Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Homicide detectives announced the arrest of a man accused of murdering his parents inside their Azusa home.

Gabriel Contreras, a 29-year-old Azusa man, allegedly committed the March 15 murder of parents Linda Rodriguez and Arthur Contreras.

Gabriel Contreras was arrested March 19 and booked at the Azusa Police Department jail.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office officially filed two counts each of murder and assault with a firearm, according to the Sheriff’s Department, although the cause of death for both parents was the result of “multiple sharp force injuries,” according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner.

Contreras is being held in lieu of $2 million bail at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles ahead of a scheduled appearance in Pomona Superior Court Friday, March 21.

A gofundme was established to help with funeral costs and living expenses for those left behind.

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The arrest record in this article is being redistributed by SGV CityWatch and is protected by constitutional, publishing and other legal rights. Arrest information is public record and was distributed by government sources. The person named in this article has only been arrested on suspicion of the crime(s) listed and is presumed innocent.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

UPDATE, 9:02 p.m.: One person remains hospitalized in critical condition suffering from apparent knife wounds after emerging from a home, the scene of a double homicide Saturday.

Police initially responded to the home in the 300 block of North Twintree Avenue around 2 p.m. Police dispatchers were told of a possible domestic fight and the sound of screaming.

“Officers made entry to the location and discovered a male adult and female adult suffering from numerous apparent knife wounds. Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel responded and pronounced the individuals in the home deceased,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in a written statement.

A suspect was identified, investigators said, but haven’t clearly stated if the suspect was the man currently hospitalized.

Anyone with information on this incident is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s 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.


PREVIOUS - A man and woman were killed at a residence Saturday.

The deaths occurred in the 300 block of North Twintree Avenue March 15. First responders were sent to the scene around 2 p.m.

While the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s homicide detectives haven’t revealed much else, this was potentially also a barricade situation.

One person, potentially the suspect, may have been transported from the scene.

A dramatic photo sent to SGV CityWatch showing Azusa Police officers with weapons aimed at the home.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Investigators announced the arrest of a man accused of stabbing to death a 17-year-old girl in Azusa.

The 18-year-old suspect is an Azusa resident and acquaintance of the teen, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The suspect’s name is not readily available.

Azusa Police officers responded to an assault with a deadly weapon call around 10 p.m. in the 300 block of North Soldano Avenue December 20. The 17-year-old victim was transported to a hospital for treatment where she died.

The circumstances leading to the suspect’s arrest have not been disclosed.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - At least one victim was wounded Monday in a shooting in an area that was recently plagued by gun violence.

First responders were dispatched to the 200 block of East Newburgh Street near Donna Bath Avenue around 5:36 p.m. Monday, February 27. The trauma patient was taken to a hospital for a treatment, according to Dispatch Supervisor Michael Pickett of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Information from the Azusa Police Department was limited at the time this story was launched. It is believed that police will be out at the scene investigating for at least a few hours.

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 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 series of threatening messages sent to Azusa Pacific University Wednesday afternoon has forced authorities to recommend evacuations at fellow campuses across Southern California Wednesday.

Evacuations have been ordered for APU regional campuses in Monrovia, Orange County, Los Angeles, the Inland Empire, the High Desert, Murietta and San Diego, according to the Azusa Pacific University Campus Safety department.

Students currently inside on-campus housing are asked to shelter in place. Students who are not on campus are asked to stay away from the area.

Threatening messages were sent to the Azuza Pacific University campus Wednesday afternoon. At least one of those messages contained a possible bomb threat.

Traffic around the Azusa Pacific campuses is being redirected away from the University.

​It is not yet clear if investigators have identified the source of the messages.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Firefighters have just stopped forward progress of a 50-foot-by-50-foot spot fire at the base of the foothills on the border with Duarte Friday morning.

The fire is burning near the end of Encanto Parkway north of Huntington Drive, south of the long defunct Azusa Gun Club, according to the Los Angeles county fire department.

The fire is burning in medium fuels in the riverbed.

A full brushfire response was initially requested by the Los Angeles county fire department, but a battalion chief has canceled a request for aircraft and for bulldozers and is confident that ground crews currently on scene can handle the fire.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - The man sought for allegedly igniting the 2,256-acre Ranch 2 Fire turned himself in to police Sunday.

Osmin Palencia, 36, surrendered himself to Azusa officers, according to the Azusa Police Department in a written statement.

Investigators from the Los Angeles County Fire Department and Azusa Police quickly learned after the fire erupted that arson was to blame. Police did not state how Palencia became a suspect.

Palencia is a transient who lives In the San Gabriel riverbed near where the fire erupted, Azusa Police said.

Booking information for Palencia was not readily available.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Police and Fire investigators are looking for a man they say is connected to the fast-moving Ranch Fire.

Los Angeles County Fire Department arson investigators and Azusa officers immediately worked to determine the origin of the fire and deemed it as arson, according to the Azusa Police Department.

Osmin Palencia is a 36-year-old transient who lives in the San Gabriel riverbed near the origin of the Ranch Fire. Palenica is said to have violent tendencies and people should use caution if they see him, Azusa Police said.

Anyone with information on Palencia’s whereabouts is urged to call the Azusa Police Department at 626-812-3200.