Rancho Cucamonga man found dead in West Covina following Whittier shooting identified

Authorities have identified a man who was found dead inside a car in West Covina following a shooting in Whittier on Friday morning.
Austin Louis Jimenez, 28, of Rancho Cucamonga was pronounced dead shortly after 4 a.m. in a shopping center parking lot at Workman Avenue and Citrus Street, Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner Lt. David Smith said.
He was wounded in a 3:15 a.m. shooting at Penn Street and Newlin Avenue in Whittier before being driven to the parking lot by at least two companions, according to Whittier police Lt. Bryan Ellis. The driver and fellow passenger of the car, which had been struck by bullets, then drove to West Covina and called for help.
Paramedics were unable to revive the Jimenez and pronounced him dead at the scene, officials said.
No further information regarding the circumstances of the shooting, including a suspect description, have been released.
Anyone with information can reach Whittier police at 562-567-9200. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

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Man arrested after trading gunfire with deputies in East Valinda

A man opened fire on sheriff’s deputies through the front door of his mobile home after he called them to report an argument between himself and a neighbor in the unincorporated county area of East Valinda early Friday, authorities said.
Deputies returned fire, but ultimately took the suspect into custody without injuries to anyone, according to Deputy Joana Warren of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Information Bureau.
The incident began as a reported argument between neighbors revolving around a plant along Temple Avenue, just east of Azusa Avenue, the deputy said.
The suspect himself called deputies, then ambushed them when they responded to his call for help.
“During their approach at the informant’s residence, the suspect opened fire through a door,” Warren said in a written statement. “ A deputy returned fire as he retreated back towards a vehicle for safety.”
Neither the suspect nor the deputies were struck by the gunfire.
Deputies ordered the shooter to exit the mobile home and surrender, and he complied, officials said. He was taken into custody without further struggle.
Officials recovered a handgun and a shotgun from the man’s mobile home, Warren said. It was unclear which weapon he allegedly fired at deputies.
The suspect’s name was not released Friday afternoon as detectives continued their investigation, Warren said. He was described as a man in his 50s.
He was booked on suspicion of attempted murder and was being held in lieu of $1 million bail pending his initial court appearance, she said.
Detectives from the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau , which routinely investigated deputy-involved shootings, are spearheading the investigation.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.

PHOTO – Courtesy

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Man found dead in West Covina following Whittier shooting

A man was found dead inside a car in West Covina parking lot following an early-morning shooting in Whittier on Friday, authorities said.
Police in Whittier first responded to reports of gunfire about 3:15 a.m. in the area of Penn Street and Newlin Avenue, Whittier police officials said in a written statement. But officers found no physical evidence of a shooting.
That changed shortly after 4 a.m., when officials in West Covina received reports of a shooting victim found inside a vehicle in the parking lot of a shopping center at the southwest corner of Workman Avenue and Citrus Street, Whittier and West Covina police officials said.
“Upon arrival, officers discovered a deceased male adult, West Covina police said in a written statement.
The mortally wounded man was a passenger in the bullet-pierced car, which also contained at least two other young men, officials said.
Further investigation revealed the victim in West Covina had been wounded in the Whittier shooting, officials said.
His identity was not available Friday pending notification of his family, Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner Assistant Chief of Operation said. He was estimated to be in his 20s.
Police summoned a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Special Enforcement Bureau SWAT team after receiving information that the shooter may have gone into a nearby barbershop at Penn Street and Comstock Avenue, according to Whittier police Lt. Bryan Ellis.
The SWAT team searched the building but did not find the culprit, he said.
No further details, including a motive or description of the shooter, were available as the investigation continued Friday afternoon. Anyone with information can reach Whittier police at 562-567-9200. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

PHOTO courtesy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department

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Father and son convicted in slaying of Baldwin Park woman

A father and son are awaiting sentencing after they were each convicted last week of charges stemming from the fatal shooting of a woman during a burglary at her Baldwin Park home in 2014, authorities said.
A Pomona Superior Court jury found Juan Carlos Santana, 45, of Baldwin Park guilty on Sept. 1 of murder, burglary and receiving stolen property, according to Los Angeles County Superior Court records and Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Sarah Ardalani said. The jury also found true the special allegation that he personally fired a gun during in the Oct. 18, 2014, slaying of 63-year-old Patricia Sigala-Salva at her home in the 3700 block of Idaho Street.
Also convicted in connection with the case was Santana’s son, Andres Santana, 22, Ardalani said in an email. He pleaded “no contest” on Aug. 31, amid his trial, to a single count of voluntary manslaughter, along with the special allegation that a gun was used in the crime.
Juan Santana faces up to 40 years to life in state prison when he returns to court for sentencing on Oct. 25. His son is expected to be sentenced to 12 years in prison at his sentencing, scheduled on Sept. 19.
Juan Santana’s girlfriend, 47-year-old Deborah Curiel, has been convicted of receiving stolen property and acting as an accessory after the fact in connection with the case, Ardalani said. She’s scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 14.
Curiel was renting out a room in her home to Curiel at the time of the killing, Ardalani said. Her boyfriend, Juan Santana, was temporarily staying with her, along with his son.
(“Sigala-Salva) kicked all three of them out when she noticed money and jewelry missing from her home,” Ardalani said.
As a result of the dispute, Juan Santana shot her to death, officials said.
“It was argued during the trial that while Andres was an aider and abettor to the killing, it was actually Juan Santana who pulled the trigger,” Ardalani said.
The victim’s body was first discovered shortly before 2 p.m. on Oct. 18 after neighbors reported suspicious circumstances” at her home, Lt. Eddie Hernandez of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau said at the time. Neighbors said they had not seen Sigala-Salva in several days, and that a man had been seen running from the garage of the home carrying beer.
An autopsy determined Sigala-Salva died from “multiple gunshot wounds,” and the death was ruled a homicide.
Investigators arrested all three defendants the following day, records show.

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Bicyclist injured in Rosemead drive-by shooting


ROSEMEAD >> A bicyclist escaped with minor injuries following a drive-by shooting in Rosemead early Sunday, authorities said.
The shooting occurred about 12:30 a.m. as a 43-year-old El Monte man was riding a bicycle east along Garvey Avenue, near Walnut Grove Avenue, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Sgt. James Long said.
The victim saw a white full-size pickup truck pass by, also heading east, the sergeant said. An arm emerged from the passenger side of the truck before the victim saw flashes and heard the sounds of gunfire.
He suffered grazing wounds to two of his fingers, Long said. The attack caused the victim to crash his bike, and the attackers sped away.
Long said the man rode to his home in El Monte before notifying authorities of the shooting. The motive was unclear.
Any witnesses, or 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.

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Gunshot victim shows up at Pasadena hospital

PASADENA >> A man showed up at a Pasadena emergency room with a gunshot wound to his arm late Thursday, police said.
The shooting was first reported just after 7 p.m. when the victim arrived at Huntington Hospital, Pasadena police Lt. Jesse Aguilar said.
A Duarte man in his early-20s had been shot at least once in the arm, he said.
But the location and circumstances of the shooting remained unclear, according to the lieutenant. The victim and several others who accompanied him to the hospital provided conflicting information about what happened and did not appear to be cooperating with investigators.
Anyone with information can reach 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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Man wounded in Norwalk drive-by shooting


A drive-by shooting in Norwalk on Wednesday afternoon left a man wounded, authorities said.
The gunfire was reported about 2:35 p.m. at Pioneer Boulevard and 163rd Street, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Robin Limon said.
Two men, both men in their 30s with suspected gang ties, were walking down the street when an attacker passed by in a white Dodge Caliber, Limon said.
Without uttering a word, the driver opened fire with a handgun, striking one of the victims in the leg, according to the lieutenant. The second victim escaped injury.
Deputies initially described the suspect as a Latino man in his 30s with black hair and tattoos on his neck. He was armed with a semi-automatic pistol.
Limon said the gunman was last seen driving south on Pioneer Blvd., toward the 91 Freeway.
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 shot while driving in Baldwin Park


BALDWIN PARK >> A man suffered a wound to his shoulder in a shooting when was driving through Baldwin Park on Sunday evening, police said.
The shooting took place about 7:30 p.m. as the victim, a man in his mid-20s, was driving an SUV at Ramona Boulevard and Harlan Avenue, according to Baldwin Park police Sgt. Joe Meister.
A bullet flew through an open window and struck the victim in the shoulder, the sergeant said. He did not see his attacker.
“He thought he heard a “pop,” then he felt the pain,” Meister said.
The victim was not believed to have gang ties, and the motive was unknown, he said.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Baldwin Park police at 626-960-1955. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

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Suspect charged with murder for Duarte shooting


Detective have arrested a suspect in connection with the slaying of a 20-year-old La Puente man found who was found shot to death inside a vacant home in Duarte in April following what investigators described as a drug deal gone wrong.
Ricardo Anthony Resendez faces a murder charge for the April 1 shooting of Christian Sanchez in the 2600 block of Calle Martos, according to a criminal complaint filed against him.
He was arrested by deputies from the sheriff’s Temple City Station just before 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Los Angeles County booking records show.
After identifying Resendez as a suspect in the slaying, he was arrested at his home in an unincorporated county area near Duarte without a struggle, Lt. Joe Mendoza of the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau said.
“The motive was a drug deal gone bad,” Mendoza said.
The suspect and victim met at the home prior to the shooting, the lieutenant said. “That’s were the suspect shot the victim.”
No further details regarding the circumstances of the slaying have been released.
In addition to the murder charge, prosecutors also allege the special circumstance of murder during the commission of a robbery, as well as the special allegation that he personally discharged a firearm resulting in great bodily injury and death, according to Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Sarah Ardalani.
The special circumstance makes Resendez potentially eligible for the death penalty. Prosecutors will decide later whether to seek capital punishment in the case.
Los Angeles County District Attorney’s officials filed the murder charge on Wednesday, Los Angeles County Superior Court and booking records show.
He entered no plea during a court appearance in the Alhambra branch of Los Angeles County Superior Court. An arraignment hearing was postponed until Sept. 20.
Resendez was being held without bail.

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Man shot to death while driving in South El Monte


SOUTH EL MONTE >> Detectives are seeking clues after a man was gunned down while driving through a residential neighborhood in South El Monte on Monday night, authorities said.
The shooting took place shortly after 10:30 p.m. along Fern Street, just west of Santa Anita Avenue, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Sgt. Curt Messerschmidt said.
“Upon their arrival, deputies learned that the victim was driving in front of the location, when an unknown suspect shot into the vehicle,” Deputy Kelvin Moody of the Sheriff’s Information Bureau said in a written statement.
The wounded man’s car continued traveling a short distance before crashing into a parked car, the deputy said.
Officials said the victim, initially described only as a Latino man, was struck in the torso by at least one bullet. At least three bullet casings were found at the scene, according to Messerschmidt.
Paramedics pronounced the victim dead at the scene.
No further details regarding the circumstances of the shooting, including a description of the attacker, were available.
Anyone with information can reach 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.

— Brian Day and Christopher Yee

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