 Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor EL MONTE - Los Angeles County Sheriff’s homicide investigators arrested a suspect in the July 10 murder of a teenager. South El Monte man Jonathan Alberto Castelan, 18, was arrested Monday, July 20. He was booked at the Sheriff’s Industry Station. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office officially charged Castelan with one count of murder in the stabbing death of 15-year-old Aziel Zacapala. Castelan was additionally charged with one count each of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon. He was additionally charged with the special allegation of causing great bodily injury. Castelan pleaded not guilty to the charges July 22, according to Los Angeles Superior Court records. El Monte Police officers were called by hospital staff July 10 and informed of three stabbing victims, two adults and Castelan; the latter died at the hospital. The adults were admitted in stable condition. It is unclear if investigators learned a motive for the attack. Castelan is scheduled to next appear in Pomona Superior Court August 24. ********** 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. ********** Copyright 2026. All stories and original images published here are the exclusive property of SGV CityWatch and may not be republished in any form without the permission of this organization.  Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor EL MONTE - Detectives are determining why someone stabbed to death a juvenile Friday. First responders were called to the 2600 block of Potrero Avenue near Fern Street. The juvenile was taken to a hospital and was later pronounced dead, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The incident was reported at 1 p.m. July 10. It is unclear if detectives discovered a motive, or identified a suspect. 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. ********** Copyright 2026. All stories and original images published here are the exclusive property of SGV CityWatch and may not be republished in any form without the permission of this organization.  Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor EL MONTE - The county medical examiner identified a man who turned a gun on himself while in a Yoshinoya drive thru June 23. Tommy Yip, 38, died of suicide from a gunshot wound to the head, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner. First responders were called to Yoshinoya, 3538 Peck Rd., around 7:17 p.m. Tuesday. Yip, who was alone in a vehicle, died at the scene. Officers recovered a handgun, according to Lt. Snook of the El Monte Police Department. Yip’s wife and brother arrived to the scene afterwards. He was alone in the vehicle, Snook told SGV CityWatch. Help is just 3 digits away. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across the United States. 9-8-8 is available via call or text, and online chat. ********** The death record in this article is being redistributed by SGV CityWatch and is protected by constitutional, publishing and other legal rights. Information about the decedent(s), including cause and manner of death, is public record and was distributed by government sources. ********** Copyright 2026. All stories and original images published here are the exclusive property of SGV CityWatch and may not be republished in any form without the permission of this organization.  Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor EL MONTE - A man suffering stab wounds was found dead in a Walgreens parking lot early Sunday morning. The death was reported in the 3600 block of Peck Road just after 7:30 a.m. April 12, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The death of 59-year-old Anthony Leyva was ruled a homicide, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner. It is unclear if detectives have identified a suspect. Anyone with information on this incident is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department 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. ********** The death record in this article is being redistributed by SGV CityWatch and is protected by constitutional, publishing and other legal rights. Information about the decedent(s), including cause and manner of death, is public record and was distributed by government sources. Copyright 2026. All stories and original images published here are the exclusive property of SGV CityWatch and may not be republished in any form without the permission of this organization.  Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor EL MONTE - Traffic remains diverted while investigators piece together the events of a fatal vehicle versus pedestrian Monday morning. A man was struck near the intersection of Garvey Avenue and Central Avenue around 5:52 a.m. September 15, according to Sgt. Saenz of the El Monte Police Department. The driver of the blue Kia sedan that hit the man remained at the scene and is cooperating with investigators, Saenz told SGV CityWatch. Saenz did not immediately know if the pedestrian was in or outside of a marked crosswalk. ********** Copyright 2025. All stories and original images published here are the exclusive property of SGV CityWatch and may not be republished in any form without the permission of this organization.  Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor EL MONTE - Bus lanes leading to the westbound I-10 from Santa Anita Avenue May 3. The body was discovered amongst some bushes near the bus lanes just before 4:30 p.m., according to Officer Curtiss of the California Highway Patrol. “It was not a collision and it does not look like foul play is involved,” according to Officer Curtiss. Los Angeles County firefighters declared the man dead at the scene at 4:45 p.m. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner identified the man as 54-year-old Juan Ruiz Jr. His cause of death has been deferred. Bus lanes were temporarily shut down, but reopened at 7:11 p.m., Curtiss told SGV CityWatch. ********** The death record in this article is being redistributed by SGV CityWatch and is protected by constitutional, publishing and other legal rights. Information about the decedent(s), including cause and manner of death, is public record and was distributed by government sources. 2025-07400  Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor EL MONTE - Sheriff’s homicide detectives are investigating the Monday shooting death of a man. A man was found shot in the 2300 block of Peck Road April 7 around 9:30 p.m. He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Detectives have yet to reveal the possible circumstances leading up to the fatal shooting. 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 EL MONTE - A man described as being in his 50s died on a platform at the El Monte bus terminal Sunday. Few details are known, but the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau will be investigating this death, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Transit Services Bureau. First responders were called to the lower bay of the bus terminal, 3501 Santa Anita Ave., around 10:25 a.m. March 23. “I'm not sure if the patron fell getting off the bus or on the bus. They tried everything to resuscitate him. From what I'm hearing,” according to a source who asked not to be publicly identified. The entire lower bay was closed during the investigation. All buses that serve the lower bay were rerouted to the upper level until investigators cleared the scene and the body was removed. The man appeared to be exiting a bus when he died. Help was summoned immediately and CPR was provided. The body was removed around 2 p.m. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner will publicly identify the man and provide a cause of death.  Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor EL MONTE - A man accused of burglary by store employees allegedly brandished a handgun In retaliation, leading to a deadly police shooting Monday, investigators said. The man was accompanied by a female when they tried to leave Target, 3610 Peck Rd., with merchandise not paid for around 8:45 p.m. December 16. Employees confronted the man and woman who then left empty handed, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The man returned to the Target, weapon in hand, and brandished it, according to the Sheriff’s Department. Both suspects fled in a vehicle before El Monte Police officers arrived, setting off a search. Officers located and tried to stop the vehicle, but the driver refused. After a brief chase, the man fled the vehicle on foot. Officers followed the man to the 11000 block of Tyler Avenue where he was shot multiple times. He died at the scene. A semiautomatic weapon was found, according to the Sheriff’s Department. Anyone with information on this incident is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department 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 EL MONTE - Sheriff’s homicide detectives are investigating what led El Monte police to shoot and kill a man who allegedly caused a disturbance at a shopping center Monday night. The suspect, who remains publicly unidentified, was allegedly causing a disturbance and brandishing a weapon at a target store around 8:45 p.m. December 16. El Monte officers called to the disturbance located a dark-colored vehicle the suspect allegedly drove from the scene and attempted a traffic stop, but the suspect refused to stop and lead officers on a brief chase, authorities said. The suspect ran from the vehicle in the area of Tyler Avenue and Valley Boulevard The suspect died at the scene. |
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