ALTADENA - Officials are now offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the man who pulled the trigger in the shooting death of a four-year-old boy nearly six years ago.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors authorized the reward increase to find the killer of Salvador Esparza III, a Monrovia boy who happened to have been visiting family in Altadena.

The shooting occurred around 10:40 p.m. July 5, 2016, after a man reportedly argued with the live-in boyfriend of Esparza’s mother. He returned to the 300 block of West Figueroa Drive and fired at least 13 rounds Into the home. Esparza and a 27-year-old man were struck by gunfire. Esparza was standing in the doorway of the home when he was hit. Both victims were taking to Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena. The man survived.

Anyone with information that can identify the shooter is urged to call the Los Angeles County sheriffs homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. 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

ALTADENA - A brushfire has scorched roughly 5 acres and continues to creep up hill above Altadena Sunday.

The Cobb Fire is burning above East Loma Alta Drive and North Lake Avenue. Firefighters believe there are no structures threatened at this time, but there is the possibility of hikers west on a trail near the fire, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department radio traffic.

The US Forest Service and Los Angeles County firefighters are working to contain the fire.

ALTADENA - Two people were hospitalized after being wounded in a shooting near Christmas Tree Lane October 24.

The shooting occurred near East Mariposa Street and Santa Rosa Avenue. Sgt. Vincent Vanderhoeven of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Altadena Station was only able to confirm two victims were wounded and transported. He was unwilling to share a possible motive and suspect description.

The shooting was dispatched to Los Angeles County Firefighters at 5:45 a.m.

No other details are available.​

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has released a critical incident video outlining the continuing investigation into a fatal deputy shooting in Altadena.

The incident occurred around 4:04 p.m. January 10, 2021 at the intersection of Figueroa Drive and Lincoln Avenue. A deputy patrolling in a vehicle was told that a man armed with a knife stabbed a 78-year-old woman and was standing in the roadway. That suspect then approached the deputy’s patrol vehicle after it arrived and began striking the passenger side, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The suspect then allegedly held the knife to his own throat.

Several deputies attempted to speak with the suspect, identified as 48-year-old Allen Mirzayan, to get him to drop his weapon and surrender. Mirzayan remained confrontational, acting erratic and approaching the deputies. He advanced on deputies one final time before being struck by gunfire multiple times.

Despite life-saving efforts, Mirzayan died at the scene, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

A quick glance at public coroner records shows that Mirzayan apparently suffered from post traumatic stress disorder.

Mirzayan is described as a U.S. Army veteran.

The woman who was stabbed also sustained a broken hip, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ALTADENA - One of two victims in a fatal stabbing was on a Zoom call when an intruder entered the room, Sheriff’s homicide investigators said Monday.

Someone witnessed an assailant grab the victim who was on the Zoom call. After deputies were called to the home, they found a man dead in the driveway and a woman dead inside, according to Sheriff’s homicide investigators.

Deputies detained a person of interest as he drove to the murder scene in the victims’ vehicle, Sheriff’s homicide investigators said.

It is not yet publicly clear if that person of interest is tied to the murders.

The bodies were discovered after police were called around 2:50 p.m. in the 3000 block of North Marengo Avenue.

Anyone with information on this stabbing is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. 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

ALTADENA - Two people were found stabbed to death Monday afternoon.

A man and woman were found in the 3000 block of North Marengo Avenue around 2:45 p.m.

A suspect is currently unknown, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

Anyone with information on this stabbing is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. 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

ALTADENA - Ground crews and aircraft are extinguishing a vegetation fire burning near Chaney Trail and Mt. Lowe Motorway.

The fire has burned at least one acre in steep terrain, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

This Fire is burning in U.S. Forest Service jurisdiction. County firefighters are assisting.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ALTADENA - A woman was hospitalized after being stabbed, her possible assailant killed by a deputy at an Altadena intersection Sunday.

The incident occurred around 4:08 p.m. January 10 at the intersection of Figueroa Drive and Lincoln Avenue. A deputy patrolling in a vehicle was flagged down by a woman who was apparently the victim of a stabbing. An unknown male then approached the deputy and a shooting occurred, according to Deputy Arteaga of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

It is unclear to Arteaga why use of force was necessary against the man.

The woman was taken to a trauma center, according to Dispatch Supervisor of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene, Arteaga told SGV CityWatch. The woman’s condition was not readily available at the time of the story was posted.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ALTADENA - Deputies are investigating a shooting that occurred Monday, December 28, in which a bullet struck a home where a child was sleeping.

The shooting was reported at 10:45 p.m. in the 500 block of West Palm Street. Several rounds of gunfire were reported, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Altadena Station.

No one was injured.

Anyone with information on the shooting is urged to call the Altadena Sheriff’s Station at 626-798-1131.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ALTADENA - Detectives have identified three vehicles seen immediately after the attempted murder of a deputy from December 4.

Detectives identified a newer-model silver Audi four-door sedan with a sunroof, an older-model burgundy four-door sedan with right front end traffic collision damage and a newer-model silver four-door sedan, all seen in the immediate area after the shooting, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The newer-model silver four-door sedan was last seen in the area of Figueroa Avenue and Navarro Street.

The shooting occurred at 12:33 p.m. as the deputy was driving northbound in the 2500 block of Fair Oaks Avenue. One of the two suspects pointed a firearm in the deputy’s direction and fired several gunshots, detectives said.

The deputy was uninjured.

The deputy reportedly witnessed a crime in progress at the scene where the two suspects were at with a group of people. It is not yet clear publicly what crime may have been occurring before the gunfire erupted.

Both suspects are believed to be Hispanic.

One suspect removed a black jacket and shoes well fleeing the shooting. The second suspect’s white jacket was also found discarded nearby, detectives said.

Anyone with information on either suspect is urged to call the Sheriff’s Department Operation Safe Streets Bureau Detective C. Gutierrez at 626-798-1131.

Information can be provided anonymously by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or through lacrimestoppers.org.