Recently in shooting Category

Police identified a man who was shot sunday as Oscar Torres, 38, of Bassett.

Torres was shot and killed in the 2200 block of Mardel Avenue early Sunday morning, officials said. Coroner's officials said Torres was shot in the head, the torso, the hand and leg.

A man with him was wounded in the shooting.

Reporter Brian Day visited the crime scene Sunday, took this picture and filed this story:

BASSETT - A man was killed and another wounded early Sunday in a shooting in an equestrian neighborhood, authorities said.

The incident was reported about 6:30 a.m. in the 2200 block of Mardel Avenue in an unincorporated county area near Industry, Los Angeles County sheriff's Sgt. James Beamon said.

The dead man was identified only as a Latino man in his 30s, Lt. Dan Rosenberg of the sheriff's Homicide Bureau said.

His name had not been released late Sunday pending notification of family members, coroner's officials said.

No motive or shooter information was known Sunday afternoon, according to Rosenberg.

"At this point, we're talking to witnesses and trying to determine what happened," he said.

Deputies from the sheriff's Industry station were initially sent to investigate a report of a shooting, Rosenberg said.

"They found a male Hispanic adult suffering from gunshot wounds deceased in the front yard," Rosenberg said.

BASSETT -- Homicide investigators visited the 2200 block of Mardel Avenue Sunday to investigate the shooting death of a man and the wounding of another.

Detectives initially said there was little known about the incident, which occurred about 6:30 a.m. in the 2200 block of Mardel Avenue.

The dead man was described only as a Latino man estimated to be in his 30s, and the wounded man, who was hospitalized in critical condition, appeared to be in his 20s, according to sheriff's and fire officials.

The dead man died in the driveway of the home, where his body remained shielded by a green tarp early Sunday afternoon.

The wounded man was found inside the home, however officials believe the attack most likely occurred outside.

No motive or suspect information was available.

Here's some stories we've been following over the weekend:

1. BALDWIN PARK -- City Councilman Anthony Bejarano was arrested late Friday on suspicion of being intoxicated in public.

2. VALINDA -- A Duarte man was jailed on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence Saturday following a crash that killed a 61-year-old Valinda man.

3. PASADENA -- A 16-year-old girl was shot in the leg Saturday while congregating with a group of other young women in front of an apartment building.

4 .BALDWIN PARK -- A 17-year-old boy showed up at a local hospital Sunday after he was stabbed but refused to tell police the details.

5. IRWINDALE -- A truck driver was robbed and shot Saturday as he dropped his truck off at a business at the end of his work day.

6. PASADENA -- A woman was arrested Sunday after allegedly attacking her boyfriend with a "The Club" steering wheel lock and vandalizing his car after discovering him at a motel with another woman.

A one-man crime wave threatened the lives of several San Gabriel Valley residents early Friday morning. Here's the top of our updated story:

A string of violent crimes including one shooting, five carjackings and two home-invasion robberies reported early Thursday in the northeastern San Gabriel Valley may have been the work of the same criminal, authorities said.

Crimes were reported in Arcadia, Azusa, El Monte and Rosemead, police and sheriff's officials said.

Similar suspect descriptions and a trail of abandoned stolen vehicles seemingly connect the crimes, though the cases all remain under investigation, authorities said.

Additionally Brian Day put together a Google map that details the suspected spree:

I just watched a series of stills from an attempted Starbucks robbery in Pico Rivera.

A gunman walks around the counter and opens fire on an employee, who was saved by the glass muffin case.

As soon as I get a usable copy I will post it here. Cops are hoping that viewers of the video will help them identify the shooter, who appears to be quite ruthless.

What's up with PPD anyway?

They've done everything possible to limit the flow of infomation to the public from their investigation into the shooting death of Jennifer Avina-Ortega. Fortunately, reporter Robert Hong spoke to a witness early on and was able to get some details about what happened and description of the two cars seen fleeing the scene.

Not sure why Pasadena thinks this stuff won't get out... Anyway here's the latest:

PASADENA - Detectives spoke with several people of interest Wednesday in connection with the shooting death of a 20-year-old woman last month, Pasadena police officials said, but no new arrests were made as of press time.

So far, police have only arrested one man, 30-year-old Roberto Barajas, in the death of Jennifer Ortega.

Barajas was arrested without incident on Aug. 29 and was charged with murder by the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office on Tuesday, police said.

Police have not released any further details about the shooting or arrest, saying that the case is an "ongoing and very fluid investigation."

 

Pasadena police reported this afternoon they've made an arrest in the shooting death of Jennifer Avina-Ortega. The 20-year-old was shot to death outside a liquor store on Villa Street about 10 days ago. From the story:

 PASADENA -- Police have arrested a man in connection with the shooting death of a 20-year-old woman in Pasadena last month.

Roberto Barajas, 30, of Pasadena was arrested today in connection with the death of Jennifer Ortega, who was shot in a parking lot on the 1800 block of Villa Street just before 10 p.m. on Aug. 19, Pasadena Police officials said.

Meanwhile the family of Albert Anthony Garcia, who (along with his father) was shot to death at a graduation party in Montebello, reports that Montebello resident Angel Sosa is facing arraignment in a downtown courtroom this afternoon in connection with the double homicide.

Sosa, a juvenile, is facing adult criminal charges, officials said.

Willene Garcia, whose son Albert wsa shot and killed in Montebello on June 21, heard today that a juveniule suspected of involvement in the slaying has been arrested. Here's a letter from Willene:

Earlier today I received a phone call from the Chief advising the arrest of one suspect.  I was told a follow-up call would be placed to me later on today.
 
I'm very happy that they caught this guy. I'm curious to find out who he is and what he looks like.  I cannot wait to see him face to face.  I want him to know exactly what he has taken from me and my family.  Albert's brother Dominic cries himself to sleep almost every night, and so do I.  Dominic started school this week and it was rough.  Usually Albert would give him a Pep-talk before starting school and he wasn't there this time to do that. 
 
The thing I miss most about Albert is how loving he was.  He would tell me he loved me all the time and give me a big hug.  When I was sick he would be the one to take care of me.  He was like the little man of the house.

Montebello police Chief Dan Weast called to say that officers have made an arrest in the double homicide that shocked the city over summer.

Twelve-year-old Albert Anthony Garcia and his father Juan were gunned down at a graduation party on June 21. Two others were injured in the shooting. Several weeks ago I wrote a column criticizing the Montebello PD for a lack of progress in the case.

Looks like they've proved me wrong.

Robert Hong pieced together a powerful account of Jennifer Avina-Ortega's last moments. The woman was shot to death Tuesday night standing at a pay phone in the 1800 block of East Villa. Police are releasing very few details about the case, implying they are close to catching the killer or killers here's an excerpt:

Shot in the back and bleeding profusely, Avina-Ortega crawled on the pavement and screamed out in Spanish in the moments before she died, witnesses said.

"Ayudenme!" - "Help me!" Avina-Ortega screamed. "No me quiero morir!" - "I don't want to die!"

Seconds after the gunfire, a witness, who declined to give her name, said she saw a car speed out of the parking lot adjacent the barbershop and a small market that is part of the same building.

Then a second vehicle drove past slowly, its headlights off. The windows were rolled down and it appeared the occupants were looking at Avina-Ortega as she lay on the sidewalk.

The car turned right on Villa, then drove through a red light at Allen Avenue and kept going, witnesses said.

According to Pasadena police that's the name of the city's second homicide victim in 2008.

Avina-Ortega, 20, was shot to death in the 1800 block of East Villa street, officials said.

Police who found her were responding to reports of gunfire and heard the plaintive wail of a woman crying out for help. She died before midnight at Huntington Memorial Hospital, police said.

Family and friends of Avina-Ortega Wednesday gathered near where she fell. A memorial was erected and theories about here death were bandied about. Police said they have no witnesses and no motive for the shooting.

Here's the photo caption:

Berlin Ortega writes a message on a memorial poster for her sister
Jennifer Ortega, "I Love You Jenny", in the parking lot of Linda Rosa
Market in the 1800 block of Villa Street in Pasadena, Wednesday,
August 20, 2008.  Jennifer Ortega was shot to death at about 10 p.m.
on Tuesday night in the parking lot of Linda Rosa Market. (SGVN/Staff
Photo by Walt Mancini/SXCity)

 

We've posted a story about a young Pasadena woman who was shot to death in the 1800 block of East Villa Avenue in Pasadena Tuesday night.

The woman's name was not released. She was taken from the scene of the shooting to Huntington Memorial Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

It is Pasadena's second homicide in 2008.

Osman Villalobos, 18, was stabbed to death at 1388 Iowa Ave. in Pasadena on Sunday, June 16. Villalobos had been stabbed during an argument with another man over a girlfriend. Police later arrested Pasqual Diaz, 22, on suspicion of murder. 

From reporter Nathan McIntire:

MONROVIA - A reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for killing Sammantha Salas has been increased to $20,000, Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich announced Tuesday.

Salas, 16, was fatally shot on Peck Road near Longdon Avenue in the unincorporated area of Monrovia on January 26.

The two suspects in the slaying are described as African-Americans in their late 20's wearing dark-colored bandanas or hooded sweatshirts. The suspects are believed to be members of the Du Roc Crips gang.

A summary of some items we've been covering over the weekend:

1. EL MONTE -- Homicide detectives are investigating the mysterious death of a man whose body was found on the property of an office building Sunday.
2. ROSEMEAD -- The man who died in a fiery crash at the end of a police chase Saturday was driving an SUV that belonged to a woman found shot to death at her Gardena business.
3. LA PUENTE -- A man allegedly shot and wounded two of his roommates during an argument at their house Saturday.
4. SOUTH EL MONTE -- Officials have released the name of a man found who was fatally shot in his car last week.
5. NORWALK -- A man was shot and wounded in the parking lot of a convenience store Sunday.
6. SONORA -- The Montrose Search and Rescue Team rescued a 34-year-old man Sunday after he spent two nights at the bottom of an abandoned mine shaft.