Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor
MONTEBELLO - Two men exchanged words before unloading handguns, completely missing each other and fortunately missing store patrons and an employee during an April 30 gun battle.
The shooting was all caught on surveillance video at the 7-Eleven, 800 S. Greenwood Ave, around 9:50 p.m. Everything appeared to be business as usual inside the store until two men passed each other. Words and expletives were exchanged, including bullets.
As bullets destroyed glass panes and random objects, the patrons and employee desperately ducked to avoid being hit. No one was injured, according to the Montebello Police Department. Both men escaped. Police did not elaborate on descriptions of possible getaway vehicles. Anyone with information on this shooting is urged to call Montebello Police Detective Fivecoat at 323-887-1247, or email afivecoat@cityofmontebello.com. Information can be provided anonymously by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MONTEBELLO - A suspect accused of a brutally beating his girlfriend and attempting to shoot her multiple times was recently sentenced to eight years in state prison, the Montebello Police department announced.
Sean Abeyta, 29, reportedly took a plea deal and copped to an assault with a deadly weapon charge that sent him behind bars for the crime that occurred on December 20, 2020, the Montebello Police Department said. Abeyta was sentenced in January. He has since been moved to Wasco State Prison, according to county and state booking records. Abeyta’s estranged girlfriend fled the 3000 block of Via Breve after Abeyta threatened her with a handgun and punched her while the two were seated in a vehicle. As the estranged girlfriend ran, Abeyta shot at her, according to the Montebello Police Department. Abeyta ran from his vehicle to ditch evidence and clothing, giving his estranged girlfriend time to retreat back into the vehicle. She fled to the El Monte Police Department and notified authorities. The estranged girlfriend was wounded with a laceration to her right eyelid and a swollen lip, according to the Montebello Police Department. Montebello investigators obtained surveillance video showing Abeyta ditching evidence in a trash can at the Quiet Cannon, 901 Via San Clemente. He also ran to where he was residing at the nearby Home 2 Suites, 988 Via San Clemente, where video surveillance caught him ditching clothing on multiple floors of the hotel. The victim provided a detailed statement and after Abeyta was detained as he left his room, a search warrant helped officers find methamphetamine and ammunition within, according to the Montebello Police Department. Investigators also recovered the discarded clothing at the hotel and recovered a discarded backpack at the Quiet Cannon, the latter contained a loaded handgun, methamphetamine and cocaine, according to the Montebello Police Department. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MONTEBELLO – Authorities reportedly recovered a handgun and arrested a pursuit suspect who attempted to escape the California Highway Patrol February 1.
Aaron James Macias, 36, is accused of multiple armed robberies in Montebello, Monterey Park and in Los Angeles. During those crimes a .45-caliber handgun was fired, according to the Montebello Police Department. Several victims helped investigators identify Macias and his vehicle, a white four-door sedan. Officers from the CHP Glendale/Verdugo Hills Station detained Macias February 1 at 3:32 a.m. and he was booked at 5:50 a.m. at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Temple Station. He was eventually taken into custody by Montebello officers at 3:55 p.m., according to Los Angeles County booking records. CHP officers found Macias wearing body armor and recovered an unloaded handgun under the driver seat. He wore an over-sized puffy olive green jacket and Nike shoes: the clothing reportedly worn during a robbery in Los Angeles, according to the Montebello Police Department. Macias is being held at the North County Correctional Facility in Castaic in lieu of $350,000 bail. He is scheduled to appear in Los Angeles Municipal Court February 16. Anyone who may be a victim of Macias is urged to call Montebello Police Detective Colbert at 323-887-1272, or email jcolbert@cityofmontebello.com. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MONTEBELLO – A documented gang banger accepted a plea of nine years in state prison recently after being arrested in an assault and robbery case from 2019, the Montebello Police Department announced.
Victor Apodaca, a 29-year-old South Side Montebello gang banger, attacked two people February 23, 2019 in the area of Beach Street and Greenwood Avenue near a 7-Eleven. An altercation led Apodaca to pistol-whip both victims, with one being robbed of a gold chain and wallet. As the victims fled in a vehicle, Apodaca shot at the vehicle, striking the front passenger, according to the Montebello Police Department. Montebello officers responded to Beverly Hospital at 1:50 a.m. to investigate after both victims fled to the facility for treatment. Officers quickly identified Apodaca as a suspect, the Montebello Police Department said. A search warrant was authored and a search of Apodaca’s residence yielded evidence linking him to the crime. After several weeks of investigation, an arrest warrant was authored. “…He had been arrested and convicted for possessing several firearms by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Over a year after the crime, on March 12, 2020, detectives responded to Ironwood State Prison and arrested APODACA for charges of robbery and assault with a deadly weapon with gang enhancements,” according to the Montebello Police Department in a written statement. The gang enhancements were removed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, the Montebello Police Department said, but after months of waiting Apodaca was held to answer for his crimes. Apodaca accepted the plea July 15, 2021. A custody release was issued October 27 and Apodaca was released to North Kern State Prison in Delano, according to Los Angeles County and state prison records. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor UPDATE, 9:58 a.m.: Officers responded to a business in the 400 block of West Washington Boulevard at 3:48 a.m. to investigate a burglary alarm call. On arriving on scene, officers saw a man inside of the business. He attempted to flee the business through the rear door but retreated back inside to escape officers positions behind the location, according to the Montebello Police Department.
“As Officers entered the building a shotgun was recovered and Officers heard the subject in the crawl space between the ceiling and roof of the store,” according to the Montebello Police Department in a written statement. “It is unknown if the subject is armed with another weapon and the subject has refused to cooperate with police orders to exit.” MONTEBELLO - All east and west lanes of West Washington Boulevard between Bluff Road and Carob Way are closed while authorities try to get a barricaded man to surrender. Crisis negotiators and the Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau are working on communicating with the man, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The Montebello Police Department is asking everyone to avoid the area. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MONTEBELLO - A man took cash and cigarettes at gunpoint in a daytime robbery September 27, Montebello Police said. A masked suspect robbed the Chevron gas station, 1628 Washington Blvd., just before 7:30 a.m. He arrived in a black car, entered the gas station, revealed a black semi-automatic handgun and demanded cash, according to the Montebello Police Department. The suspect jumped over the counter, opened the register and took handfuls of cash and several cigarette cartons. He drove away in the 2018-2019 black Chevrolet Cruze he arrived in, Montebello Police said.
The suspect is a Hispanic man in his 2os. He stands 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall, weighs 175 to 190 pounds, wore a beard/short facial hair, a black hat, olive green hooded sweatshirt, black pants, black shoes with white soles, a mask, black latex gloves and prescription eyeglasses. Anyone with information on the suspect is urged to call Montebello Police Detective C. Adams at 323-887-1256, or at cadams@cityofmontebello.com. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MONTEBELLO - The man accused of brutally attacking two people, leaving one in a weeks-long coma, at a Metrolink station was identified, authorities said. Thomas Ward, who is currently jailed by another agency on an unrelated burglary charge, was positively identified with the help of surveillance snapshots and several witnesses to the attack, according to the Montebello Police Department. Two men were attacked on the platform of the Montebello/Commerce Metrolink Station, 2000 Flotilla Ave., August 10, 2020 just after 10:30 a.m. A man, who police say is Ward, used a flashlight to assault the men who were waiting for an arriving bus, Montebello Police said.
“One of the victims fell to the ground at which time the suspect began to kick him in the head several times. As a result of the victim’s injuries, he was placed into a coma for several weeks in critical condition,” Montebello Police said in a written statement. Still images taken from security cameras, which recorded the attack, were used by Montebello detectives and Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office investigators to help identify Ward. Ward, a 29-year-old Los Angeles transient, will be charged with one count of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of attempted murder, Montebello Police said. A motive for the attack is unknown. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MONTEBELLO - Police are searching for an attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon suspect who violently attacked two people unprovoked August 10. The attack occurred at 10:35 a.m. at the Metrolink Bus Station, 2000 Flotilla St. The suspect used what is described as a metal flashlight to strike both victims. He additionally stomped on one victim’s head 10 times, leaving that victim in a coma, according to the Montebello Police Department. The suspect was caught on video supplied by a local public transit agency.
The suspect is a Black male, stands 6 feet tall, has a thin build, has black or brown hair and a black or dark brown beard. He wore a black sweatshirt, green pants, brown slip-on shoes or slippers, a pink face covering and a red beanie. Anyone with information on the suspect is urged to call the Montebello Police Department at 323-887-1313. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MONTEBELLO – Police announced Monday the arrest of an East Los Angeles man accused of fatally hitting a pedestrian and refusing to stop to help. Christopher Artega, 27, was found in UplandJuly 29 driving the black Scion XB described by witnesses in the July 26 collision. He was stopped in Ontario and taken into custody, according to the Montebello Police Department. Detectives used “various investigative techniques” to track down Artega, Montebello Police said.
The fatal crash occurred around 2:52 p.m. July 26 at Garfield Avenue and Via Paseo. A woman in her early 20s was found in the roadway gravely injured. Paramedics provided lifesaving support, but she died at the scene. The victim was identified by coroner investigators as 22-year-old Angeles Palomino. She died from multiple blunt force traumatic injuries. Investigators obtained a filing of felony hit and run and vehicular manslaughter against Artega with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Artega is being held in lieu of $85,000 bail. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MONTEBELLO - A man was arrested after he confessed to lighting fireworks that sparked a small brush fire Monday. A Montebello Police officer saw illegal aerial fireworks being set off near Beverly Boulevard and Concourse Avenue around 9 p.m. June 29. The officer discovered a small brush fire burning nearby, according to the Montebello Police Department. From the 500 block of Concourse, the officer followed a suspicious vehicle fleeing the area. After being stopped by the officer, the unidentified suspect admitted to lighting the fireworks and to starting the brush fire, Montebello Police said.
Montebello firefighters extinguished the small fire. The suspect was arrested and booked on suspicion of illegal fireworks possession and for outstanding warrants, Montebello Police said. |
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