Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Investigators are trying to determine the cause of death of a man found near a footbridge and the 210 freeway Tuesday.

First responders were sent to the footbridge in the 5900 block of Rockvale Avenue around 4:22 p.m. Tuesday, August 27. The body appears to be away from the actual footbridge walkway and amongst the trees and bushes.

A Los Angeles County fire department paramedic declared the man dead at 4:34 p.m. The man is only described as being white, and between 50 to 60 years old, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The man was found laying on what was described as a makeshift mattress. Preliminarily, there does not appear to be any foul play, according to the CHP.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Homicide detectives are on scene of a fatal shooting Friday.

First responders were sent to the 200 block of North San Gabriel Avenue around 5:30 a.m. August 9. The victim was taken to a hospital where they later died, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

It is unclear if investigators identified a suspect or motive.

San Gabriel Avenue between West Third Street and West Second Street remains closed.

Anyone with information on this shooting 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.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Two juveniles and an adult were arrested, accused of being involved in the shooting death of a 62-year-old man January 31.

Jiovanni Ruiz, a 21-year-old Covina man, and one of the juveniles were officially charged by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office with one count each of murder.

Ruiz was arrested May 9. It is not publicly clear when the other juveniles, a resident of Covina and the other, a resident of Azusa, were arrested.

First responders were sent to a mobile gas station, 145 N. Azusa Ave., on a report of a shooting victim around 9 PM January 31.

The 62-year-old victim was found down and unconscious. He was treated by paramedics at the scene and transported to a hospital, where he later died, according to the Azusa Police Department.

It is not publicly clear if detectives have determined a motive for the shooting.

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 - Investigators are asking for public assistance in providing information regarding a fire that gutted the cafeteria of a shuttered elementary school Friday.

Investigators ultimately deemed the fire at Mountain View Elementary school, 201 N. Vernon Ave., as arson. Beyond that, the Azusa Police Department has not provided any details regarding a possible suspect description, if one exists.

District employees were on campus at the time, but it is unclear if any of those employees witnessed the start of the fire.

The cafeteria was being used to store furniture, according to radio traffic from the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Firefighters were dispatched to the school at 7:16 p.m. Friday, June 7. They discovered heavy smoke and flames coming from the cafeteria and initiated an aggressive fire attack to limit the damage. Knockdown was called at 8:06 p.m., according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Mountain View was one of two campuses closed for the 2019-20 school year as a cost-saving measure to grapple with declining enrollment district wide.

Anyone with information on this fire is urged to call the Azusa Police Department Detective Bureau 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

LOS ANGELES - The 15-year-old boy killed after being shot April has been identified.

Aldo Ramirez died from a gunshot wound to his torso. His death is listed as a homicide, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner.

First responders were sent to the 300 block of South O’Malley Avenue around 8:45 p.m. Saturday, April 13. Ramirez was treated at the scene and then taken to a hospital where he died, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

What led to the shooting has not been shared by investigators.

A gofundme was created to help with funeral expenses.

Anyone with information on this shooting is urged to call the 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.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A gunshot victim died at a hospital after being found shot in a neighborhood.

First responders were sent to the 300 block of South O’Malley Avenue around 8:45 p.m. Saturday, April 13. The victim was treated at the scene and then taken to a hospital where he died, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

No other details are publicly available.

Anyone with information on this shooting is urged to call the 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.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A dark-colored car, possibly a Honda Civic, was captured on surveillance camera speeding away from the scene of a fatal crash January 19.

The car was northbound on Irwindale Avenue in the No. 2 lane just before 10 p.m. when it struck a pedestrian who was in the crosswalk at Roosevelt Street. The pedestrian died at the scene and the vehicle left northbound without stopping, according to the Azusa police department.

​Avondale, Arizona man John Sigala, 61, was identified as the victim. He died of multiple blunt trauma, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner.

Anyone with information on this fatal crash is urged to call Traffic Investigator K. McMath at 626-812-3200 reference case # 24-02201. 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 male was found dead in traffic lanes on Irwindale Avenue Friday night, the victim of an apparent hit and run.

Multiple callers reported the victim to first responders, who were sent to Irwindale Avenue and Jackson Street just before 10 p.m. January 19. The victim was only described as a 61|year-old male, according to the Azusa Police Department.

The vehicle, only described as a compact with possible Major front end and windshield damage, was last seen northbound on Irwindale Avenue.

Anyone who can identify the vehicle and driver is urged to call the Azusa Police Department at 626-812-3200.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A man was shot in the leg and is expected to survive his injuries Sunday night.

First responders were called around 8:06 p.m. and sent to the 300 block of South Pasadena Ave. on a reported shooting. One victim was found, according to the Azusa Police Department.

South Pasadena Avenue between East Russell Street and East Mason Street remains closed as officers process the scene. Evidence markers were placed on the road, identifying either where shell casings or possibly blood drops fell to the ground.

Anyone with information on this shooting is urged to call the Azusa police departments 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

LOS ANGELES - All three men killed in a horrific crash involving speeding motorcycles were identified recently.

Motorcyclists Brandon Mendoza, 31, and Gabriel Abarca, 23, Where are identified by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner. Both men died of blunt trauma injuries. Bystander Marcos Loera, 22, died of blunt head trauma.

The deadly crash was dispatched just after 4 p.m. Wednesday, October 4.

Authorities reported that two motorcycles were traveling eastbound on Arrow Highway at high speed when the crash occurred in the intersection at Cerritos Avenue.

Four other vehicles were struck by the motorcycles. The collision ejected both riders. One rider died at the scene in the intersection. The other was thrown roughly 100 feet eastbound onto a sidewalk and later died at a trauma center. One of the motorcycles went airborne and struck Loera who was with a girlfriend standing on a sidewalk.

Loera died at the scene. As authorities continued to set up the crime scene in the minutes after in the crash, a woman beside herself with grief was seen embracing Loera’s body on a patch of grass. A mangled motorcycle sat twisted nearly one hundred feet ahead of them.

Pieces of the second motorcycle involved landed at a nearby 76 gas station.

Investigators with the Azusa Police Department believe that both motorcycle riders were traveling around 90 miles per hour at the time of the crash.