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.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - The cavalry was called in Friday as officers from nearby agencies assisted the Azusa Police Department in serving a multi-location search warrant.

The operation netted 13 arrests and the seizure of illegal handguns and other evidence related to various gang crimes. Those arrested face charges ranging from probation violations to conspiracy to commit murder, according to the Azusa Police Department.

“Names, locations, and evidence found are withheld due to an ongoing investigation by this department,” according to the Azusa Police Department in a written statement.

The Azusa Police Department’s Detective Bureau and Crime Suppression Team served the search warrant.

Assisting were police departments from El Monte, West Covina, Glendora, Pomona, La Verne, Covina, Glendale, Irwindale, Beverly Hills, Foothills Special Enforcement Team and County of Los Angeles Probation Department.

Anyone with information regarding illegal gang activity is urged to call the Azusa Police Department’s Detective Bureau or Crime Suppression Team at 626-812-3200.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A man allegedly spray painting graffiti in an Azusa neighborhood Thursday was the target of gunfire, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The unidentified victim was found by Azusa Police officers in the 200 block of South Noble Place, June 2 around 3:23 p.m. He was transported to a hospital and died the next day, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Investigators later identified two suspects in the shooting and both are now in custody. Their names have not been publicly released.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Nine law enforcement organizations, led by the Azusa Police Department, targeted eight homes in an ongoing investigation into a shooting that left a teen injured March 17.

Several people ended up arrested after the 5 a.m. raid April 16 and multiple firearms were seized. The eight homes targeted in the search warrant reportedly housed a number of Sentinel Boys gang members and their associates, according to the Azusa Police Department.

The shooting occurred St. Patrick’s Day in the 500 block of North Dalton Avenue just before 10 p.m. A juvenile was injured and required extensive medical treatment, according to the Azusa Police Department.

A resident was nearby and heard the gun fire erupt on Dalton Avenue. The suspect or suspects fled west in a vehicle towards Alameda Avenue from the 500 block of North Dalton, then additional gun fire was heard.

The huge multi-agency response included the Glendale Police Department, Arcadia Police, Pomona Police, El Monte Police, West Covina Police, Irwindale Police, Covina Police, Glendora Police and the Foothills Special Enforcement Team.

A 17-year-old Azusa resident was arrested. He was booked on suspicion of unlawful possession of a firearm, resisting or deterring police, possession of a high-capacity magazine, possession of an undetectable firearm, resisting, delaying, or obstructing an officer and vandalism. A weapon seized at the juvenile’s location was an unregistered ghost gun, Azusa Police said.

21-year-old Abraham Garcia, from Riverside, was arrested and booked on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm and a probation violation. Officers seized a Smith and Wesson model 34 22-caliber revolver, Azusa Police said.

Another ghost gun was also seized, located at a third home known to house Sentinel Boys gang members, Azusa police said.

“This investigation reemphasizes the Azusa Police Department’s commitment to curbing violent crime and reducing gang crime in the City of Azusa,” Azusa Police said in a written statement.

Anyone with information on these crimes is urged to call the Azusa Police Department at 626-812-3200.