Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

DUARTE - The person of interest detained after a man died from an altercation in Duarte Wednesday was released pending further investigation, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The death stemmed from a neighbor intervening in a fight between a man and woman who detectives said were in a prior dating relationship. Deputies from the Sheriff’s Temple Station were called to a house in a 2500 block of Maynard Drive around 6:49 p.m. June 26 to a domestic assault call.

During the intervention, the man grabbed a tire iron from a nearby vehicle. The neighbor and the man got into a struggle. The man was subdued by the neighbor and taken to the ground. Deputies arrived and found the man unconscious. He was taken to a hospital where he later died, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Everyone involved in this incident know each other. The incident is being handled as a death investigation, the Sheriff’s Department said.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

DUARTE - A man hospitalized Wednesday evening later died from his suspicious injuries, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

A person of interest was detained at the scene in the 2500 block of Maynard Drive. First responders were sent to the home around 6:49 p.m., according to Sheriff’s Homicide investigators.

Detectives have yet to elaborate on the nature of the initial response to the home, nor a possible motive in this suspicious death.

Anyone with information on this incident 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

LOS ANGELES - Homicide detectives are still searching for the suspect or suspects responsible for gunning down a man in a residential driveway last year.

Fidel Padilla, 32, was shot and killed in the driveway at 1018 Kellwil Way in Duarte October 16, 2023, around 1:40 a.m. A vehicle was caught on surveillance camera speeding from the location.

All detectives could release was a blurry still frame of the vehicle fleeing the crime scene.

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

DUARTE - A fatal shooting occurred in a residential area of Duarte early Monday morning.

First responders were called to the 1000 block of Kellwil Way around 1:44 a.m. Monday, October 16. The victim, only described as a male adult, was declared dead at the scene.

No other information is readily available.

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

DUARTE - A man was found dead in a hotel room Wednesday afternoon.

A staff member of the Hotel Huntington, 1200 Huntington Dr., opened the room to find the man unresponsive. He was declared dead at the scene, according to Lt. Kearney of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Temple Station.

First responders were sent to the location around 12:25 p.m. The staff member reported that the victim was not breathing and not responding, Kearney told SGV CityWatch.

Deputies on scene were unable to contact next of kin and turned that task over to the Homicide Bureau. Because detectives could not notify next of kin in time, coroner investigators were called to pick up the body, Kearny told SGV CityWatch.

The man has since been identified as Sandon Scott Larson, 37, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner.

Larson’s cause of death has been deferred pending additional investigation.

There were no signs of foul play, Kearney told SGV CityWatch.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

DUARTE - Detectives have yet to reveal the possible circumstances leading to a man’s death Tuesday morning.

The unidentified man died at the scene in the 3200 block of Hacienda Drive. Homicide detectives are assisting Azusa Police with the investigation, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The unspecified incident occurred at 10 a.m.

No other information is available.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

DUARTE - City officials just announced the death of Mayor Pro Tem Tzeitel Paras-Caracci.

Caracci, 49, died after a battle with fourth-stage lung cancer June 25 at her home. She was surrounded by family, according to the City of Duarte.

Caracci endured a three-year battle with cancer. She credited her longevity to the doctors at City of Hope National Medical Center, according to the City of Duarte.

A Philippines native and Duarte High School graduate, Caracci was first elected to Duarte City of Council in 2001. She served as mayor in 2006, 2011, 2015 and 2019.

During her time as a public servant, Caracci also served on a number of local boards and organizations, such as the League of California Cities, director for the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, Foothill Transit board member, Duarte Community Coordinating Council and was elected by her colleagues to the National League of Cities Board of Directors, according to the City of Duarte.

Caracci recently served as president of the Asian Pacific American Municipal Officials. She also initiated the Mayor’s Youth Council.

“We have suffered a huge loss in our city and I am profoundly saddened as Tzeitel was an immensely capable member of our Council, as well as a great personal friend to me, as well as many others. Her smile and energy were infectious, and it was an honor to serve on Council with her,” said Mayor Margaret Finlay. “On behalf of the Council and City Staff, we express our condolences to her family and offer our full support in this time of need.”

Caracci is survived by her parents, Lino and Russel Paras, husband, K.C. Caracci, stepdaughter Blake Caracci, son, Jack Russell, her brothers Bertrand and John Paul George and their wives.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking those that wish to honor Tzeitel Paras-Caracci to donate to the City of Hope.

Read the full city statement here.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

DUARTE - A man died Thursday night, the apparent victim of a stabbing that investigators believe occurred in Duarte.

Investigators do not yet have a motive or a suspect description in the stabbing, which they believe occurred in the 2500 block of Millbrae Avenue, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

Deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Temple Station were notified around 8:45 p.m. of a stabbing victim admitted to a local hospital February 4. The preliminary investigation led deputies to an address on Millbrae Avenue, the Sheriff’s Information Bureau said.

The stabbing victim, only described as an adult Hispanic man, died at the hospital.

Anyone with information on this stabbing is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.

DUARTE – A man was found dead from in a Duarte neighborhood early Tuesday.
 
The incident was reported at 3:37 a.m. at Goodall Avenue and Euclid Avenue. The unidentified victim was reported dead at the scene, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

Deputies have yet to disclose the possible type of injuries the victim received.
 
Anyone with information on the death is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously 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

DUARTE - Firefighters pulled the dead body of a man from a mangled mess of electrical equipment Friday morning.

The man was likely electrocuted at a construction site at 1700 Business Center Dr. just before 7 a.m. April 3. The man’s body was found inside an energized substation, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Firefighters believe the man was electrocuted during an attempted copper wire theft overnight.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department Urban Search and Rescue team waited until Southern California Edison de-energized the equipment before extracting the body.

It is unclear how long the body was at the construction site before being discovered.