LOS ANGELES – Two suspects have been arrested, accused of gunning down a 16-year-old and wounding a 13-year-old in a recent spate of gun violence in Azusa.

Covina resident Kimberly Salazar, 18, and a publicly unidentified 16-year-old were arrested recently. Both were formally charged with one count each of murder, attempted murder and shooting at an inhabited dwelling, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Salazar was arrested one day after the shooting, which occurred December 6 in the 600 block of North Donna Beth Avenue just before 3:30 p.m.

The teen brothers wounded in the shooting were both hospitalized where the 16-year-old, identified by family as Alexander Padilla, died.

Salazar is being held in the Century Regional Detention Facility in lieu of more than $3 million bail, according to Los Angele County booking records.

Both suspects are scheduled to appear for a court appearance in Pomona January 11, 2023.

LOS ANGELES – An 18-year-old driver who was shot while streaming on Instagram Live was recently identified.

Benjamin Matthew Caranchini died from a gunshot wound to the chest. The manner of death was homicide, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

Caranchini was shot near the intersection of East Newburgh Street and North Donna Beth Avenue just before 10 a.m. December 5. Caranchini sped away from the scene east on Newburgh Street, eventually crashing into a parked truck which then struck a parked car.

Caranchini has had run-ins with law enforcement in the past. Most recently, he was arrested by Azusa Police July 31, 2022.

Caranchini was also arrested July 22, 2022 along with two other suspects. All three were implicated in a November 11, 2021 attempted murder case. Caranchini pleaded not guilty to one count of carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle or in public. He was scheduled to appear in the West Covina courthouse December 14.

Suspect Luis Manuel Barragan pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempted murder and one count of shooting at an inhabited dwelling. Amadeo Herrera, 19, pleaded not guilty to one count of being an accessory after the fact for allegedly harboring a suspect of a felony crime, according to Los Angeles Superior Court records.

Azusa Police investigated a shooting at East Newburgh Street and North Donna Beth Avenue Nov. 11, 2021 that left one victim with injuries considered not life-threatening.

AZUSA – A man was wounded and fled to his home after a possible gang shooting Sunday night.

The shooting occurred in the parking lot of Benny’s Liquor, 208 N. Azusa Ave., around 9:46 p.m. An officer on patrol roughly half a mile northeast of the convenience store heard gunfire and a search began. Multiple calls of gunfire led officers to the scene, according to Sgt. Brandon Bailey of the Azusa Police Department.

The victim was eventually found at his home after he called to report he had been shot. He reportedly did not return fire after being shot in the liquor store lot, Bailey told SGV CityWatch.

There was no suspect description provided.

This shooting is the third in the month of December.

An 18-year-old man was shot while driving and the shooting was recorded live as the man streamed on Instagram December 5 near the 17700 block of East Newburgh Street. He died after being hospitalized.

One day later, 16-year-old Alexander Padilla was shot along with a 13-year-old friend in the 600 block of South Donna Beth Avenue in the same general area where the December 5 shooting occurred. The 17-year-old also died after being hospitalized.

​School, city and law enforcement officials are planning to hold a community meeting December 21 to address the surging violence.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A community meeting has been planned for later in December for city officials, law enforcement and school officials to help residents address surging gun violence that has claimed two young lives in as many days in an Azusa neighborhood.

The community meeting is scheduled for December 21 at 6:30 p.m. at Foothill Community Church, 777 E. Alosta Ave. The meeting will be held in coordination with the Azusa Police Department , Azusa Unified School District and local public officials, according to the city of Azusa in a written statement.

“The city is working closely with the Azusa Unified School District and County partners to facilitate resources and provide support for the community and our local families and are preparing For a local dialogue later this month, according to Azusa Mayor Robert Gonzales.

A young man driving a vehicle was shot in the area of East Newburgh Street and North Donna Beth Avenue just before 10 a.m. Monday, December 5. During his escape, the driver crashed into a parked truck which then slammed into a parked car. The driver died after being hospitalized.

One day later, two teenagers were shot just before 3:30 p.m. in the 600 block of North Donna Beth Avenue, which is roughly one block north of where the December 5 shooting occurred. Both teenagers were taken to a trauma center where one of them died.

Investigators have not yet publicly revealed if the shootings are related to each other, or definitive motives.

Anyone with information on these shootings is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Provide information anonymously by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app or lacrimestoppers.org.

For more information on the December 21 community meeting, visit the City of Azusa website, or call the Azusa city manager’s office at 626-812-5200.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A male juvenile was shot and later died Tuesday, the most recent victim in ongoing violence in an Azusa neighborhood.

First responders were sent to North Donna Beth Avenue south of East Renwick Avenue just before 3:30 p.m. December 6. At least two victims were found. It is unclear if anyone else was wounded, according to dispatch supervisor Bernard Peters of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

A unidentified male juvenile died after being taken to a hospital, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

It is unclear if a suspect is in custody, or if investigators have identified any suspects.

The shooting is the latest in continuing violence in a neighborhood that saw a young driver shot while eastbound on Newburgh Street from North Donna Beth Avenue just two days prior. That driver, who still remains unidentified, was shot at least once and crashed while fleeing at high speed through the neighborhood.

Strangely enough, this December 6 shooting occurred likely in the same area where the driver was shot December 5.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A man found seated in a crashed vehicle, suffering from a gunshot later died at a hospital, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said Monday.

Azusa Police officers were called to a traffic collision in the 17700 block of East Newburgh Street just before 10 a.m. December 5. The unidentified victim, only described as being 18 to 25 years old, was found suffering at least one gunshot, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

KTLA 5 reporters discovered Facebook video from the man who was shot. He was on a livestream as he drove east on Newburgh Street. A single shot struck the man and his vehicle careened head on into a parked truck.

An initial report provided to the California Highway Patrol indicated that at least one or more of the vehicles involved in the crash had caught on fire. First responders began providing CPR to the man who was shot before he was transported to a local hospital.

Investigators believe that the shooting occurred near the intersection of East Newburgh Street and North Donna Beth Avenue, roughly one block west of where the crash occurred.

Either investigators do not know where the shot came from, or have not yet publicly revealed information leading to a suspect.

Anyone with information on this shooting is urged to call the Los Angeles county sheriffs homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Remain anonymous by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.