Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - Surveillance footage once again helped identify the man accused of gunning down three homeless people in Los Angeles late last month.
The suspect was already in custody, accused of murdering a San Dimas man after following him home from West Covina. Jerrid Joseph Powell, 33, was arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department Saturday. The three murders of homeless men occurred from November 26 to November 29. The same vehicle was seen at all three murder scenes, investigators said. Ballistics examination determined the gun seized after Powell was arrested in Beverly Hills was used in the homeless murders, according to an LAPD written statement. The first LA murder occurred around 3 a.m. November 26 in the 800 block of West 110th Street. The next murder occurred around 5 a.m. November 27 in the 800 block of East Seventh Street. The third happened around 2:30 p.m. November 29 at South Avenue 18 and South Pasadena Avenue. All victims in the LA murder were sleeping either on a public sidewalk or in an alleyway. Powell will remain in custody pending the filing of charges. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - Two suspects were recently jailed in connection with the death of a man washed up and stuffed in a barrel in Malibu and the larger of the two has a local crime connection.
Dennis Eugene Vance, 41, and Joshua Lee Simmons, 37, were arrested October 3 and charged in the death of Javonnta Marshann Murphy. Murphy’s body was found stuffed in a metal barrel that washed up at Malibu Lagoon State Beach. Murphy died of a gunshot wound to his head. Simmons was infamously caught on cellphone video after being beat back by employees of a jewelry store during an attempted robbery September 2 in El Monte. Simmons was charged with murder, personal use of a firearm and criminal threats. For the El Monte incident, he was also charged with attempted robbery, criminal threats and personal use of bear spray. Vance was charged with one count of being an accessory after the fact in Murphy’s death. Simmons is being held in lieu of nearly $3.3 million bail ahead of a scheduled appearance in Los Angeles Municipal Court November 3. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - The man accused of gunning down an auxiliary bishop for the LA Archdiocese over alleged money issues awaits his day in court.
Carlos Medina, 61, is being held in lieu of $2 million bail. A court date has yet to be set. LA Archdiocese Auxiliary Bishop at David O’Connell was discovered dead from at least one gunshot wound in his bedroom after deputies were called at 1 p.m. to a report of a person not breathing in the 1500 block of Janlu Avenue in Hacienda Heights Saturday, February 18, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna. The Sheriff’s Department was notified Sunday, February 19 at 7 p.m. of a person of interest tied to the murder. Deputies traveled to the city of Torrance where the person of interest lives and after the special enforcement operation, Medina was apprehended. Two firearms and items possibly tying Medina to the murder were confiscated. The firearms will have to be examined to determine if they were used in the Hacienda Heights murder, Luna said at the Monday press conference. A tipster told the Sheriff’s Department that Medina was acting strange, irrational and expressed that O’Connell owed Medina money. Medina is married to O’Connell’s housekeeper, Luna said at the Monday press conference. Investigators did not find any apparent forced entry into the home. Surveillance footage showed a dark-colored compact SUV pull into the bishops driveway and was driven away after a short time. That SUV is driven by Medina’s wife. Before Medina’s arrest, investigators were told that he was possibly in the Central California area. A tipster notified investigators that Medina had returned to his home in Torrance in the 20400 block of Kenwood Avenue. At 2 a.m. on Monday, February 20, deputies arrived to arrest Medina, but he refused to exit. At 8:15 a.m., Medina finally surrendered. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - A man convicted of murdering his neighbor during a dispute in 2019 reportedly killed himself in jail while awaiting his sentence.
Massimo Barbagallo, 49, died from multiple blunt force injuries January 10. His death was ruled suicide, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office confirmed by email that Barbagallo did die while in custody. He faced 50 years to life in prison. Barbagallo was held in the North County Correctional Facility when he died. He was convicted April 6, 2022 of murder in the July 15, 2019 shooting death of 26-year-old Christian Jonathan Alarcon in what was believed to be a longstanding feud. The shooting happened in the 9400 block of Workman Avenue. First responders found Alarcon wounded on a residential front yard. He died after being hospitalized. Barbagallo was scheduled for sentencing February 23. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor DOWNEY – A victim found shot multiple times in a parking lot was identified as a Monterey Park Police officer, authorities said Monday.
Downey Police officers responded to a parking lot at 12070 Lakewood Blvd. August 8 to a reported shooting victim around 3:25 p.m. The victim was found in the Downey Landing shopping center inside a vehicle and paramedics pronounced him dead. “Despite emergency medical treatment, the victim was pronounced deceased from his injuries,” according to the Downey Police Department in a written statement. The officer’s name has not been publicly revealed. Anyone with information on this murder is urged to call Downy Police Detective Ron Gee at 562-904-2331, or Lt. Dwayne Cooper at 562-904-2370. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor BARSTOW – A twenty-something couple are accused of murder in the death of their 1-year-old child who was driven all the way to Pomona where family made the grisly discovery in the couple’s vehicle, police said.
Ricardo Mendez, 27, and Antanita Miller, 24, were booked at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga after Pomona officers and Barstow detectives began investigating the suspicious circumstances behind the child’s death. Pomona officers were called to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center just before 8 p.m. April 25. The child was declared dead by hospital staff upon arrival. The child displayed suspicious trauma, including lesions, bruising and burn marks. Some injuries were in various stages of healing, according to the Barstow Police Department. A homicide investigation was launched by Barstow Police after Pomona officers notified them that the death likely occurred in the child’s Barstow residence. Miller was detained as she arrived to Pomona Valley. Mendez was detained in the 2100 block of Spencer Street after leaving the family’s Pomona home, according to the Barstow Police Department. “During the investigation detectives learned that on April 25, 2022, at approximately 7:00 PM, Ricardo Mendez and Antanita Miller arrived unexpectedly at Mendez’s family’s home located in the city of Pomona. Family members located the victim’s lifeless body in the back of Ricardo Mendez’ and Antanita Miller’s vehicle,” according to the Barstow Police Department. “Some of Mendez’s family members immediately drove the victim to the Pomona Valley Hospital for treatment. Ricardo Mendez and Antanita Miller stayed at the family home and did not initially go to the hospital.” A search warrant served at the Barstow home and vehicle occupied by the couple during their grisly journey revealed items believed to be used during the crimes, according to the Barstow Police Department. Anyone with information regarding this investigation is urged to call Barstow Police Detective Matthew Helms at 760-255-5132 or at mhelms@barstowca.org. Information can be provided anonymously by calling the WE-TIP hotline at 1-800-79-CRIME (27469), or at www.wetip.com. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES – Investigators have identified the woman and man found dead New Year’s Day from apparent gunshot wounds in Temple City.
Jeanette Gallegos, 27, and Justin Joseph, 28, were identified by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. Deputies responded to the 9200 block of Pentland Street on a report of domestic violence with a gunshot victim. Deputies discovered a 27-year-old woman suffering multiple gunshot wounds and 28-year-old man suffer a likely self-inflicted wound. Both died at the scene, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. “Three juveniles, ranging in age from 5 to 11, were removed from the home unharmed upon the deputies’ arrival. The three lived in the home and are believed to be the children of the deceased female victim,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in a written statement. A handgun was recovered at the scene. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES – Detectives and the family members are pleading with the community to help find the gunman who shot and killed a man in Hacienda Heights. Alfonso Guzman Jr., a 26-year-old Duarte man and father of two, was shot dead in his vehicle as he sat parked with his girlfriend on a scenic overlook in the 3300 block of Turnbull Canyon Road around 1 a.m. May 20. His girlfriend suffered injuries not life-threatening, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s homicide detectives announced a $10,000 reward at a November 18 news conference for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect.
Through translation, Guzman’s mother, Maria Ayala pleaded with the community to help catch her son’s killer. “My son was a good son, a good father. He leaves behind two boys, two boys that are suffering and constantly ask about him. They go to school and tell me: ‘mama, daddy is watching over me, he is hugging me. When is he coming?’ When it rains they say: ‘daddy is getting wet. When is he getting down from up there?’ My son was a hardworking person, he was attending school and had many projects planned ahead. As a mother who is dead inside, I beg that if anybody knows something please call. Thank you,” Ayala said. Anyone with information that can help this investigation is urged to call Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide detectives J. Levenson or T. Baljet at 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-22-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - Evidence was recovered and a suspect was arrested November 8, accused of pulling the trigger in the shooting that claimed the life of a Monrovia woman.
Sidney Terrence Johnson, a 25-year-old Los Angeles man, was tracked down after a two-month investigation and arrested at his home. He was booked on suspicion of murder and is being held in lieu of $2 million bail. The case has been submitted to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, according to the California Highway Patrol. Bertha Hernandez, 35, was found with a gunshot wound to the head in a crash vehicle on the eastbound 210 freeway east of Baldwin Avenue, September 4. Hernandez was driving a black Mercedes-Benz when the shooting occurred around 9:05 a.m. “Upon arrival, officers observed a solo vehicle that had multiple bullet holes on the driver's side and the solo female occupant inside the vehicle had sustained multiple gunshot wounds,” according to the California Highway Patrol in a written statement. CHP officers responding to calls of gunfire and a traffic collision found the Mercedes-Benz had crashed into a sound wall, multiple bullet holes peppered the driver side. Hernandez was declared dead at the scene, according to the California Highway Patrol. The events leading up to the shooting are either unknown, or have yet to be publicly shared. Johnson is being held at the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles. There is no court date information available. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - A Pasadena man who pleaded guilty late last year to conspiracy to kidnap was sentenced for his part in a plot that ended with a victim’s body being unearthed months after the victim was kidnapped.
Anthony Valladares, 29, was sentenced to 195 months in federal prison. Hired as the “muscle,” Valadares was one of four men directly involved in the kidnapping of Ruochen “Tony” Liao in San Gabriel. Liao was beaten, restrained and held for a $2 million ransom that was demanded from his parents, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. U.S. District Judge Fernando Olguin also ordered Valladares to pay $33,090 in restitution. Valladares pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to kidnap October 2020. Liao met with Chinese national Peicheng Shen, 35. The latter used an alias several times while communicating with Liao, pretending to help him settle a debt. During a third meeting, Shen met Liao at a San Gabriel shopping center July 16, 2018 and lured him into a van, according to court documents. Valladares was hiding in the van. Shen uttered a word to the “muscle,” who helped to beat shocked with a stun gun, restrained with zip ties and covered with a black hood, according to court documents. “Valladares admitted to helping Yang acquire the taser used in the kidnapping and admitted to acquiring a revolver and bullets for the kidnapping,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in a written statement. Alexis Ivan Romero Velez, a 25-year-old Azusa man, was hired by Valladares. Velez drove the van to a house in Rosemead where Liao was placed into another vehicle. Shen and another co-conspirator, Chinese national Guangyao Yang, 28, took Liao to a home in Corona where his legs and arms were restrained and his eyes taped shut. He was then confined to a closet, according to court documents. “The day after the kidnapping, the victim’s father received a demand for a $2 million ransom in exchange for the victim’s life, with the money to be deposited into three Chinese bank accounts within three hours,’ according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in a written statement. Valladares was apparently not present when Liao was killed. Investigators learned of Yang’s Internet search history, which included discovering how long it takes for a body to decompose in soil. The closet where Liao was confined was also re-carpeted, according to court documents. Liao’s body was eventually disposed of in Mojave, California. His skeletal remains were eventually discovered by a hiker June 12, 2019 in the area of Cache Creek Road and Highway 58. The manner of death is undetermined, according to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office - Coroner Section. Shen and Yang, who previously resided in West Covina, were both arrested in China, held on charges related to the kidnapping. Velez pleaded guilty in September 2019 to one count of conspiracy to kidnap. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, November 10. The FBI conducted this investigation with help from the FBI’s Safe Street Task Force, which includes the Pasadena Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Julia S. Choe and Frances S. Lewis, both of the General Crimes Section, prosecuted this case. |
Archives
January 2024
Categories
All
|