Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA – Police are investigating a shooting in which a man was shot in the neck and in one of his hips last week.

Officers responded to a shooting at the Super 8 by Wyndham, 117 N. Azusa Ave., around 2:23 a.m. July 15. The victim was hospitalized and is expected to recover, according to Sgt. Seth Chapman of the Azusa Police Department.

A suspect was not yet in custody at the time this interview was conducted the morning of July 21.

A motive for the shooting was not given.

Anyone with information on this shooting is urged to call Azusa Police Detective Rush at 626-812-3824.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A pursuit suspect was jailed Friday morning after fleeing Azusa officers both in the vehicle and on foot.

Danilo Gonzalez, 36, led officers on a very brief chase after he allegedly committed a vehicle code violation in the area of First Street and Cerritos Avenue around 3:37 a.m. July 16. The driver fled on foot after reportedly crashing into a parked vehicle, according to the Azusa Police Department.

The crash occurred in the area Fondale Street and Cedarglen Drive.

Gonzalez allegedly suffered what is believed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, possibly as he discarded the firearm, the Azusa Police Department said in a written statement.

It is not clear Saturday night if he did in fact suffer a gunshot wound. The arrest and booking times, as well as the time Gonzalez was released, does not reflect any hospitalization duration.

Gonzalez was reportedly issued a citation and release at 4:40 a.m. the morning of the pursuit, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

Gonzalez was booked on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm, evading arrest and several other weapons-related charges, the Azusa Police Department said.

AZUSA – Paramedics and deputies worked to save a man found not breathing on the platform of the APU/Citrus College Station Tuesday, but he was declared dead at the scene.

Deputies performing train and platform inspections around 12:12 a.m. July 14 saw the man, only described as white or Hispanic, and checked to see if he was alright, according to Ramon Montenegro, public information officer with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Transit Services Bureau.

“They saw a man on the train platform that did not appear to be moving. They checked his breathing, his pulse and there was no breathing and pulse,” Montenegro told SGV CityWatch. “They immediately called for fire paramedics. They began CPR right away. Fire paramedics got there and continued, unfortunately the man didn’t make it.”

There are no apparent signs of foul play, Montenegro told SGV CityWatch.

Train service between the Azusa Downtown Station and APU/Citrus College Station was temporarily stopped during the investigation, but has since resumed, according to the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner will determine cause of death.

AZUSA – The driver of a stolen vehicle was jailed Tuesday after refusing to stop for police and leading them on a pursuit into La Puente.

Azusa officers attempted to stop the driver of a stolen 2015 Hyundai Sonata around 7:49 p.m. in the 800 block of South Cerritos Avenue July 6, but the driver, identified as Gabriel Garcia, fled. He took the pursuit to the 210 freeway, according to Sgt. Bailey of the Azusa Police Department.

The pursuit went west on the 210 freeway, south on the 605 freeway and into El Monte on surface streets. 

Garcia allegedly sideswiped another occupied vehicle, causing mild injuries to the other driver, Bailey told SGV CityWatch.

Police continued to chase Garcia into La Puente where he fled the vehicle, leaving two passengers behind, Bailey told SGV CityWatch.

 The pursuit ended in the area of Valinda Avenue and Doublegrove Street.

Garcia allegedly ran through residential yards and over fences briefly before being caught, Bailey told SGV CityWatch.

Police booked 18-year-old Garcia, a La Mirada man, on suspicion of felony evading, unlawful taking of a vehicle, felony hit and run and resisting arrest, Bailey told SGV CityWatch.

Garcia’s two passengers were briefly detained, but released.

Garcia is being held in lieu of $75,000. He is scheduled to appear in the West Covina courthouse Thursday, July 8.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Three people were wounded by gunfire and a bullet pierced through a unit where children were sleeping at an apartment complex early Monday morning, police said.

The shooting took place in the 300 block of North Calera Avenue around 3:10 a.m. July 5. A female and two males were found wounded and were taken to an area hospital and are all expected to recover, according to the Azusa Police Department.

All three victims are stable now. One of the victims, 20 years old, was shot three times in one of his legs. His cousins, a 21-year-old female and a 17-year-old male, were shot in the thighs, according to an aunt of the victims. She asked that her name not be publicized.

The shooting reportedly happened at the front entrance of the Azusa Park Apartments, 363 N. Calera Ave.

It is unclear how many suspects may be involved in the shooting. Whoever pull the trigger fled the scene.

No arrests have been made, Azusa Police said.

Anyone with information on the shooting is urged to call Azusa police detective Jon Rush at 626-812-3252.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA – A man from Los Angeles is facing assault with a deadly weapon charges after police identified him as a suspect in a June 28 stabbing.

James Paul Williams, 39, allegedly assaulted a male at the Citrus College/APU Station, 905 N. Citrus Ave., June 28 around 3:53 a.m. The victim suffered neck and face wounds, but is expected to recover, according to the Azusa Police Department.

The suspect was gone when police arrived.

Azusa officers worked with deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Transit Services Bureau to locate evidence, identify a suspect and locate witnesses. Ultimately, Williams was pegged as a suspect, Azusa Police said.

A Transit Services deputy recognized Williams June 30 at the Citrus College/APU Station. Williams was taken into custody by the Azusa Police Department.

Williams was arrested at 2:48 a.m., according to Los Angeles County booking records and is scheduled for an appearance in the West Covina courthouse July 2.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

POMONA - The man investigators accuse of fatally beating a victim to death with a baseball bat outside an Azusa Target shopping center is scheduled for a pretrial conference and trial setting Tuesday.

Manuel Banuelos, 24, is scheduled for arraignment at Pomona Superior Court, June 29. He previously pleaded not guilty to one count of murder, according to Los Angeles County Superior Court records.

The attack occurred June 10, 2020, outside Target, 809 N. Azusa Ave. Police responded to the scene around 2:15 p.m. and found a victim bleeding from head injuries and unresponsive. After being treated at the scene, the victim was taken to a hospital where he later died, according to the Azusa Police Department.

A suspect, who prosecutors allege is Banuelos, was found nearby, chased briefly by police and taken into custody after bystanders helped officers locate him.

The victim was identified as Richard Jaimez, Jr., a 37-year-old Azusa man.

A motive for the murder remains unclear.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Officers used less-lethal rounds to try and subdue an agitated, knife-wielding man in an Azusa neighborhood Sunday, eventually shooting him dead with live rounds.

The incident unfolded in the 900 block of West Sierra Madre Avenue, June 27. Officers found the suspect armed with a large kitchen knife as they arrived to investigate a domestic dispute. Azusa officers gave multiple commands to the suspect to put down the weapon, but he refused, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

“The suspect walked in and out of his home multiple times looking frustrated and irritated.
The suspect then rushed towards officers and officers deployed less lethal munitions which were ineffective. The suspect then again charged towards officers with the knife and an officer involved shooting occurred,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau in a written statement.

Officers reportedly attempted lifesaving measures on the suspect until firefighters paramedics arrived, but the suspect died at the scene.

Anyone with information on the shooting is urge 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

AZUSA - A suspect was killed during an Azusa police shooting in an undisclosed incident early Sunday afternoon.

The shooting took place in the 900 block of W. Sierra Madre Ave. around 12:50 p.m. June 27. The suspect died at the scene.

Is not yet clear what led up to the gunfire.

All westbound traffic at Vernon Avenue and Sierra Madre Ave. is closed, according to the Azusa Police Department.

Anyone with information on the shooting is urge 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

AZUSA - A suspect accused of seriously injuring a relative and holding him against his will surrendered after keeping police at bay for hours on end Tuesday.

Police arrived to the Westgate Villa apartment complex, 563 E. Arrow Hwy., around 3:30 p.m. to a disturbance call and learned an injured man was potentially being held against his will, said Cpt. Robert Landeros of the Azusa Police Department.

The suspect was holed up in one of the second-story units.

Los Angeles County mental health evaluators assisted crisis negotiators in attempting to speak with anyone inside the unit. Covina Police and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies also assisted.

“As the incident progressed, the suspect inside was able to let the victim go. He was transported to Pomona Valley Hospital for some serious injuries,” Landeros told SGV CityWatch.

At the time of interview Tuesday night, a motive for the incident was not known.

Azusa Police used less lethal rounds, including flash bang grenades and pepper balls to get the suspect to surrender peacefully.

Residents of the apartment complex and neighbors bore witness to the attempts to capture the suspect. The loud booms of the flash bang grenades echoed throughout surrounding neighborhoods.

Smoke occasionally wafted out of the apartment unit targeted by police after they used an armored truck to shatter several windows to gain access to the unit.

No officers or other residents were injured, Landeros said.

Herman Hormel Murphy, 57, was booked on felony-level charges. He is being held in lieu of $135,000 bail ahead of a scheduled appearance in the West Covina courthouse June 24, according to Los Angeles County booking records.