Recently in Pico Rivera Category
The shooting was reported about 5:30 a.m. in the 4300 block of San Gabriel River Parkway, Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Margarito Robles said.
"Deputies found him lying on the ground, suffering from two gunshot wounds to his torso," the lieutenant said.
The wounded man, a 24-year-old Pico Rivera resident, was listed at the hospital in stable condition, he added.
A description of the attackers was not available Saturday, Robles said, however it initially appeared they fled south on San Gabriel River Parkway in a white car, possibly a Nissan Maxima.
A motive in the shooting was not available Saturday.
The District Attorney's Office charged the son of a city councilman with petty theft Thursday for allegedly offering to pay three others to steal campaign signs belonging to his father's political opponent.
James Beilke, 18, and Paul Puente, 20, of Pico Rivera, were charged with one count each of petty theft, officials from the District Attorney's Office said. James Beilke is the son of City Councilman Ron Beilke.
If convicted, Puente and James Beilke each could face up to six months in county jail or a fine of up $1,000, said D.A. spokeswoman Jane Robison
cq . Ron Beilke was not implicated. He did not return a phone call seeking comment Thursday but previously said his son is innocent.
The shooting took place about 10 p.m. in the 9200 block of Balfour Street, said Pico Rivera sheriff's Sgt. Giambalvo, who declined to give his first name.
A group of people tried to get into the party but were not allowed in, the sergeant said.
One of those barred from the party, described only as a Latino man in his 20s, pulled a handgun and wounded a man who was attending the party, Giambalvo said.
The wounded man's injuries did not initially appear to be life-threatening, he added.
No further details were released.
The three suspected robbers were arrested, along with five other adults who were at the home, Los Angeles County sheriff's Deputy Aura Sierra said in a written statement.
A 6-year-old boy was inside the home during the incident, Sierra said.
"The child was removed from the home unharmed and placed in protective custody with the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services," according to the written statement.
Phillip Patron, 22, of Whittier, Raymond Sanchez, 27, of Whittier and Angela Delgado, 25, of Pasadena were booked on suspicion of robbery, sheriff's Lt. Margarito Robles said.
Five others at the home -- two men and three women -- were arrested on suspicion of various charges, however sheriff's officials refused Saturday to release their names or say what those charges were.
The incident began about 12:45 a.m. when a man was robbed of his wallet at gunpoint by two men near Amistad and Harold streets in Pico Rivera, sheriff's Sgt. Joe Van Damme said.
Patron and Sanchez are believed to have carried out the robbery, officials said, while Delgado is accused of acting as a getaway driver.
The arrests were made at a home in the 12500 block of Pasadena Street in Whittier as the result of some good information from a witness, Sierra said.
"Witnesses of the armed robbery provided deputies with a license plate number of the suspect vehicle," Sierra said in the statement. "Pico Rivera station deputies responded to the registered owner's address in the City of Whittier."
Several adults obeyed the orders of deputies to come out of the house, Van Damme said, and one of them told authorities her sleeping 6-year-old child was still inside.
Deputies sent in a police dog, which found the remaining suspects and bit one of them, Van Damme said.
The suspect who was bitten was hospitalized for treatment of his injury, he added.
The remaining suspects and the child were then removed from the house, Van Damme said. The child's mother was among those arrested at the home.
While inside the house, deputies discovered a small marijuana growing operation of about three plants, he said.
According to court records, the three robbery suspects are due for arraignment in Whittier Superior Court Tuesday.
Lucinda Sanchez died at the scene of the crash, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Investigator Kelsie Weber said.
She was struck about 6:50 p.m. in the 6500 block of Rosemead Boulevard, Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Margarito Robles said.
The driver of the pickup truck, a 1999 Ford Courier, remained at the scene and did not appear to be intoxicated, however the investigation into the crash is ongoing, Robles said.
Sanchez was apparently not walking in a marked crosswalk when struck, the lieutenant added.
A 7-year-old boy reported to authorities that he saw a screaming 8-year-old girl being placed in a green Honda sedan by a man about 3:45 p.m. on Millux Avenue, just north of Underwood Street , Los Angeles County sheriff's Sgt. Edward Estrada said.
Officials responded to the call as a possible kidnapping, Lt. Jaime Baltazar said, but after going door-to-door checking the homes of area children, deputies were unable to find any missing kids.
Investigators ultimately took a "suspicious circumstance" report, Baltazar said, and are now watching too see if any children are reported missing in the near future.
The shooting occurred about 2:10 a.m. in the 6700 block of Bollenbacher Drive, Los Angeles County sheriff's Deputy Luis Castro said.
The victim was initially described only a Latino man, he added.
No further details were available.
Yesenia Gonzalez, 31, of Pico Rivera was killed in the collision, which occurred about 1:35 a.m. on the eastbound 105 Freeway, west of Bellflower Boulevard, California Highway Patrol Officer Justin Vaughan said in a written statement.
"For unknown reasons... Gonzalez walked into traffic lanes and was struck by an unknown vehicle," the statement said.
The vehicle that struck her fled the scene, officials said.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Santa Fe Springs Office of the CHP at (562) 868-0503.
Former Mayor Gracie Gallegos pleaded no contest to felony insurance fraud while serving on the City Council, but other city officials said Monday they didn't know about it.
Gallegos entered her plea in August 2007 and was sentenced to five years' probation and 120 hours of community service, according to court documents. She was elected to the Pico Rivera City Council in March of 2007.
Gallegos resigned from the council less than three weeks ago. She was serving as mayor at the time.
She said she left the council to take care of other priorities, including an ill father with late-stage cancer, the family business and supporting her daughter who studies abroad.
Josue Martinez, 24, was booked on suspicion of discharging a laser at an aircraft, Los Angeles County sheriff's officials said in a written statement.
The crime can be punished as either a misdemeanor or a felony at the discretion of prosecutors, Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Jaime Baltazar said.
The incident occurred shortly before midnight Saturday when sheriff's officials patrolling from a helicopter notices someone repeatedly shining a green laser beam at the aircraft, according to the statement.
Deputies found the source of the beam, which appeared to coming from a group of three people in the 9100 block of Olympic Boulevard, officials said.
"Martinez had a green laser pen light in his possession and admitted shining it at the helicopter as it was flying," the statement said.
According to sheriff's booking records, Martinez was released Tuesday after posting $20,000 bail.
Shining a laser at aircraft is dangerous because it can impair the vision of the pilot, Baltazar said.
"We take this very seriously," he said. "If you do this at any aircraft, you could be arrested."
Ernest Salazar, 48, of Pico Rivera was pronounced dead at the scene after his body was found about 3:30 a.m. Sunday in an alley north of the 9300 block of Beverly Road, authorities said.
Although it was initially reported by Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department officials as a shooting death, Salazar died from "multiple blunt trauma inflicted by another," Los Angeles County Department of Coroner investigator Katalin Van Meter said. His death was deemed a homicide as he was struck in the head with an unknown object.
Detective Q. Rodriguez of the sheriff's Homicide Bureau said investigators were left with few clues.
"We don't know what he was hit with," Rodriguez said.
"We don't believe he was hit by a car at this time."
One reason the death may have been first listed as a shooting was the account witnesses first gave authorities, Rodriguez said.
"Initially somebody claimed they heard gunshots," he said. "We never found anyone who told us that."
Although one neighbor said he heard gunshots the night Salazar's body was found, he said he heard them several hours before the body was discovered.
Family members said Salazar was a generous and dedicated family man who was well-known and well-liked in the area.
Authorities said they believe Salazar had ties to an area street gang but that he was not an active member.
A curb-side memorial to Salazar erected Sunday featured the letters "VPV" -- an acronym for the Pico Rivera street gang Varrio Pico Viejo -- and Salazar had several tattoos related to the gang, Rodriguez said.
He did not appear to be involved in gang life at the time of his death, however, the detective said.
"We don't believe he was active," Rodriguez said.
Family members also said he was not involved in gang activity.
Salazar is survived by three grown children and several grandchildren, family members said. He had just turned 48 on June 6.
"He was a good man that had good character," said Salazar's sister, Mary Salazar. "To know him was to love him."
Rodriguez said detectives are continuing to search for clues.
"We are still looking into all aspects," he said. "We're looking for witnesses."
Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.
PICO RIVERA -- A lifelong Pico Rivera resident and father of three was shot to death Sunday in an alley near his home, authorities and family members said.
Ernest Salazar, 48, was walking home from the Wagon Wheel bar about 3:30 a.m. near Durfee Avenue and Beverly Road when the shooting occurred, according to Los Angeles County sheriff's officials and relatives.
Salazar was pronounced dead at the scene, sheriff's Deputy Lillian Peck said.
His sister, Mary Salazar, recalled him as a kind-hearted, generous man who loved his family.
"He had a loving heart," she said. "He was a giver. He opened up his heart and his home to anybody and everybody who came around him."
Few details were released Sunday about the attack, and Mary Salazar said investigators had given her little information.
Detectives handling the investigation did not return calls for comment.
Neighborhood resident Mario Sainz, 16, said he heard what sounded like several gunshots coming from the direction of the alley overnight.
"After I heard the shots, I heard a car leaving," he said.
Sainz said investigators had blocked off the area until about 9 a.m.
A group of mourners gathered Sunday afternoon at the shooting scene, consoling one another.
They placed candles, beer cans and photos of Ernest Salazar near the area where he was gunned down.
On the wall, the words "R.I.P. Big Veto V.P.V." were written. Relatives said "Veto" was Salazar's nickname.
V.P.V. is a commonly used acronym for a Pico Rivera street gang, Varrio Pico Viejo. But Mary Salazar said her brother was not involved in gangs.
"He was just a family man," she said. "He made friends wherever. "He didn't have much, but he gave whatever he could."
Salazar, who grew up in Pico Rivera, had two sons, 27 and 24, and a 21-year-old daughter. He also had several grandchildren, Mary Salazar said, and was a big sports fan.
"He was a die-hard Raider fan," she said. "He loved the Lakers and he loved the Raiders."
Ernest Salazar's niece, Angel Garcia, said her uncle was deeply devoted to family.
"He loved his family so much," she said. "He was so happy to see or hear you. It made you feel warm inside."
Relatives said Ernest Salazar would be greatly missed.
"We look at pictures and see the good times we had with him," Mary Salazar said. "I just want everyone to remember the good times."
*Photo of Ernest Salazar courtesy of the Salazar family.
PICO RIVERA - Pico Rivera gang members may have targeted the Mongols Motorcycle Club when they shot and killed three people and wounded seven others at a pizza parlor in June.
Officials acknowledged Thursday that a dispute exists between gangsters affiliated with the Mexican Mafia and the Mongols.
"There is an ongoing feud between the Pico Rivera street gangs and the Mongols," said sheriff's homicide Sgt. Martin Rodriguez.
Members and associates of the outlaw motorcycle gang attended a fundraiser hosted by Old School Riders at Falcone's Pizza on June 27, Rodriguez said. The fundraiser came to an abrupt end when two men entered the parking lot and began shooting. As many as 50 people were in attendance.
"There's people involved in the investigation who had some reported ties to the Mongols motorcycle gangs," Rodriguez said. "But the vast majority of people there had no association."
Earlier this week, three men with Pico Rivera gang ties were arrested in connection with the slayings. When the District Attorney's Office declined to file charges, two were released. The third man remains in custody on unrelated charges, district attorney's spokeswoman Jane Robison said.
LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office declined to file charges against three Whittier-area men in connection with a fatal shooting at a Pico Rivera pizza parlor, asking sheriff's investigators instead to go back and do more work on the case.
As such, two of the three suspects -- Rudy Ruiz, 30, of unincorporated Whittier, and Christopher Johnson, 18, of Montebello -- have been released, according to sheriff's Capt. Mike Rothans of the Pico Rivera station.
The third suspect, John Perez, 43, of Pico Rivera, remains in custody on a prior arrest, Rothans said.
The trio had been booked Friday on suspicion of murder in the June 27 shooting at Falcone's Pizza, where a fundraiser was being hosted in the parking lot by the Old School Riders motorcycle club.



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