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.