Category Archives: shooting

Man wounded in West Valinda drive-by shooting

Posted on by
Reply

WEST VALINDA — A drive-by shooting late Thursday left one man seriously injured, though he was expected to survive, authorities said.
It happened about 11:40 p.m. in the 800 block of Duff Avenue.
Lt. Richard Shear of the sheriff’s Industry Station said two men were standing outside when someone in a vehicle started shooting at them
One of the men was hit in the chest, Shear said. Paramedics took the injured man to a hospital.
The wounded man, a 20-year-old local resident, was initially hospitalized in critical condition, though he was expected to survive his injuries, Lt. Arthur Scott said Friday.
The vehicle involved in the attack was described as a silver or gray hatchback, Scott said. No description of the person or people inside was available.
The motive in the shooting remained under investigation, but was initially suspected to be gang-related, he added.
- Ruby Gonzales and Brian Day

Teen wounded in Montebello shooting

Posted on by
Reply

MONTEBELLO — A 15-year-old Montebello boy suffered minor injuries Saturday in a shooting in a residential neighborhood, police said.
The attack took place about 2:50 p.m. as the teen was walking in the 400 block of N. Poplar Avenue, Montebello police Lt. Rick Rojas said.
The motive and circumstances of the shooting remained under investigation, the lieutenant said.
The teen, who suffered a grazing wound to the upper body in the shooting, provided little information to investigators, Rojas said. “He’s not being real cooperative.”
Police described the shooter as a man in his 20s or 30s, about 5 feet 8 inches tall and of thin build. He wore blue jeans, a blue hat and a blue shirt which he used to cover his face.
Officers searched the area, however the attacker was not found.

Shooting reported at Cortez Park in West Covina

Posted on by
Reply

WEST COVINA — A fight led to a shooting at Cortez Park Friday afternoon, however no gunshot victims were found, police said.
Police received “numerous calls of shots fired” at the north end of the park, along Citrus Street just north of Cortez Street, West Covina police Lt. Dennis Patton said.
The gunshots rang out during a fight involving six or seven men, the lieutenant said.
“All the involved parties dispersed prior to our arrival,” he said. But officers did locate evidence a shooting had occurred, such as bullet casings.
“As of this time, we don’t know if anybody was hit,” Patton said Saturday. A check of local hospitals turned up no gunshot victims.
The men involved in the fight were believed to have left the area in a white car and a silver pickup truck, police added.
Detectives were looking into the possibility that a car found later in the day in San Bernardino may have been involved in the incident, Patton said, however the investigation was ongoing.

Man accused of fatally shooting wife as she arrived to work in Montebello turns self in

Posted on by
Reply

MONTEBELLO — A man accused of ambushing and fatally shooting his 24-year-old wife early Saturday when she showed up for work at a Washington Boulevard restaurant turned himself in to police in Whittier Sunday, authorities said.
Arthur Andrade Jr., 29, of Tustin, arrived at the Whittier Police Department shortly after 2 a.m. and turned himself in, according to Los Angeles County sheriff’s Sgt. Rich Pena and county booking records. He was booked on suspicion of murder in the slaying of Sonia Esperanza of East Los Angeles
The couple was in the process of getting a divorce, and Esperanza had obtained a restraining order against her husband, Lt. John Corina of the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau said.
The shooting took place about 8:15 a.m. in the parking lot of Chago Ahogados, on Washington Boulevard at 4th Street, sheriff’s officials said in a written statement.
It was not clear if Andrade followed Esperanza to work, or perhaps waited nearby until she arrived, but he confronted her while she was still sitting in her Ford Focus in restaurant’s parking lot, Corina said.
“An argument ensues,” he said. “He pulls out a gun and shoots her.”
Esperanza was struck several times in the head and upper body, Corina said. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Andrade fled the area in a dark-colored car, possibly a Ford Mustang, according to Montebello police and sheriff’s officials. The car was last seen heading east on Washington Boulevard.
Though still married, Esperanza was in the process of getting a divorce from her husband, Corina said.
She had obtained a restraining order against him, alleging that he had been “assaultive” toward her, the lieutenant said.
Investigators Saturday announced they were seeking Andrade as a suspect in the killing and released his photograph to the media.
The gun used in the killing had not been located Sunday, officials said.
Andrade was scheduled to appear in East Los Angeles Superior Court for arraignment Tuesday.
Anyone with information can reach the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.

PHOTO of Arthur Andrade Jr. Courtesy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

4-year-old boy remains hospitalized in critical condition following Pasadena shooting

Posted on by
Reply

PASADENA – A 4-year-old boy remained hospitalized in critical condition Saturday after he was shot along with two men inside a Summitt Avenue in the neighborhoods second shooting this week, authorities said.
The child was struck in the torso in the shooting, which was reported just before 9 p.m. in the 1800 block of Summitt Avenue, Pasadena police Lt. Jason Clawson said. A man in his 50s was shot in the arm, and another man in his 30s suffered a grazing wound. Neither of the men’s wounds were considered life-threatening.
Shots were fired from in front of the home, Lt. Ed Calatayud said.
“The the rounds penetrated a residential structure, a garage area, where theh victims were,” he said.
Clawson said the child was rushed to a hospital by a relative before officers arrived.
The relationship between the wounded boy and men was not clear.
No suspects were in custody, Calatayud said Saturday morning.
Police are looking for three suspects in connection with the attack. One was described as a Latino man in his 20s with a shaved head, wearing a white T-shirt and black shorts. The two other suspects were only described as Latinos wearing dark shirts and pants. No getaway car was seen.
The motive in the shooting was unknown as the investigation continued, Calatyud said.
The shooting took place on the same block where a teenage boy was wounded in a shooting Wednesday.
Lt. Tom Delgado said the teen was approached by an attacker and there was a brief exchange of words before the shooter opened fire. No suspect description was available.
The boy suffered minor injuries in the shooting, Delgado added.

- Brian Day and Ruby Gonzales

Teen wounded in Pasadena shooting

Posted on by
Reply

PASADENA – A teen suffered minor injuries in a shooting on Summit Avenue late Wednesday, police said.
The victim, a local teenager, was approached by an assailant about 8:30 p.m. in the 1800 block of North Summit Avenue, Pasadena police Lt. Tom Delgado said.
“Words were exchanged and the suspect fired multiple rounds at the victim,” he said.
The teen was taken to a hospital for treatment of apparently minor injuries, Delgado said.
A suspect description was not available, he added, and no getaway car was seen.
The investigation was ongoing, the lieutenant said, however there was no initial indication the shooting was gang-related.

Four men fatally shot over past six days in Pomona

Posted on by
Reply

POMONA — Police have increased patrols and other efforts in Pomona in response to four fatal shootings in six days, authorities announced Wednesday. Four men between the ages of 18 and 24 have died and another was wounded in the four separate shootings, which took place March 7, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, Pomona police officials said. “The department’s homicide detectives and Gang Suppression Unit are diligently investigating the incidents and will continue to do so until all persons responsible are brought to justice,” Pomona police Capt. Michael Olivieri said in a written statement. “The department has begun to deploy additional officers on overtime to supplement the investigative and field crime suppression units,” the captain added. Preliminary investigation indicated the shootings were not directly related, Olivieri said, however, “none of the incidents are considered a random act of violence.” No arrests were made, and Pomona police released no suspect descriptions in any of the slayings. The most recent killing took place about 8:22 p.m. Tuesday at an apartment complex in the 1100 block of Murchison Street, according to Pomona police Sgt. Hector Rodriguez. Officers responded to reports of a shooting and discovered 18-year-old Michael Castillo of Pomona lying on the ground, mortally wounded. He was pronounced dead a short time later. A 20-year-old Pomona man, Christopher Cotinola, died Sunday after he was found shot inside an apartment in the 700 block of North Gordon Avenue, Pomona police Sgt. Steve Congalton said. Officers were checking on a report of “shots fired” just after 9:30 p.m. when they found Cotinola suffering from gunshot wounds to his “mid-torso,” Congalton said. He was rushed to a hospital and treated along the way, but died from his injuries. About 24 hours earlier, another man — 19-year-old Joseph Cook — was shot and killed in the driveway of a home in the 2200 block of Carlton Avenue, Pomona police officials said. His city of residence was not available. Cook was pronounced dead at the scene of the 9:32 p.m. shooting, Congalton said, while a second shooting victim, a 19-year-old man, was flown by helicopter to a hospital for treatment of injuries determined not to be life-threatening. The recent spate of killings began March 7, with the fatal drive-by shooting of 24-year-old Kelly Buruan of Los Angeles as he walked with a child and two strollers about 2:20 p.m. in the 900 block of West 9th Street, Pomona police and Los Angeles County Department of Coroner’s officials said. Anyone with information on any of the shootings was asked to contact Pomona police detectives Bebon or Lange at 909-920-2095.

Two wounded in Pomona shooting

Posted on by
Reply

POMONA — Two people were wounded in a shooting late Sunday, authorities said.
The shooting was reported at 9:35 p.m. in the 2200 block of West Carlton Avenue, Los Angeles County Fire Department Supervising Fire Dispatcher Phil Ulloa said.
Two victims were injured, however their conditions were not immediately available, Pomona police officials said.
Rescuers landed a helicopter at nearby Brackett Field to rush one of the patients to a hospital, officials added.
No further details were available.

60-year-old West Valinda man killed in shooting identified

Posted on by
Reply

WEST VALINDA — Detectives Saturday released the name of a 60-year-old man gunned down on his own street early Friday.
Richard Quijada was pronounced dead shortly after he was found shot on the side yard of a house in the 13600 block of Flynn Street, in the unincorporated county area of West Valinda, Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials said in a written statement.
He was believed to have been shot just before 4 a.m., when shots were heard in the neighborhood but deputies found no victims, Sgt. Luis Nunez of the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau said.
Someone at the home discovered Quijada lying in the yard shortly after 7:30 a.m. and called 9-1-1, officials said. He was believed to have been shot in the front yard of the home before fleeing to the side yard, where he succumbed to his injuries.
No suspects were arrested in connection with the fatal shooting, and no motive or suspect description were released.
Anyone with information was asked to call the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.

2nd UPDATE: West Valinda man found shot to death in own neighborhood

Posted on by
Reply

WEST VALINDA — A man was found shot to death early Friday in his own neighborhood, several hours after nearby residents reported hearing gunshots, authorities said.
Officials withheld the name of the victim Friday pending confirmation that his family had been notified, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Assistant Chief of Operations Ed Winter said.
He was described by sheriff’s and coroner’s officials as being in his 50s or 60s.
He was believed to live on the street where the shooting took place, though not at the home where his body was found, Sgt. Luis Nunez of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau said.
The body was discovered about 7:35 a.m. on Flynn Street, just west of Puente Avenue, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Arthur Scott said.
A motive in the killing was not immediately clear, Nunez said.
“We’re keeping all out options open,” he added.
Deputies had received reports of gunshots heard in the area just before 4 a.m., but found no shooting victims, officials said.
But more than three hours later, someone at the home called deputies after finding the body on the side yard of the home, Nunez said.
It appeared the man was shot in the front yard of the home when he was shot, and ran through the side of the yard of the home, where he fell and succumbed to his injuries, Nunez said.
Michael Hazlett, 20, said he was asleep in his bedroom in the early morning hours when he heard what sounded like gunshots: “Five in a row.”
“It sounded right outside my window,” he said, but added that he heard no argument, yelling or vehicle following the shooting.
“All I heard was gunshots and the rain after,” Hazlett said.
The home where the body was found often sees many people coming and going, with people staying for only a brief time, according to Hazlett and Nunez.
Nunez declined to discuss any possible suspect description or say whether the shooter was believed to be on foot or in a vehicle, citing the ongoing investigation.
Hazlett said he’s seen the man he believed to be the shooting victim visit the home several times.
Anyone with information was asked to contact Lt. Dave Dolson at the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.

PHOTO: Staff photo by Watchara Phomicinda