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

AZUSA - The community is grappling with the shocking and senseless death of an aspiring 17-year-old athlete, artist and cheerleader who was murdered Friday night.

Angelina Gonzales was identified by school officials and family members in the hours after her death.

Gonzales was stabbed in the 300 block of North Soldano Avenue December 20. She died at a hospital. The 18-year-old suspect is in custody, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

“Angelina was an exceptional young woman whose talents and energy touched the lives of so many around her,” according to a statement from the Azusa Unified School District. “Angelina was a bright light in the classroom and a dedicated member of the cheer squad and wrestling team, where she demonstrated incredible spirit and determination.”

In June, Gonzales earned first place recognition in the Congressional Art Competition. Her work is currently displayed in the U.S. Capitol. Her artwork also won the Judge’s Choice Award in 2022.

Angelina was headed for college after graduation. Her family and friends have the arduous task of grieving over her death while attempting to pick up the pieces and move forward with celebrating her life.

“Angelina was so much more than her achievements. She was a light in all our lives—a kind, loving, and vibrant soul who brought joy, laughter, and love wherever she went. Her smile lit up every room, and her determination inspired everyone around her. She had big dreams, a big heart, and an even bigger impact on her family, friends, and community,” according to a statement published on the family’s gofundme page.

>>DONATE HERE

The Azusa Unified School District is offering social-emotional support district families through Care Solace.

>>ACCESS RESOURCES HERE

The Suspected murderer, 18-year-old Daniel Rodriguez, was arrested December 21 and remains in custody in the Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles. He is being held in lieu of $2 million bail ahead of a scheduled appearance in West Covina Superior Court December 24.

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 - A woman discovered suffering from stab wounds died after she was taken to a hospital Friday night.

The wounded woman was found in the 300 block of North Soldano Avenue around 10 p.m. December 20. First responders were sent to the location on a reported assault with a deadly weapon, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

It is unclear if homicide detectives have identified a suspect, or a motive for the stabbing.

Anyone with information on this stabbing 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 - A man was left in serious condition after being stabbed by two suspects during a verbal dispute inside a liquor store Tuesday afternoon.

The stabbing took place at Benny’s Liquor, 208 N. Azusa Ave., April 11. The man fled to a nearby dental office and told people inside that he had been stabbed. First responders were called just after 4 p.m., according to the Azusa Police Department.

The man was stabbed in the left abdomen and left arm. He was taken to a trauma center.

Before he was transported, Azusa officers spoke to the victim who revealed he was stabbed by two suspects during a verbal dispute inside of Benny’s Liquor.

90 minutes after the stabbing, officers located one suspect nearby and arrested him. A second suspect was arrested shortly after. A third suspect was also found and arrested, according to the Azusa Police Department.

Wade Carney, 52, was arrested at 5:42 p.m. He was booked on suspicion of attempted murder. He is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles.

Manuel Bracamonte, 55, was arrested at 7:46 p.m. He was also booked on suspicion of attempted murder. He is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Azusa Police jail.

Also arrested was Ashley Jean Bracamonte, 36. She was arrested at 5:23 p.m. and booked on suspicion of being an accessory after the fact. She is being held in lieu of $20,000 bail at the Azusa Police jail.

​All three suspects are scheduled to appear at the West Covina courthouse Thursday, April 13.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

LOS ANGELES – A man found dead in a park June 3 was identified recently and suffered other injuries.

Transient Gerardo Vega, 50, suffered from head trauma, a stab wound of the neck and gunshot wound of the abdomen, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

Vega’s death was ruled a homicide.

A passerby en route to work discovered Vega down and un responsive at the Azusa Rockery, 1350 Mountain View Cir., around 7:43 a.m. June 3.

It is not publicly clear if Sheriff’s Homicide investigators identified a suspect.

Azusa Rockery is a half-acre geology interpretive park nestled in an area north of an industrial complex and is adjacent to the San Gabriel River Bike Path.

AZUSA - A woman is recovering from her wounds after a knife-wielding suspect attacked her in front of the woman’s children outside of a park May 11, police said.

The attack occurred before 8 p.m. after a woman and her two children left Edwards Park, 600 N. Azusa Ave. They left after a suspicious looking person, later identified as Phoenix resident Brianna Hallquist, began staring at her children uncomfortably, according to the Azusa Police Department.

“A female adult approached the children and began looking at them as they played.  The victim became nervous and immediately left the park with her children and began to walk southbound on Azusa Ave.,” according to the Azusa Police Department in a written statement.

The suspect then followed the woman and her two minor children as they left the park and walked south to the 500 block of North Azusa Avenue. The suspect then began demanding that the woman give her her daughter back.

The suspect then threatened to harm the woman if she did not surrender her daughter. The suspect then stabbed the woman in the upper torso, according to the Azusa Police Department.

Bystanders rushed to the woman’s aid. The suspect fled on foot but police quickly apprehended her.

The woman suffered injuries considered not life-threatening.

The children were on the injured and were released to the custody of their father at the scene, Azusa Police said.

Hallquist, 23, was booked on suspicion of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and making criminal threats, the Azusa Police Department said.

Hallquist is being held in lieu of $1 million bail ahead of appearance in the West Covina courthouse May 13.​

AZUSA - A reported stabbing victim was transported to a hospital Thursday afternoon.

The incident took place in the 400 block of North Dalton Avenue around 5:13 p.m. Azusa Police called firefighters to respond to the scene, according to to Dispatch Supervisor Bernard Peter of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Police informed firefighters that the victim was stabbed, but Peters could not verify the veracity of the report and deferred further questions to the Azusa Police Department.

Azusa Police supervisors were unavailable for phone calls seeking additional information.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Police and Sheriff’s homicide investigators are trying to learn The circumstances surrounding the death of a man found with at least one gunshot wound Wednesday morning.

Police responded to an apartment complex in the 1100 block of East Hollyvale Street before 4:30 a.m. December 25 and discovered the wounded man, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

Firefighters were called to the scene at 4:27 a.m. to a gunshot victim but did not transport a victim, according to dispatch supervisor Michael Pitman of the Los Angeles county fire department.

The victim died at the scene, the Sheriff’s Information Bureau said.

Detectives with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau are in route to assist Azusa Police with an investigation.

The victim is only described as a Hispanic man.

Anyone with information on the shooting is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously by calling L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or with the P3 Tips mobile app.

AZUSA - A semi driver received injuries considered not life-threatening after allegedly being stabbed by his passenger near the 210 freeway November 30.

Azusa Police were called around 7 p.m. to East First Street off near the Azusa Avenue off ramp. The semi crashed for unspecified reasons on the westbound 210 freeway and then exited onto surface streets where a fight between the driver and a passenger began, according to Sgt. Jason Poulos of the Azusa Police Department.