in the 300 block of Monterey Road when he spotted Solis riding a bicycle and stopped him for not having a headlight or rear reflector, officials said.
“A further investigation by Corporal Lucas and assisting officers revealed 23 pounds of marijuana hidden inside an Igloo water cooler the suspect was carrying while riding his bike,” according to the police statement.
Officials estimated the street value of the marijuana at about $23,000.
According to county booking records, Solis was being held in lieu of $50,000 bail at the South Pasadena Police Department’s jail pending a court appearance.
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Man shot at bus stop in Baldwin Park

BALDWIN PARK – A 19-year-old Baldwin Park man was shot in the arm during an argument with another man at a bus stop Wednesday night.
Police said the gunman, who used a shotgun in the attack, left in a car with two other suspects.
The shooting occurred about 8:30 p.m. in the 13200 block of Francisquito Avenue.
Lt. Joe Bartolotti said the 19-year-old was standing at a bus stop when a car pulled up next to him and the rear passenger got out.
He said words were exchanged between the two men. Bartolotti didn’t know what the argument was about.
The suspect fired one shot, hitting the victim in the arm.
He and his accomplices drove off. The wounded 19-year-old went to a local hospital where police later found him.
Bartolotti said the victim, who is in stable condition. told police he didn’t know the shooter.
There was no description given for the getaway car and the suspects were only described as three Latinos with shaved heads.
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call the Baldwin Park police at 626-960-1955.
– Ruby Gonzales
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San Gabriel man admits theft from Covina cemetery

WEST COVINA – A San Gabriel man will be serving the next two years behind bars for stealing from a parked car while a mourner visited a grave, officials said Wednesday.
Shiara Davila-Morales, spokeswoman for the District Attorney’s Office, said Tommy James Lopez pleaded no contest on Tuesday to one count of petty theft with three prior convictions and was sentenced to two years in prison. He will serve the sentence in county jail.
Lopez, 34, was also given credit for nine days and ordered to give a DNA sample.
Davila-Morales said the judge dismissed the other charges of receiving stolen property and a misdemeanor count of damaging or taking part of a vehicle.
Lopez was arrested Dec. 22 when someone saw him stealing items from an unlocked car at Forest Lawn Memorial Park & Mortuary, 21300 East Via Verde Street in the unincorporated county area near Covina.
– Ruby Gonzales
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Man stabbed, robbed in West Covina

WEST COVINA – A West Covina man was attacked, stabbed several times and robbed of a $400 gift card by three men Wednesday night.
The sheriff’s Industry station originally received the 7:45 p.m. call about the stabbing on Francisquito Avenue. (The street runs through both city and unincorporated county areas.)
“It just came in as a person stabbed by unknown persons. He’s breathing and conscious,” Sheriff’s Lt. Joe Chavez said.
Deputies notified West Covina police.
West Covina police Lt. Alan Henley said a 27-year-old man was walking on Francisquito Avenue near Glenview Road when a black sport utility vehicle stopped near him.
Three Latinos in their 20s got out of the SUV and assaulted the man.
Henley said the suspects pulled the man’s sweater over his head, punched and kicked him. The culprits ended up taking the sweater which had a $400 gift card.
Henley said the man later realized he’d been stabbed in the upper torso. Henley said the injuries weren’t life-threatening.
The injured man was taken to Los Angeles County USC Medical Center.
– Ruby Gonzales
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Bicyclist killed in fatal Pomona hit-and-run

POMONA — A hit-and-run driver struck and killed a bicyclist in Pomona late Wednesday.
The victim, whose name was not released because his family hadn’t been notified, was pronounced dead near the corner of Towne Avenue and Sixth Street, Pomona police Sgt. Iain Miller said in a written statement.
A driver in a green Dodge or Chrysler sport-utility vehicle struck the rider while heading north on Towne just before 5:30 p.m., he said. The vehicle dragged the bicyclist about half a block.
The driver kept driving north on Towne, then turned east onto Mission Boulevard.
Police say the crash occurred during rush hour on a heavily traveled street, so investigators are encouraging any witnesses to call them at 909-620-2081.
The hit-and-run vehicle should have moderate to major front-end damage. Anyone who spots the vehicle may call Pomona police, 909-622-1241.
-Staff report
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Two sought in Norwalk shooting

NORWALK — Deputies sought two men — including one with a tattooed face — who seriously wounded another man in a shooting Wednesday, authorities said.
Deputies responded to the shooting about 2:20 p.m. on Domart Avenue, just south of Imperial Highway, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Bill Evans said.
The victim, a man in his 50s, had been shot several times and was flown to a trauma center by helicopter for treatment, Evans said. An update on his condition was not available.
Officials initially described the attackers as two Latino men between 18 and 20 years old, one with some type of tattoo on his face. They both wore blue jeans and Los Angeles Dodgers jackets — one blue and one black.
A motive in the shooting had not been determined, and the investigation was ongoing.
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