Man killed, another injured after car crashes into Norwalk building


NORWALK >> A driver died and his passenger was critically injured when a sedan slammed into a building in Norwalk early Saturday, authorities said.
The crash took place about 1 a.m. at Funston Street and Front Avenue, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Daniel Gillespie said.
A man in his early-20s was at the wheel of a 2002 BMW 540i when he lost control while rounding a curve along northbound Funston Street, just south of Front Street, and veered to the left, according to the lieutenant.
The car slammed into the side of a building formerly used as a Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States post, officials said.
Paramedics pronounced the driver dead at the scene, Gillespie said.
His identity was not available Saturday afternoon. Los Angeles County coroner’s officials had not record the death, coroner’s Lt. David Smith said.
The passenger, also described as a man in his early-20s, was hospitalized in critical condition, Gillespie said.
The cause of the crash remained under investigation.
Anyone with information can reach the sheriff’s Norwalk Station at 562-863-8711.

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Man shot to death at Norwalk skate park


NORWALK >> A man died in a Saturday night after an argument escalated into a shooting at a Norwalk skate park, authorities said.
The shooting was reported about 8 p.m. at a skate park within Norwalk Park, in the 12200 block of Sproul Street, Deputy Lisa Jansen of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau said.
“Detectives have learned during their investigation that witnesses saw the victim at a skate park with several other people when the victim became involved in an argument with another male,” Jansen said in a written statement. “During the argument, the unknown male suspect produced a handgun and shot the victim multiple times in the torso.”
Paramedics pronounced the victim dead at the scene.
His identity was withheld pending notification of family members, Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner Investigator Rudy Molano said.
No further details regarding the circumstances of the shooting were available Sunday, and no suspect description was released.
Anyone with information is asked 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.

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UPDATED: Man wounded in Norwalk shooting


NORWALK >> A man arrived at a hospital after being shot in Norwalk on Friday afternoon, officials said.
The 30-year-old victim showed up at an emergency room about 5:30 p.m. following the shooting, which was believed to have taken place in the area of Rosecrans Avenue and Studebaker Road, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Robin Limon said.
The victim suffered a gunshot wound to the leg and was expected to survive, she said.
Further details were not immediately available, as the wounded man did not appear to be cooperating with deputies. He only told investigators he was shot by another man.
Anyone with information can reach the sheriff’s Norwalk Station at 562-863-8711. Tips may also be submitted anonymously online to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

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One man killed, another wounded in Norwalk shooting


NORWALK >> A man died and another suffered serious injuries in a shooting in a Norwalk residential neighborhood early Saturday morning, authorities said.
Few details were initially available regarding the deadly shooting, which took place just before 2:30 a.m. in the 12000 block of Molette Street, Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials said in a written statement.
“Detectives have learned that Norwalk Station Deputies responded to a shots fired call,” according to the statement. “Upon arriving, two male Hispanic adults were found lying in the street suffering from gunshot wounds to their upper torsos.”
Paramedics took both wounded men to a hospital, officials said. One of the victims, who had been shot multiple times, soon succumbed to his injuries.
His identity was not available pending positive identification and notification of family, coroner’s officials said.
The second victim, who suffered a single gunshot wound, was listed in “serious” condition.
“There is no suspect information, nor any additional information at this time,” the statement said.
Anyone with information is asked 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.

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Man fatally shoots self in front of sheriff’s deputies in Norwalk


NORWALK >> A man fatally shot himself during a confrontation with sheriff’s deputies in the parking lot of a Target store on Friday morning, authorities said.
The incident unfolded shortly after 9 a.m. when deputies received report of a man pointing a gun at passing cars along the 605 Freeway at Firestone Boulevard, Deputy Ryan Rouzan of the Los Angeles County sheriff’s Information Bureau said in a written statement.
Deputies encountered a 24-year-old man attempting to break into cars outside nearby businesses, he said.
The man started walking west through a Target parking lot at 10600 Firestone Blvd. when deputies noticed he was carrying a handgun, officials said. Deputies approached the suspect in an attempt to stop him from crossing Firestone Boulevard.
“As deputies attempted to stop the suspect, he put the gun to his own head as if he was going to shoot himself,” Rouzan said. The man then began walking south the parking lot,
“The deputies tried to detain him, and the suspect continued to point the gun at his head,” he said. “The suspect stopped on the sidewalk in front of a local business and attempted to rack a round into the chamber of the gun.”
Rouzan said deputies ordered the man to drop his gun and tried to prevent him from entering nearby businesses.
“The suspect then turned and pointed the gun at deputy personnel, at which time deputies fired multiple rounds, missing the suspect,” Rouzan said.
“The suspect then ran between two cars in the parking lot, placing the gun to his head, and shot himself,” the deputy said.
Paramedics took the badly wounded man to a hospital, where he was placed on life support, officials said. He ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
Deputies recovered the suspect’s semi-automatic pistol at the scene.
The man’s identity was yet to be released pending positive identification and notification of family.
The motive for the suspect’s behavior remained unclear.
“The reason for the suspect’s actions is unknown at this time,” Rouzan said.

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Norwalk man sentenced for fatally shooting best friend, staging fake suicide scene


NORWALK >> A Norwalk man who fatally shot his friend and tried to stage the death as a suicide received a sentence of more than four decades in prison after pleading “no contest” to first-degree murder, authorities said.
Diego Arnold Castro, 33, of Norwalk, entered the plea in Norwalk Superior Court, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Sarah Ardalani said in a written statement. He was immediately sentenced to 45 years to life in state prison.
An addition to a charge of murder, Ardalani said Castro also admitted the special allegation that he personally used a firearm in the fatal shooting of 25-year-old Jose Angel Rios, also a local resident, at Castro’s home in the 14500 block of Halcourt Ave.
Castro and his victim had gone to school together and been friends for “many years” prior to the shooting , Ardalani said.
“On Jan. 15, 2015, Castro picked up Alvarez and took him to the defendant’s Norwalk home,” Ardalani said.
“While Alvarez was sitting on Castro’s couch, the defendant came up behind the victim and shot him in the left side of his head,” she said.
“The defendant then shot himself in the leg to make it seem as though the victim had shot Castro and then committed suicide,” Ardalani said. The defendant called 911 and told authorities Alvarez had shot him and then killed himself, the prosecutor said.
Authorities initially believed Castro’s account, but suspicions grew as the investigation unfolded and evidence continued coming to light, officials said.
The victim was shot in the left side of his head, Syn said. The victim was right-handed.
After receiving treatment for his gunshot wound, detectives arrested Castro for Rios’ murder on Jan. 23, 2015, records show.
Castro never revealed a motive, however Syn said he suspected he was jealous of his friend’s wife.
The two had been involved in an affair previously, but the issue was believed to be resolved at the time of the killing, Syn said. The prosecutor said Castro and Rios were extremely close and described them as “best friends.”
On the day of the shooting, Castro sent Rios’ wife a text message, pretending to be Castro, saying that was going to kill himself and to “take good care of Diego,” according to Syn.
The negotiated plea came during what was scheduled to a hearing to set a preliminary hearing date, according to Deputy District Attorney Don Syn, who prosecuted the case.
Castro was initially accused of the special circumstance of lying in wait, which could have potentially made him eligible for the death penalty if convicted at trial. Authorities had not yet determined whether to pursue capital punishment in Castro’s case.

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Man shot while on his way to work in Norwalk


NORWALK >> A man driving to work with a coworker early Friday was wounded in a shooting carried out by apparent gang members, officials said.
The car-to-car shooting took place about 6:45 a.m. in the 12800 block of Rosecrans Avenue, just east of the 5 Freeway, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Sgt. George Suarez said.
The two victims, both men in the late-20s, stopped at an ARCO gas station on Rosecrans Avenue just west of the 5 Freeway, on their way to work, the sergeant said.
Two or three men confronted the victims at the gas station and asked where they were from, a common gang challenge.
The two victims, who are not believed to have gang ties, went about their business and drove away from the gas station, Suarez said.
The attackers got into a car of their own and followed the victims before opening fire, Suarez said. The passenger was struck in the shooting. He was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Detailed descriptions of the attackers and their car were not available Friday afternoon.
Anyone with information can reach the sheriff’s Norwalk Station at 562-863-8711. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

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Man beaten and carjacked in Norwalk


NORWALK >> Deputies are seeking two men who beat and carjacked another man in Norwalk over the weekend, officials said.
The crime unfolded about 5:35 a.m. Sunday at Clarkdale Avenue and Pine Street, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Sgt. Hank Ortega said.
A man estimated to be in his late-20s was sitting in his car, with the engine running, as he waited for a friend, the sergeant said.
Two men walking down the street approached the victim, opened a door of his car and began fighting with him.
The victim got out of his car during the struggle, with the vehicle still running, Ortega said. He managed to break free from his attackers and ran to a nearby gas station to seek help.
The carjackers then got into the victim’s charcoal gray, 2003 Infiniti G35 and drove away.
Both attackers were described as Latino men between 20 and 25 years old. One wore a black shirt, black shorts and a mustache. The other wore a white shirt. One of the two suspects wore a baseball cap, but it was not clear which one.
Ortega said the victim suffered apparently minor injuries and declined to be taken to a hospital.
Anyone with information can reach the sheriff’s Norwalk Station at 562-863-8711. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

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March to mark 5th anniversary of fatal shootings of sheriff’s Explorer Scout, friend in South Whittier

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SOUTH WHITTIER >> Hundreds of loved ones, family members and fellow Los Angeles County sheriff’s Explorer scouts on Sunday will mark the 5th anniversary of the slaying of an Explorer and another man with a march and candlelight vigil to honor the victims’ lives and renew their call for justice in the unsolved double-homicide.
The march has been held, and grown, each year since Aug. 28, 2011, when 19-year-old Norwalk sheriff’s Explorer Cesar Rodriguez and friend Larry Villegas, 24, both of Whittier, in the 11800 block of Painter Avenue in the unincorporated county area of South Whittier.
0826_NWS_WDN-L-MARCHmugThe group will gather at 7 p.m. at the corner of Laurel and Beaty avenues, organizers said.
During the annual marches, which passes by the scene of the shooting, marchers hand out fliers seeking information on the killings.
Anyone with information on the case is asked 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.

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Man jailed following armed robbery at Norwalk Walmart


NORWALK >> A man robbed a Walmart cashier at gunpoint in Norwalk Sunday afternoon, only to be captured by deputies minutes later, authorities said.
The crime unfolded about 2:05 p.m. at Walmart, 11729 Imperial Highway, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Jeff Dusky said.
The robber entered the store, handed a cashier a bag, pointed a handgun at her and ordered her to fill the bag with cash from the register, he said.
Fearing for her safety, the cashier complied, Dusky said. The robber fled the store with several thousand dollars.
But responding deputies quickly arrived and spotted the fleeing suspect nearby, the lieutenant said
Deputies arrested the man without a struggle, and recovered the stolen cash and the handgun, which he had discarded nearby, Dusky said.
The name of the suspect, estimated to be in his early-50s, was not immediately available.

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