Pasadena shopkeeper badly beaten by robber with declined debit card


PASADENA >> A man severely beat a Pasadena shopkeeper late Saturday after becoming enraged that his debit card was rejected, police said.
The clerk suffered injuries including a broken eye socket and a broken nose in the incident, which took place about 11:50 p.m. at a store in the 1300 block of North Lake Avenue, near Washington Boulevard, Pasadena police Lt. John Mercado said.
Two men entered the store and one tried to make a purchase with a debit card, he said.
“The suspect became angry when he was informed that his debit card was not good,” the lieutenant said. “He decided to walk out with the items without paying.”
When the shopkeeper, a Los Angeles man in his 60s, confronted the robber about the theft, he began punching the clerk repeatedly in the head and face before fleeing with the items, Mercado said.
Paramedics took the injured worker to a hospital for treatment. It was not clear Sunday what was stolen in the crime.
Police described the attacker as a black man in his 20s, about 5 feet 8 inches tall, 160 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes, wearing a blue and white hooded sweatshirt.
He was accompanied by a black man between 20 and 25 years old, about 5 feet 8 inches tall, 160 to 170 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes, wearing a baseball cap with white lettering on it and a black seater with white lettering on it.
Both were last seen fleeing the area on foot.
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.

Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Linkedin Email

UPDATED: West Valinda brothers charged with murder in beating death of neighbor


WEST VALINDA >> Prosecutors charged two West Valinda men with murder Thursday for the beating of their 44-year-old neighbor, a father of five, with a hammer and cement blocks earlier in the week, authorities said.
Doctors declared Luis Segura brain dead Wednesday afternoon from injuries suffered in the beating, which took place about 7 p.m. Monday in the 13400 block of Moccasin Street, said Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner Assistant Chief of Operations Ed Winter.
Flavio Macias Jr. 28, and his brother Jonathan Macias, 23, were each charged with a count of murder in Pomona Superior Court, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Sarah Ardalani said in a written statement.
Lt. David Coleman of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau said the motive in the attack remained unclear.
“This is tragic,” he said. “(Segura) was a hard working guy. He had five kids.”
Segura and the Macias brothers had been neighbors for at least 15 years, Coleman said.
The lieutenant described Segura’s relationship with his neighbors as “cordial” and said detectives were aware of no previous incidents of violence.
Segura apparently went outside to speak with the brothers before the attack, though it was unclear what they discussed or what prompted Monday’s beating, Coleman said. “We don’t know exactly what happened.”
The victim’s wife called 911 after she went looking for him and discovered the two suspects trying to load the severely injured man into his own van, Coleman said.
Deputies arrested the brothers with the use of tear gas and a sheriff’s K-9 following an eight-hour standoff at their home, Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials said.
Flavio Macias carried out the attack while Jonathan Macias acted as a lookout, prosecutors said.
“The felony complaint includes a special allegation that Flavio Macias Jr. used deadly and dangerous weapons, hammer and blocks, during the commission of the crime,” Ardalani said. He has previous convictions for domestic violence in 2005, carrying a dirk or dagger in 2006 and drug possession in 2012.
Segura was pronounced brain dead at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center Wednesday afternoon, according to Winter and hospital spokeswoman Rosa Saca.
Though clinically dead, Segura remained on life-support Thursday so that his organs may be harvested for transplant.
An arraignment hearing scheduled Thursday for the Macias brothers was postponed to Sept. 23 in Pomona Superior Court, Ardalani said.

Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Linkedin Email

Man beaten in Pasadena while meeting supposed cell phone seller from online ad

PASADENA >> A man who arranged a meeting in Pasadena to buy a cell phone through an online advertisement ended up the victim of a beating and robbery attempt, police said.
The crime took place about 6:30 p.m. in a residential neighborhood in the 500 block of North Marengo Avenue, Pasadena police Lt. Mark Goodman said.
A 22-year-old Pasadena man met with the supposed cell phone seller, the lieutenant said.
“While conversing with the main suspect, two other suspects came from behind,” Goodman said.
One of the men punched the victim in the face, knocking him to the ground, he said. The attacker continued punching the victim as he rifled through his pockets in search of money.
The three would-be robbers fled empty-handed after being unable to get any money from the victim, Goodman said. They fled in a car left parked across the street.
Police said the victim suffered bruises and abrasions but declined to be taken to a hospital.
A detailed suspect description was not available.

Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Linkedin Email

Beaten to death with a pool cue by Mongols *

The single homicide alleged in the federal indictment against members of the Mongols Motorcycle Club occurred on Valentine’s Day last year.

The victim apparently was Leon Huddleston, a homeless man who was beaten to death with a pool cue at a bar in Lancaster.

Here’s a recap of the beating from a Web site known as the Antelope Valley War on Gangs and Crime.

Meanwhile, members of the outlaw motorcycle gang are expected to appear in federal court later today.

* Here’s what Jill Levoy wrote in the Homicide Report last year following Huddleston’s death:

Leon Huddleston, a 25-year-old white man, was beaten with a pool cue at 227 W. Pillsbury St. in Lancaster and died at 7:10 p.m. Feb. 22.

Huddleston, described by police as a local transient, was playing pool at Young’s Bar and Grill when two men came in, walked straight up to him, and hit him with a pool cue. Huddleston fell behind the bar. No argument or brawl preceded the attack. Detectives say they don’t know the motive. Huddleston “didn’t even have a chance to defend himself,” said Sgt. Jeff Cochran of the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau.

The suspects fled, and a handful of bar patrons who witnessed the attack also left the scene. Huddleston lived for a week on life support before dying. Los Angeles County supervisors have offered a $10,000 reward for information in this case. Anyone with tips is asked to call detectives at (323) 890-5635.

Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Linkedin Email