Man wounded in shooting near Duarte

Posted on April 27, 2017 by Brian Day

DUARTE >> A man suffered a leg wound in a shooting in an unincorporated county area between Duarte and Monrovia on Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.
The shooting too place about 5 p.m. in the 2400 block of Lincoln Avenue, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Sgt. Tom Harris said.
Deputies responding to the incident encountered a man in his early-20s who had been shot in the lower calf with a large-caliber pistol bullet, the sergeant said. He was taken to a hospital for treatment.
The shooter fled the scene in a red sedan, the sergeant said. A detailed description of the attacker was not available.
Anyone with information can reach the sheriff’s Temple City Station at 626-285-7171. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

UPDATED: One teen killed, another wounded in Monrovia shooting

Posted on April 23, 2017 by Brian Day

MONROVIA >> A Saturday night shooting in Monrovia left one teenager dead and another wounded, authorities said.
The shooting took place about 11:35 p.m. in the 100 block of West Cypress Street, just west of Myrtle Avenue, according to Deputy Kimberly Alexander of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Information Bureau.
Monrovia police first responded to reports of gunshots when they found the victims, Alexander said in a written statement.
“Both victims had been shot at least one time in the torso,” she said.
Paramedics pronounced one of the young men dead at the scene, officials said.
He was identified as 18-year-old Oscar Andrew Garcia of Monrovia, Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner Lt. Larry Dietz said.
The second gunshot victim, described as 17 years old, was hospitalized in critical condition.
The shooter was described only as a Latino man in his 20s. Sheriff’s officials released no further details regarding the circumstances of the shooting.
Neighbors said the shooting in or just outside the detached garage of a back house, and involved more than 10 gunshots.
A pair of paramedic’s gloved marked the scene of the shooting on Sunday afternoon.
One neighbor, who did not want her identity published for fear of retaliation, said the two victims did not live at the home, but were visiting friends when the gunfire erupted.
The shooter entered the property through a rear fence, which leads to an alley running just south of Cypress Street.
The gunman immediately opened fire before fleeing back through the alley, neighbors said.
Saturday night’s double shooting is the latest in a spate of at least seven shooting in the Monrovia-Duarte area since January that have left four victims dead and another four wounded. Three suspects have been jailed in connection with one of the non-fatal shootings. The rest of the cases remain unsolved.
•Two women escaped injury, though a home and parked car were struck by gunfire, in a drive-by shooting in the 500 block of Maydee Street in unincorporated county area between Monrovia and Duarte on Friday night.
•A La Puente man was found shot to death inside a vacant home in the 2600 block of Calle Martos in Duarte on April 1.
•A man was wounded in a shooting in the 400 block of East Duarte Road in Monrovia on March 29.
•A 20-year-old man died in a shooting in the 400 block of Camino Real Street in the unincorporated county area between Duarte and Monrovia on March 18.
•A 39-year-old man was shot to death as he arrived home with his wife and children in the 2300 block of Bashor Street in Duarte on Feb. 18. A $10,000 reward has since been authorized in the case by Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
•A man was wounded in a drive-by shooting in the 2000 block of Goodall Avenue in the unincorporated county area between Monrovia and Duarte on Jan. 15.
•Two men suffered gunshot wounds in a shooting at Cresrfield Drive and Bloomdale Street in Duarte on Jan. 7. Three suspects have been arrested in connection with the shooting.
News of Saturday neight’s shooting brought longtime victims’ advocate Jeanette Chavez to tears.
Chavez lost her 16-year-old daughter, Sammantha Salas, in a shooting in the 2500 block of Peck Road in the unincorporated county area between Duarte and Monrovia that took place amid a spate of gang-violence that plagued the area in late-2007. Salas was slain with automatic gunfire as the walked from her father’s home to a nearby store with two friends. One of Salas’ friends was also wounded in the shooting.
Two cousins from Monrovia have since been sentenced to life in prison for the slaying.
Chavez has spent the past decade working with victim’s advocacy organizations, as well as on her own, to try to prevent other families from suffering similar tragedies.
“This is really taking a toll on me, and taking a toll on my heart,” she said of the recent violence. “It’s like a black eye for my daughter.”
Chavez said she addressed law enforcement and county supervisors at a Monrovia, Arcadia Duarte Town Council meeting on Wednesday regarding the issue of violence in the Monrovia-Duarte area. Two more shooting have occurred in the area since the meeting.
Chavez said she asked at the meeting about improving communications between the several law enforcement agencies that patrol the area, as well as how many deputies are assigned to the unincorporated county area between Duarte and Monrovia. But she said she did not receive satisfactory answers.
In response to the violence in the area in 2007 and 2008, Monrovia officials sought and obtained a gang injunction against two local street gangs in a 6-square-mile area encompassing portions of Monrovia and nearby unincorporated county areas.
But Duarte declined to join in the injunction, which Chavez said was the wrong decision.
“Shame on Duarte for not joining the gang injunction,” she said.
The sheriff’s Homicide Bureau is helping Monrovia police with the investigation into Saturday’s fatal shooting.
Anyone with information us urged to contact the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to at 800-222-8477.

Women escape unharmed following drive-by shooting near Duarte

Posted on April 22, 2017 by Brian Day

A home and a parked car were struck by bullets, but two women escaped injury, in a drive-by shooting on Friday night in an unincorporated county area between Duarte and Monrovia, officials said.
The gunfire was reported about 8:55 p.m. in the 500 block of Maydee Street, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Frank Ruiz said.
Two women were standing on a corner when a car drove by with three male occupants inside, the lieutenant said. Shots were fired from the passing vehicle in the direction of the women.
The women were not struck by the gunfire, Ruiz said. But a nearby house and car were pierced by bullets.
No further details were available.
Anyone with information can reach the sheriff’s Temple Station at 626-285-7171. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

UPDATED: La Puente man found shot to death inside vacant home in Duarte

Posted on April 2, 2017 by Brian Day

DUARTE >> Officials have identified a La Puente man who was found shot to death inside a vacant home in Duarte on Saturday afternoon.
Christian Sanchez, 20, was pronounced dead shortly after 4:20 p.m., when he was found shot inside an empty house in the 2600 block of Calle Martos, Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner Lt. Larry Dietz said.
The deadly shooting was first reported as a possible burglary at the home in the 2600 block of Calle Martos, Deputy Ryan Rouzan of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Information Bureau said in a written statement.
“Upon (deputies’) arrival, they discovered a male Hispanic adult inside the vacant residence, suffering from at least one gunshot wound,” he said.
Paramedics pronounced the victim dead at the scene.
“There is no suspect information at this time,” Rouzan said. The motive in the slaying was unclear.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Tips may also be submitted anonymously online to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

UPDATED: Duarte man killed in Saturday night shooting

Posted on March 19, 2017 by Brian Day

A young father died following a suspected gang-related shooting in an unincorporated county area between Duarte and Monrovia late Saturday, authorities said.
Ray Chinchilla, 20, of Duarte died in the shooting, Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner Investigator Rudy Molano said.
The fatal attack took place just after 9 p.m. in a residential neighborhood in the 400 block of East Camino Real Street, just east of California Avenue, according to Deputy Kimberly Alexander of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Information Bureau.
Officers responded to a report that a person had been shot when they encountered the victim, who had been shot in the “upper torso,” Deputy Juanita Navarro-Suarez said in a written statement.
Paramedics pronounced Chinchilla dead at the scene.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the victim was walking north on Flagstone Avenue with another male and female, both Hispanics, when they were confronted on foot by two male Black adult suspects as they reached East Camino Real,” Navarro-Suarez said. “At least one of the suspects shot at the victims before fleeing the scene in a gray Honda.”
Two additional victims ran away and called 911, she said. They were not hurt.
No further description of the attackers and their car was available.
“The incident appears to be gang-related,” according to Navarro-Suarez.
No further details were available.
Friends and neighbors stopped by the site of the fatal shooting to leave flower and light candles in memory of Chinchilla. A Detroit Tigers baseball cap, a cross, a teddy bear and cans of Budweiser and Four Loco Gold also adorned the site.
Chinchilla lived nearby and leaves behind a young son, acquaintance Juan Banuelos, 17, said.
Others described Chinchilla as a kind and considerate man.
A woman passing by stopped at the memorial site to ask what had happened.
The news that a young man had been killed in a shooting brought her to tears. She explained that her son had been shot to death in the same neighborhood nine years ago.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.
Saturday night’s deadly shooting was the second gun homicide in the area in a month, and the fourth shooting in the area in just over two months.
A 39-year-old Duarte man was gunned down in front of his wife and children as the family arrived home in the 2300 block of Bashor Street about 8:30 p.m. on Saturday night, Feb. 18, exactly one month before Chinchilla’s fatal shooting.
Kirinda Lavar Morehead died at the scene of the shooting. No arrest have been made, and a $10,000 reward has been offered in connection with the case.
A 51-year-old man suffered numerous gunshot wounds to his legs, but survived, in a drive-by attack about 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 16 in the 2000 block of Goodall Avenue, less than a mile from the scene of Chinchilla’s slaying on Saturday.
And two men were wounded in a Jan. 7 shooting at Crestfield Drive and Bloomsdale Street in Duarte. Investigators subsequently arrested three Pasadena men in connection with the shooting.
In Pasadena, bullets fired on Jan. 6 into a group of mourners gathered at Fair Oaks Avenue and Claremont Street at a vigil for a previous homicide victim claimed the lives of Antoine Dewayne Sutphen Jr. and Ormani Dajan Duncan, both 24 and from Pasadena, and left two other victims wounded.
The double-fatal drive-by shooting took place as a group of loved ones had gathered to remember 25-year-old Brandon Douglas of Pasadena, who was shot to death on the same spot on Dec. 22.
Investigators suspect gang violence is at the root of much of the violence. A spate of shooting in the Duarte, Pasadena and Pomona areas are believed to the result of an escalating feed between rival gangs.

$10,000 reward offered for info in slaying of Duarte father

Posted on March 2, 2017 by Brian Day

DUARTE >> County officials are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer or killers who gunned down a 39-year-old Duarte man in front of his home.
Kirinda Morehead died in the shooting, which took place about 8:20 p.m. on Feb. 18 in the 2300 block of Bashor Street, according to Los Angeles County sheriff’s and coroner’s officials.
He had just parked his car around the corner from his family’s apartment and was preparing to walk home with his wife and two children when shots rang out from a passing vehicle, according to neighbors and sheriff’s officials. His wife and children were not injured by the gunfire.
During Tuesday’s Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors meeting, “The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion by Supervisor Kathryn Barger establishing a $10,0000 reward for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of a suspect or suspects responsible for the murder of Kirinda Morehead,” Barger’s spokesman, Tony Bell, said in a written statement.
The suspect vehicle was described only as a white BMW with tinted windows. It was last seen heading north on Mount Olive Drive.
No further details in the slaying, including a motive, have been released.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.
Community members have already raised more than $22,000 to help Moorehead’s family via an online fund. Donations are being accepted online at www.gofundme.com/courtney-the-babies?lang=en-US.

UPDATED: Duarte man gunned down in front of home

Posted on February 19, 2017 by Brian Day

DUARTE >> A man died after he was shot as he arrived home with his wife and children in Duarte on Saturday night, authorities said.
The shooting took place about 8:20 p.m. in the 2300 block of Bashor Street, according to Deputy Kelvin Moody of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Information Bureau.
Kirinda Lavar Morehead died at the scene of the shooting, Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner Investigator Rudy Molano said.
“Detectives have learned that the victim, a 39-year-old man, parked his car behind his wife’s car at the location. The victim and his wife exited their cars and were preparing to walk to their residence on Mount Olive Drive,” Moody said in a written statement.
“A white vehicle driving westbound on Bashor Street pulled up alongside the victim,” the deputy said. “An occupant opened fire striking the victim multiple times. The victim’s wife was uninjured.”
The car was last seen heading north on Mount Olive Drive, officials said.
Paramedics pronounced Morehead dead at the scene.
No further details, including a description of the attacker or attackers, were available.
A neighbor, who asked that his name be withheld, said he was inside his home with his mother and teenage sister when eight to nine shots rang out in rapid succession.
“We hurried into the back room of our house,” he said.
He said he then heard the sound of a woman’s anguished voice calling out for help.
“Call 911,” she exclaimed, according to the neighbor. “My baby. I can’t live without him. His two kids need him.”
The neighbor said he emerged to look around after he could hear that police had arrived in the neighborhood.
He saw the victim lying next to his truck, which was parked on the street and pierced with at least three bullet holes.
The two children, who were with their mother only yards away when the shooting occurred, were asking where their father was, he said.
The motive in the fatal attack was not yet clear.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

Cleanup efforts continue in wake of SoCal soaking

Posted on February 18, 2017 by Brian Day

Evacuation orders were lifted in Duarte Saturday morning as crews worked throughout the Southland to clean up mud and fallen trees, as well as repair massive sink holes, left in the wake of Friday’s downpour.
A thin layer of mud flowed onto streets in portions of the Fish fire burn area in Duarte during the storm, but K-rails and other measured held fast, and no significant damage was reported following six straight hours of heavy rain, according to city and Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials.
“Exising K-rails and newly installed deflector walls on Melcanyon Road contained the mud and debris flow that occurred in the city shortly after 6 p.m. on Friday,” city officials said in a written statement. “No property damage or injuries have been reported and city crews were on site prior to 7 a.m. to commence clean-up work.”
Officials lifted mandatory evacuation orders Residents of about 200 homes in the Fish fire burn area Saturday morning. The majority of residents of the area, however, ignored the order and chose instead ride out the storm.
•Map: Fish fire burn area
The Fish fire burn area remained on “Yellow Alert” Saturday. Only residents were being allowed into the previously evacuated neighborhood, and rain-related parking restrictions remained in effect.
Parking was not available on Melcanyon Road, between Brookridge and Fish Canyon roads, due to the continuing clean-up efforts, officials said. Residents of that stretch of road were advised to legally park an adjoining side streets and walk to their homes.
Intermittent street closures were expected as the cleanup continued, officials said. Residents were urged to keep streets free from vehicles, trash bins or other objects, or the may be removed by authorities.
The Duarte Transit was not operating within the affected area.
Throughout Southern California, fallen trees, mud and sink holes continued affecting traffic Saturday.
•Video: Cleanup on Melcanyon Road in Duarte
A large sink hole opened up alongside San Bernardino Road at Hollenbeck Avenue in Covina Saturday morning, swallowing up a tree and forcing the closure of the intersection as workers made repairs, Covina police officials said.
The sink hole was blamed on a broken irrigation line, according to Covina police Capt. David Povero.
In Pasadena, a tree toppled over onto a clothing store in the 1100 block of Green Street Saturday morning, prompting authorities to red tag the structure, Pasadena Fire Department officials said.
A woman was rescued Friday night after her car, a followed later by a minivan, fell 10 feet down into a massive sink hole that opened up on Laurel Canyon Boulevard, south of Moorpark Street. The woman suffered no serious injuries, according to Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Erik Scott.
Four deaths in the Southland are attributed to the storm. A man died in Sherman Oaks Saturday morning after a tree knocked down electrical lines, which electrocuted him. A driver was found dead inside a submerged car in Victorville. And two people died in car crashes believed to be rain-related.
Los Angeles County parks that remained closed due to the storm included the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area, Crescenta Valley Community Regional Park, the Eaton Canyon Park and Nature Center, Walnut Creek Community Regional Park, San Angelo Park, Rimgrove Park and Avocado Heights Park, county Department of Parks and Recreation officials announced Saturday.

PHOTOS: [ABOVE] A large sink hole swallowed a tree and forced a street closure on San Bernardino Road at Hollenbeck Avenue in Covina on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017. (Courtesy, Covina Police Department) [BELOW] A tree toppled over onto a clothing store in the 1100 block of Green Street in Pasadena early Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017, prompting authorities to red tag the building. (Courtesy, Pasadena Fire Department)

180 homes in Duarte’s Fish fire burn area to be evacuated ahead of storm

Posted on February 16, 2017 by Brian Day

DUARTE >> Officials have issued mandatory evacuation orders to take effect Friday morning for residents of 180 homes and an elementary school near the Fish fire burn area in Duarte as anticipated heavy rain prompted worries of flooding, debris flows and mudslides.
Residents of Fish fire burn area surrounding Valley View Elementary School, are urged to evacuate by 7 a.m., city officials announced Thursday afternoon in a written statement. The school will also be closed on Sunday.
•Map: Fish fire burn area
The area saw mud flowing into the streets, particularly Melcanyon Road, during heavy rains in January and December. But no significant damage has been reported in the area this season as a result of mudslides, debris flows or flooding.
But with a massive storm expected to drop as much as an inch per hour of rain on Southland and wind gusts of up to 70 mph on Friday and into Saturday, officials took no chances with the fire-denuded and already-soaked hillsides
“L.A. County Public Works has also been cleaning local debris basins since February 15 in advance of this event to accommodate anticipated mudflow,” according to the city statement.
“Los Angeles County Public Works has issued a Phase 2 Flow Forecast for this storm anticipating that heavy downpours and wind could cause mud and debris flows even more extensive than January’s flows on Melcanyon Road and adjacent streets which resulted in over 2,800 cubic yards of mud,” the statement said.
Officials went door-to-door notifying affected residents of the evacuation order on Thursday afternoon.
“Please note, residents under mandatory evacuation orders will not be allowed back into their homes until the orders are officially lifted by Duarte Public Safety officials,” according to the statement. “Residents that refuse to evacuate must be prepared to shelter in place until evacuation orders are lifted. There will be no re-entry into evacuation area.”
The National Weather Service in Oxnard issued a county-wide Flash Flood Watch, which is to remain in effect through Saturday morning.
“Projected rainfall totals through Saturday morning are expected to range between 3 and 6 inches across coast and valleys with 5 to 10 inches possible in favored foothill and mountain locations,” according to the Flash Flood Watch/ “Heaviest rainfall amounts (are) expected along south facing slopes from the Santa Ynez Range east through the San Gabriels.
The heaviest rain is expected to fall between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Friday, officials added.
City phones, as well as the city’s Emergency Operations Center, will remain staffed 24-hours between Friday and Saturday mornings.
“City staff will continuously be deployed within the Fish fire impact area to address situations as they arise,” the city statement said.
The city is teaming with the Red Cross to open an evacuation center starting at 7 a.m. Friday at the Duarte Community Center, 1600 Huntington Drive. It will remain open until the evacuations are lifted.
“Evacuated residents are encouraged to bring medicines and any other items they may need for a minimum 48-hour period,” the city statement said. “Meals will be provided, and county animal control officials will be on-hand to help with displaced pets.
Trash pickup in the affected area, which normally occurs on Fridays, will be postponed until Monday. Residents are asked not to move their trash cans out to the street until Monday morning.
Staffed street closured will be set up throughout the evacuation area.
Filled sandbags are available at the corner of Mountaincrest and Brookridge roads, officials said. Unfilled sandbags are being distributed behind at Los Angeles County Fire Station 44, 1105 Highland Ave.

PHOTO: Mud and debris stacked up against the K-rails along Melcanyon Road below the recent Fish fire burn area in Duarte on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017. Authorities issued mandatory evacuation orders for homes surround Valley View Park and Valley View Elementary School. (Watchara Phomicinda/Staff Photographer)

Man and woman jailed after chase from Azusa to Duarte

Posted on January 28, 2017 by Brian Day

AZUSA >> A man and woman led police on a pursuit that ended with a crash in Duarte before they were arrested late Friday, police said.
Driver Dennis Ayon,, 36, of Azusa was booked on suspicion of evading police and felony drug possession, Azusa police officials said in a written statement. Passenger Darla Abriel, 30, of Glendora was booked on suspicion of a misdemeanor drug offense and outstanding warrants, according to Azusa police officials and Los Angeles County booking records.
The pursuit began shortly after 8 p.m. after an Azusa police officer tried to stop the car they were riding in for a traffic violation near 5th Street and Dalton Avenue, Azusa police officials said in a written statement.
“The driver failed to stop and led officers on a vehicle pursuit from the City of Azusa through the City of Monrovia and ultimately into the City of Duarte,” according to the statement, “The vehicle lost control and collided with several parked vehicles in the 2000 block of Mountain (Avenue), City of Duarte.”
Both the driver and passenger were treated for apparently minor injuries prior to booking, officials said. Further details regarding he type and amount of drugs allegedly possessed by the suspects was not available.
Information regarding Ayon’s bail amount and initial court appearance was not available Saturday, as he remained hospitalized, officials said. He is already on felony probation under the terms of AB 109, records show.
Abriel was being held in lieu of $45,000 bail pending an arraignment hearing scheduled Monday in the West Covina branch of Los Angeles County Superior Court.

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