San Gabriel man killed in East Pasadena crash identified


EAST PASADENA >> Authorities have identified a San Gabriel man who died after his car struck a traffic signal pole at an East Pasadena intersection on Friday.
Hector Gregorio Araujo, 39, died in the 11:40 a.m. crash at Huntington and Sunny Slope drives in the unincorporated county area, Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner Investigator Joyce Kato said.
He was at the wheel of a 2009 Pontiac headed west on Huntington Drive in the fast lane prior to the crash, California Highway Patrol officials said in a written statement.
“For reasons that are still under investigation, (Araujo) made an unsafe turning movement to the left where the front of his Pontiac collided with a metal pole at the west edge of the intersection,” according to the statement.
Paramedics pronounced Araujo, the sole occupant of the car, dead at the scene, officials said.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Mohun of the CHP’s Altadena-area office at 626) 296-8100.

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Two wounded in Pasadena shooting


PASADENA >> A shooting in Pasadena early Saturday left two men wounded, one of them critically, police said.
The shooting was first reported at 12:34 a.m. in a residential neighborhood in the 400 block of Parke Street, just north of Villa Parke, Pasadena police officials said in a written statement.
Police received several calls reporting gunfire before encountering two men lying wounded in the street.
One of the victims, a man in his late-teens, was hospitalized in critical condition, police said. The second victim, a man in his 30s, suffered injuries not considered to be life-threatening.
“The preliminary investigation suggests this was not a random act of violence, and the motive remains unknown,” according to the statement. “Suspects have not been identified.”
No further details were available.
Anyone with information is urged to call the Pasadena Police Department at 626-744-4241. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

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Driver killed after car slams into traffic signal in East Pasadena


EAST PASADENA >> A man died on Friday after his car crashed into a traffic signal police in East Pasadena, authorities said.
The fatal crash took place about 11:40 a.m. at Huntington and Sunny Slope drives in the unincorporated county area, California Highway Patrol Officer Stephan Brandt said.
“We got a report of a vehicle into a pole, with an unresponsive male in the vehicle, trapped,” the officer said.
Paramedics pronounced the driver and lone occupant of the car dead at the scene, he said. He was initially described as a man estimated to be about 40 years old.
The crash was under investigation by officers from the CHP’s Altadena-area office. Any witnesses, or anyone with information, can reach the office at 626-296-8100.

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2 men sentenced for roles in 2015 Pasadena shooting


PASADENA >> Two men have received lengthy prison terms for the gang-related shooting of another man outside a Pasadena chicken restaurant in late 2015, officials said.
Robert “Chucky” Julio Arnaud, 28, of Los Angeles received 60 years to life in state prison on Wednesday for the Dec. 29, 2015, drive-by shooting outside a restaurant in the 800 block of North Lake Avenue, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office spokesman Ricardo Santiago said.
A jury convicted him May 12 of attempted murder in connection with the shooting, which officials said targeted rival gang members, according to Pasadena police officials and prosecutors. The jury also found true the special allegations that Arnaud personally sued a gun in the crime, and that the crime was gang-related.
A 21-year-old man was wounded in the leg in the shooting, and a 19-year-old man escaped injury, police said.
Detectives found and arrested Arnaud in connection with the shooting the following day.
They also arrested Jose “Flaco” Garcia, 34, of Azusa, on suspicion of trying to help Arnaud conceal the crime.
Garcia pleaded “no contest” on Tuesday to one count of acting as an accessory to the shooting after the fact and one count of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon, according to Santiago.
Officials caught Garcia in the process of Washing Arnaud’s car the day after the shooting, “to remove any gunshot residue from the inside and outside of the vehicle,” Santiago said.
Following his plea, Garcia was immediately sentenced to 17 years and four months in state prison. If convicted at trial, Garcia could have faced a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in state prison.

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Motorcyclist killed in Pasadena crash identified as Alabama man


PASADENA >> Authorities have identified an Alabama man who died in crash between his motorcycle and another vehicle on the 210 Freeway in Pasadena over the weekend.
Nathaniel John Larson, 21, of Gulf Shores, Alabama, died in Saturday’s 2:30 a.m. crash on the westbound 210 Freeway at Lake Avenue, according to Ed Winter, assistant chief of operations at the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner Coroner.
Larson, initially described by officials as 23 years old, was riding a motorcycle when it collided with the rear end of another vehicle traveling in front of him, California Highway Patrol Officer Stephan Brant said.
Paramedics pronounced Larson dead at the scene, he said. The driver of the other involved car remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators.
The crash is being investigated by officers from the CHP’s Altadena-area office. Any witnesses, or anyone with information, can reach the office at 626-296-8100.

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Woman charged with murder in fatal Pasadena shooting


PASADENA >> Prosecutors filed a murder charge Wednesday against a woman accused of fatally shooting another woman during a dispute over the weekend in Pasadena, officials said.
Theretha Howard, 58, entered no plea during her appearance in the Pasadena branch of Los Angeles County Superior Court, where she was charged with one count of murder, along with the special allegation that she personally used a handgun in the killing, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office spokesman Ricardo Santiago said. Her arraignment hearing was continued to July 20 in downtown Los Angeles.
The fatal shooting was reported about 1:30 a.m. along Peoria Street, just west of Fair Oaks Avenue.
Katoya King, 44, of Pasadena died following the shooting, according to Pasadena police and Los Angeles County coroner officials.
The suspects knew each other prior to the shooting, Pasadena police Lt. Jesse Carrillo said, but police didn’t know what their relationship was.
Both went to a Peoria Avenue residence believed to be the home of a mutual acquaintance, the lieutenant said.
“There was a dispute that occurred that led our suspect to get agitated to the point where she pulled a gun,” he said.
Police believe Howard shot King once in the chest before fleeing the scene, Carrillo said.
The wounded woman managed to make her way out to the street, officials said. She walked south for half a block along the sidewalk before collapsing.
The wounded woman’s screams for help caught the attention of neighbors, who called 911, Carrillo said. But no one reported hearing the gunfire.
Paramedics rushed King to a hospital, where she died from her injuries at 4:31 a.m., coroner’s Assistant Chief of Operations Ed Winter said.
Carrillo said the victim was able to give a “very limited” statement to police before losing consciousness.
Investigators found a handgun discarded in the area of the crime scene. Ballistics tests were pending to determined whether the gun was the same one involved in the deadly shooting.
Detectives remained at the shooting through Saturday afternoon.
“Subsequent detective investigation” and “information that was shared with the detectives” led investigators to identify Howard as a person of interest. Detectives found her at her Pasadena home and arrested her on suspicion of King’s murder following an interview.
According to county booking records, Howard was being held in lieu of $2 million bail.

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Pasadena woman jailed in connection with deadly shooting


PASADENA >> Police have arrested one Pasadena woman in connection with the fatal shooting of another this weekend.
Police arrested Teretha Howard, 58 of Pasadena Saturday afternoon on suspicion of murder, Pasadena police Lt. John Luna said in a written statement.
The victim, whose identity has not yet been released, was found about 1:45 a.m. Saturday lying wounded on the sidewalk along Peoria Street, just west of Fair Oaks Avenue, authorities said. She was taken to a hospital, where she succumbed to her wounds just under three hours later.
“Follow-up investigation led detectives to a suspect, Teretha Howard, who was arrested and booked for murder,” Luna said. “Due to a preexisting medical condition, she was transported to a local hospital.”
A motive in the shooting was not available, nor was the suspect’s relationship to the victim, described as a Pasadena woman in her 40s.
Public records indicate Howard lives in a Raymond Avenue apartment complex about a quarter-mile away from the scene of the shooting.
Detectives arrested Howard shortly after 3:30 p.m., Los Angeles County booking records show.
She was being held in lieu of $2 million bail pending her initial court appearance.

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Woman found fatally shot on Pasadena sidewalk


PASADENA >> A woman died after she was found shot on a Pasadena sidewalk early Saturday, authorities said.
The woman was found about 1:45 a.m., lying wounded in the 00 block of West Peoria Street, Pasadena police officials said.
“Pasadena Fire Department paramedics arrived and transported the victim to a local hospital where she later succumbed to her injuries,” police said in a written statement.
The woman’s identity has not yet released pending notifiication of her family, Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner Lt. David Smith said. Police initially described her as a Pasadena woman in her 40s.
Doctors pronounced her dead at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena at 4:31 a.m., Smith said.
Further details regarding the circumstances of the shooting, including a suspect description, were not available.
Police received no reports of gunfire before the victim was found wounded, according to Lt. William Grisafe.
“We did not get any shots fired calls,” he said.
Detectives remained at the scene gathering clues Saturday afternoon.
Investigators focused their attention on the backyard of a home, which was cordoned off with yellow crime scene tape.
No one answered the door at the home on the property. Neighbors declined to comment.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Pasadena police at 626-744-4241. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

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Police plan checkpoint in Pasadena

PASADENA >> Police are planning to hold a sobriety and driver license checkpoint next weekend.
The checkpoint will be held from 7 p.m. on July 14 to 2:30 a.m. the following morning at an undisclosed location within the city, Pasadena police officials said in a written statement.
Over the past three years, seven people have died and another 117 suffered injuries in DUI-related collision in Pasadena, police said.
Police remind motorisits that in addition to alcohol, officers will be on the lookout for any drivers impaired by any substance, including prescription medications or marijuana.
Funding for the checkpoint is being provided by a grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, through the California Office of Traffic Safety.

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Celebratory gunfire strikes swimming pool as man and daughter swim in Azusa, moving car in Pasadena


At least three people narrowly avoided injury in recent days after “celebratory gunfire” struck an Azusa swimming pool where a father and daughter were swimming on Tuesday evening, then another struck a moving car in Pasadena on Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.
A bullet apparently fired in celebration struck an above-ground swimming pool in the 200 block of East Roland Street as a man and his daughter were swimming in it between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Independence Day, according to Azusa police Officer Mike Bires.
*Video: Azusa police discuss swimming pool shooting
Neither the man nor the girl, who was approximately 8 years old, were hurt, he said.
“This is why you do not shoot a firearm up into the sky during celebrations, like 4th of July or New Year’s Eve,” Bires said.
“A father and his daughter were in the pool yesterday for 4th of July,” the officer said. “If the had bullet struck the child or the father, someone would have innocently been murdered on a holiday… Why? It’s not worth it. Just don’t do it.
The homeowner did not realized what had happened until the next day, Bires said. The man was looking for the cause of a leak on Wednesday when he discovered the 9mm or .40-caliber bullet at the bottom of the pool.
In another incident blamed on celebratory gunfire, a woman was “shaken up” but uninjured after her car was struck by a falling bullet fire up into the air in Pasadena on Wednesday afternoon, police said.
The incident took place just after 5:45 p.m. as the woman was driving her Nissan Altima along the 800 block of Magnolia Street, Pasadena police Lt. Pete Hettema said.
A 9mm bullet plummeted from the sky and struck the roof of the car, the lieutenant said. The driver thought they were being attacked, before officers ultimately pieced together what had taken place.
The bullet dented the car’s roof and punched a small hole, but did not manage to penetrate through the body of the car, Hettema said. Police found the projectile sitting atop the car.
There was no sign of where the gunshot originated, he said. Bullets fired skyward can easily travel more than a mile before falling back to earth.

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