EL MONTE – The preliminary investigation into a fatal shooting and crash Monday night leads investigators to believe the driver suffered a self-inflicted wound, homicide detectives said.

Police and firefighters responded to a crash in the 2600 block of Mountain View Road around 7:30 p.m. Officers found five injured people and one male driver with a gunshot wound. He died at the scene, according to Lt. Doug Knight of the El Monte Police Department.

The male driver was found bleeding from a head wound. A handgun was recovered inside the crashed vehicle. A female passenger exited the vehicle before the crash, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

The passenger was hospitalized for injuries considered not-life threatening.

The wounded driver crashed into another vehicle occupied by four people: a pregnant mother, father and two children. All were hospitalized as well.

“Although the preliminary investigation reveals that the deceased male possibly suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound prior to the collision, it is being treated as a suspicious death investigation. The cause of death will be determined by the coroner’s office,” the Sheriff’s Information Bureau said.

Anyone with information on this incident 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

EL MONTE - Four people were injured and a male behind the wheel of a vehicle died after being shot around 7:30 p.m., authorities said.

Two people were hospitalized with critical injuries and two received minor injuries, according to dispatch supervisor Michael Pittman of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

County firefighters and El Monte Police officers were called to the 2600 block of Mountain View Road, Pittman told SGV CityWatch.

Although evidence suggests the male killed was driving when he was shot, investigators have yet to confirm it, according to Lt. Doug Knight of the El Monte Police Department.

“We do have one confirmed gunshot victim who has been pronounced deceased,” Knight told SGV CityWatch. “He was the driver of the vehicle.”

Mountain View Road and Elliott Avenue are closed in all directions as the investigation continues, Knight told SGV CityWatch.

What led to the shooting is not yet known.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

EL MONTE - A teacher at Mountain View High School called it a career roughly one month after remarks he made while accidentally leaving his Zoom meeting live were recorded and publicly shared in May.

James Richard Busuttil was having a phone conversation with someone whom is believed to be another teacher and made remarks about two past female students and their breasts, lustfully referring those students as freaks. A frustrated parent reached out to SGV CityWatch in May and provided clips of the Zoom video.

The concerned parent sent the video to her daughter’s counselor, a school resource officer, and special education teacher, she told SGV CityWatch.

“My daughter’s friends are disgusted; one of them remembers sitting in the front row of the class. Now she knows why, so sick,” the concerned parent told SGV CityWatch.

During this three-month investigation by SGV CityWatch, it was discovered in a June 16 El Monte Union High School District meeting that Busuttil retired.

After failed attempts at reaching district officials for a comment on Busuttil’s remarks and any possible investigation, this reporter tracked down the public relations firm representing the El Monte Union High School District directly to facilitate a comment:

“El Monte Union High School District is aware of the issue in question and has addressed this personnel matter. The District can confirm the employee has retired and no longer works for the District,” according to Kendra Pintor, senior associate with VMA Communications.

During a June 16 school board meeting, administrators honored retirees from the previous year. Mountain View High School Principal Jose Marquez went so far as to honor Busuttil and speak kindly of his 33 years as an educator, almost seemingly unaware of the retired educator’s comments in the Zoom video.

The timing of Busuttil’s retirement is not mere coincidence, considering in one video supplied to SGV CityWatch, he claimed he would not be retiring while speaking about teacher contract negotiations.

Phone numbers linked to Busuttil as well as his Irwindale business, St. James Spirits, were located in an attempt to speak with the man himself. Busuttil could not be reached for comment.

A recent search of public records with the Commission on Teacher Credentialing shows that Busuttil’s single-subject teaching license remains valid roughly two months after his retirement.

It is unclear if the allegations of misconduct were reported yet to the CTC by the El Monte Union High School District. SGV CityWatch reached out to the CTC regarding an investigation.

Sasha Horwitz, governmental relations and public affairs manager with the CTC, said state law prohibits publicizing if a complaint is received, if an educator is under review, or if a review is completed and no action was taken.

Pursuant to the California Code of Regulation, districts are required to report allegations of misconduct. The superintendent of an employing school district is required to report a change in employment status due to allegations no later than 30 days after final employment action, or while an allegation of misconduct is pending.

Final employment actions include dismissals, resignations, or retirement.

Failure in reporting is considered “unprofessional conduct” and would result in the superintendent being investigated by the commission.

Busuttil’s videos made the rounds on social media soon after he was caught making those remarks. One of the girls he mentioned, Zoey, granted this reporter an interview.

“It is sad that there are people/teachers like that in this world… he should definitely get in trouble for what he said, and so should the other teacher on the phone call,” Zoey told SGV CityWatch.

Zoey, 19, last went to Mountain View High School roughly three years ago. She was briefly in one of Busuttil’s science classes before being moved to another class.

“I can’t imagine how many conversations there were about students behind closed doors,” Zoey told SGV CityWatch.

In the tail end of one of the two videos sent to SGV CityWatch, the person Busuttil was talking to referred to still having photos of past field trips; for what purpose may never be known.

“…if they have field trip pictures of any student the police should definitely take those and investigate the whole situation because it is nasty,” Zoey told SGV CityWatch, adding that Busuttil would have Zoey go on field trips even though she was not in his classes.

Ideally, Zoey seeks legal action against Busuttil, but she said that finding a lawyer is difficult right now.

An attempt was made to reach out to the other student who believes Busuttil spoke about, but she has not responded to grant an interview.

Busuttil has been an educator for 33 years, spending his entire career in the El Monte Union High School District. He received a Bachelor of Arts in business from Cal State University, Long Beach and a Masters in business administration from Azusa Pacific University.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

EL MONTE - Sheriff’s homicide detectives have been called to assist El Monte police with a death investigation Sunday afternoon.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department initially stated that a man was shot to death in the 3800 block of Gilman Road, August 15.

Firefighters responded to the scene at 12:16 p.m., according to Los Angeles County Fire Department dispatch reports.

No other information is publicly available at this time.

Anyone with information on this shooting is urged to call the Los Angeles county sheriffs homicide Bureau 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

EL MONTE - An adult male is dead Friday after being struck by a vehicle along Peck Road at Emery Street August 13.

Police received numerous calls of a collision between a vehicle and bicyclist at 6:45 a.m. Officers and Los Angeles County firefighters responded. Firefighters determined the man was dead at the scene, according to Lt. Pete Rasic of the El Monte Police Department.

The driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with investigators, Rasic told SGV CityWatch.

The closure is affecting southbound lanes of Peck Road at Emery Street.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

EL MONTE - The driver of a red El Camino is sought in the vandalism of three El Monte Police cruisers July 10.

The suspect slashed two tires on each of the cruisers in the 4000 block of Maxson Road while the El Monte officers were investigating a call, according to the El Monte Police Department.

The vandalism caused a delay in response time to police calls.

“There was a delay in our police department’s response to pending calls that included a fight in progress between multiple people, a domestic disturbance which resulted in an arrest and other quality of life issues,” according to the El Monte Police Department in a written statement.

Anyone with information on this vandalism is urged to call the El Monte Police Department at 626-580-2100.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

EL MONTE - A motorcyclist is in stable condition after he was struck by gunfire Monday evening.

Officers are investigating two related crime scenes, one at Landsdale Avenue and Cogswell Road, and one at North Durfee Avenue and East Garvey Avenue, according to Lt. Knight of the El Monte Police Department.

A suspect in a vehicle reportedly opened fire at the motorcyclist. Police responded to the area around 6:20 p.m., Knight told SGV CityWatch.

Descriptions of the suspect and the suspect vehicle were not immediately available.

The investigation is ongoing, Knight told SGV CityWatch.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

SAN GABRIEL – The pursuit of a stolen Hyundai was ended with the driver at-large after an El Monte police cruiser crashed during the chase Friday.

The police cruiser occupied with two officers crashed while exiting onto Del Mar Avenue from the west I-10 freeway May 7. The officers suffered minor injuries, according to Lt. Richard Luna of the El Monte Police Department.

The officers attempted to stop the driver of a silver Hyundai, possibly a Sonata, for allegedly running a red light at Ramona Boulevard and Peck Road around 4:52 a.m. The driver refused to stop, Luna told SGV CityWatch.

The silver Hyundai was reported stolen, Luna told SGV CityWatch.

The California Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

EL MONTE – A man treated for gunshot wounds later died after being hospitalized Thursday.

The shooting reportedly took place in the 11600 block of Garvey Avenue around 2:10 a.m. April 15, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

The Information Bureau did not yet state if a suspect was still being sought. However, deputies from the Sheriff’s Temple Station stated earlier over radio traffic in the 4 a.m. hour that a suspect from an assault with a deadly weapon was at-large.

The eastbound line 486 bus for Foothill transit is detouring and the Garvey Avenue/Meeker Avenue stop is closed until 5 p.m.

Anyone with information on this shooting 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

EL MONTE - One man died, another was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds and survived after what authorities said was a gang shooting at an El Monte apartment complex Easter Sunday.

El Monte police officers responded to the 9800 block of Rio Hondo Parkway around 4:14 p.m. April 4. They discovered a man who would later die at the apartment from his wounds, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

Witnesses said a man also involved in a shooting fled the scene and into a nearby apartment complex. Officers searched the complex and found the second gunman who was also wounded. He was hospitalized and was last listed in critical condition, deputies said.

“Detectives believe the males are involved in gangs and were in an ongoing dispute over a vehicle. Both males shot each other and both firearms were recovered at the scene,” deputies said in a written statement.