Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - A man accused of brandishing a handgun at a train operator was located and arrested July 19.

The incident unfolded on the Metro A-Line tracks between Irwindale and Azusa. The train operator saw the suspect and a companion on the tracks. The operator sounded the horn at the duo.

“When the operator activated the train horn to alert the suspect to move, the suspect pulled a handgun from his waistband and pointed it at the operator,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Transit Services Bureau.

The suspect fled the area, but was later located, identified and arrested, according to the Transit Services Bureau.

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 burglary suspects were taken into custody July 16, allegedly found with iPads and random construction equipment taken from Duarte High School.

Both suspects were tracked through the stolen iPads to a vacant business in Azusa, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Temple Station.

Entry was forced into a storage container at Duarte High School, 1565 Central Ave., between 4 p.m. July 15 and 6 a.m. July 16, according to the Sheriff’s Temple Station.

The Azusa Police Department was notified at 6:44 a.m. July 16 that the signal from the stolen iPads was tracked to a vacant business in the city.

“The suspects refused to allow Officers entry into the business and a search warrant was served. Azusa PD Officers recovered the stolen property,” according to the Azusa Police Department in a written statement.

Talia Martinez and William Avetyan of North Hollywood were both arrested.

Los Angeles county booking information is not available for either suspect.

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 man was shot Wednesday night and died from his wounds after being hospitalized.

Residents reported hearing a hail of gunfire just after 9 p.m. January 31. First Responders were sent to the 100 block of North Azusa Avenue to investigate the gunfire and found a victim with wounds to his upper torso, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

Investigators apparently have no suspect information. It is not publicly clear if a motive was established, or if more than one firearm was used in the shooting.

The crime appeared to take place between the Mobil gas station and a carwash just north of 1st Street. Yellow evidence markers dotted the asphalt to the east and west of the gas station.

Two bicycles were left discarded near the gas station and carwash.

Across Azusa Avenue to the east, an officer meticulously searched the lawn of the adjacent Azusa Health Center for spent shell casings or bullets.

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 L.A. 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 man was shot and found dead in a neighborhood that has become a hotbed of shootings and murders within the last year.

First responders arrived to the 200 block of East Newburgh Street around 11 p.m. Friday, June 9 and found three victims. The two surviving victims were taken to a hospital, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

It is unclear if investigators have determined a suspect, or motive.

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 - Police found no evidence of gunfire, but their search did yield a man who was sought since December on a warrant for a number of alleged crimes.

Officers initially descended upon the Sycamore Park Apartments, 1151 W. Arrow Hwy., near Vincent Avenue before 5 p.m. on a report of potential gunfire coming from one of the apartment units April 2. Officers did not locate evidence of gunfire, but did find the suspect they have been seeking for months.

Roy M. Garcia, 66, was taken into custody after initially refusing to surrender to officers. After being told gunfire was coming from within the complex, Azusa officers called mutual aid assistance from Glendora Police and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

A Sheriff’s helicopter circled overhead, a deputy’s voice boomed from a loudspeaker, ordering Garcia to surrender.

Garcia was sought on suspicion of criminal threats, brandishing a weapon or firearm, committing a hate crime and resisting, delaying, or obstructing an officer, crimes allegedly committed December 27, 2022.

Garcia is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail ahead of a scheduled appearance in the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles ahead of a scheduled appearance in the West Covina Courthouse April 4.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

LOS ANGELES - Coroner investigators revealed the cause of death of a man found face down and naked off of the side of a mountain road above Azusa February 13.

Christian Peña, 24, died of a gunshot wound to the leg. The death was ruled a homicide, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

A passerby saw the naked body face down in the dirt off to the side of the 2000 block of San Gabriel Canyon Road just before 6:30 a.m. February 13.

Detectives believe that Peña was shot elsewhere and dumped along the mountain road after detectives were unable to find any shell casings, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau.

Investigators did not have a California ID for Peña, but noted that he last listed New York as his state of residence.

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.