Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A convicted felon and gang member was taken into custody without incident March 28, accused of being armed while allegedly igniting a fire inside the Azusa Downtown Metro Station parking structure.

Van Nuys resident Mauricio Sanchez, 33, faces one count each of being a felon in possession of a firearm, being a felon in possession of ammunition and two counts of felony prior convictions under the California “Three Strikes Law,” according to Los Angeles Superior Court records.

A caller reported a man lighting an unknown object on fire inside the parking structure, 801 N. Alameda Ave., around 1 p.m. After he was detained and searched, a loaded handgun was found in a bag being carried by Sanchez, according to the Azusa Police Department in a written statement.

“Further investigation revealed that the firearm was a ghost gun, an untraceable weapon that is often assembled from parts. In addition to the firearm, officers also found narcotics paraphernalia in Sanchez’s possession,” according to the Azusa Police Department in a written statement.

Sanchez is being held in lieu of more than $1 million bail ahead of a scheduled appearance in West Covina Superior Court April 2.

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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

AZUSA - Two suspects were arrested November 27 after a reported sighting of a man with a gun led to the discovery of loaded weapon.

Officers with the Azusa Police Department Gang Unit responded to the 1000 block of West Fourth Street around 7:18 p.m. to locate a man with a gun. A high-risk traffic stop was performed on a vehicle leaving the neighborhood. The occupants of the vehicle are documented gang members, according to the Azusa Police Department.

In addition to the loaded 9mm handgun, officers found a loaded gun clip, according to the Azusa Police Department.

Paul Medina and Dennis Robert Ayon were arrested. Probation holds were placed on both suspects.

Medina, 40, and Ayon, 44, are being held in the Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles. Both men are scheduled to appear in West Covina Superior Court: Ayon on December 2, Medina on December 3, according to Los Angeles Superior Court records.

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

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Police arrested a man November 1 and reportedly discovered a weapon and ammunition tucked into a backpack he allegedly discarded during an attempted escape on foot.

Officers performing gang suppression operations at 1151 W. Arrow Hwy. around 8:18 p.m. attempted to speak with David Daniel Delgado, 36, and three other males. All four fled on foot, according to the Azusa Police Department.

Officers recovered the backpack Delgado allegedly discarded during the foot pursuit.

“Upon recovering the backpack, officers discovered a loaded short-barreled rifle along with three loaded magazines concealed inside,” according to the Azusa Police Department in a written statement.

Delgado, an Azusa man, was arrested and booked on suspicion of multiple gun-related charges, including being a prior felon in possession of a firearm, according to the Azusa Police Department.

He is being held without bail in the Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles ahead of a scheduled appearance in West Covina Superior Court Tuesday, November 5.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A 19-year-old Tijuana man accused of attempting to kill a rival gang member during a shooting in a Stater Bros. shopping center was caught July 3.

José de Jesus Martinez was detained at the same Ysidro border crossing and was held until Azusa Police detectives arrived to place him under arrest. He was booked on suspicion of attempted murder and discharging a firearm at an occupied vehicle. He is being held in lieu of $2 million bail, according to the Azusa Police Department.

The Shooting Took place April 1 in the Stater Bros. shopping center in the 1100 block of East Alosta Avenue. Officers responded around 5:39 p.m. Detectives were able to determine the suspect’s identity the night of the shooting and then learned he allegedly fled to Tijuana, Mexico. Detectives sought a warrant for Martinez’s arrest and federal border authorities were notified of the armed and dangerous fugitive’s identity, according to the Azusa Police Department.

It is not publicly clear if detectives identified any other gang member involved in the shooting and what their status is in the investigation.

Martinez is scheduled for an appearance in West Covina Superior Court Monday, July 8.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Two male teens were arrested July 12 and were booked on suspicion of attempted murder and witness intimidation, according to the Azusa Police Department.

The arrests were made as part of an ongoing investigation and effort to curb a persistent spike in deadly gang violence in the city. The department’s gang units and detectives recently gathered information leading them to a home in the 400 block of West Duell Street, according to the Azusa Police Department.

With the help of the Azusa police SWAT team, a search warrant was conducted on the Duell Street house around 11:30 p.m. July 12. Evidence was also recovered from the home.

Anyone with information on illegal gang activity in the city is urged to call the Azusa Police Department's Detective Bureau or Gang Unit at 626-812-3200. Remain anonymous 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 juvenile was wounded, but is expected to survive injuries sustained in a shooting Tuesday night.

The juvenile was shot outside of 260 E. Newburgh Street. First responders were sent to the location at 9:32 p.m., according to Jennifer Wu, Azusa Police Department public information officer.

The juvenile was hospitalized and last listed in stable condition. The identity of the suspect is reportedly still unknown.

Anyone with information on this shooting is urged to call the Azusa Police Department at 626-812-3200. Remain anonymous 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 teen gang banger is facing a slew of charges after attempting to ditch his firearm while running from police March 27.

The teen gangbanger ran from a vehicle which refused to initially stop for police who sought the driver for a vehicle code violation near Arrow Highway and Citrus Avenue around 7:50 p.m. Monday, according to the Azusa Police Department.

The vehicle stopped outside of 717 E. Arrow Hwy. before the teen ran.

“A male passenger fled from the front passenger seat and ran from officers while visibly holding a firearm in his hands. As an Azusa Police Officer gave chase, the suspect threw the firearm nearby and he was safely detained,” according to the Azusa Police Department in a written statement.

The teen was booked on suspicion of firearms related charges, including resisting delaying, or obstructing a peace officer.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

CITRUS - Two suspects, one of them armed with a handgun, reportedly harassed a pedestrian near Rockvale Avenue and the 210 freeway in unincorporated Azusa Saturday morning.

The suspects, both described as being 18 years old, came across the victim around 11 a.m., on the Rockvale Avenue pedestrian bridge over the 210 freeway March 4. One suspect reportedly lifted his shirt to brandish a handgun tucked in his waistband, according to Sgt. Berner of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s San Dimas Station.

One of the suspects asked the victim where she was from, according to a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s radio broadcast.

The victim left the area to get away from the suspects. The crime wasn’t reported until later in the afternoon Saturday, Berner told SGV CityWatch.

Both suspects stood around 5 feet 8 inches and appeared to weigh around 100 pounds each, Berner told SGV CityWatch.

The radio broadcast additionally described both suspects as wearing blue jean pants and black shirts. One suspect wore a red hat.

Azusa has been saturated in recent months with much gun violence.

Two Azusa High School students were arrested March 3 and one student was found carrying a handgun.

A juvenile suffered a leg wound after being shot in the 200 block of East Newburgh Street February 27.

A man was found wounded by gunfire inside a home in the 200 block of North Dalton Avenue Saturday February 4.

A man was wounded by gunfire outside a liquor store in the 200 block of North Azusa Avenue December 11.

Two teen brothers were shot, one fatally, in the 600 block of North Donna Beth Avenue December 6.

An 18-year-old driver was shot as he live-streamed his own murder December 5 in the 17700 block of East Newburgh Street.

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.