Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner confirmed that a man found dead in some spreading grounds in Irwindale was shot to death.

Manuel Sepulveda Jr. was the victim of a homicide. He is listed as a transient.

Irwindale police officers responded to the spreading grounds southwest of the 605 freeway and the 210 freeway around 10:30 a.m. May 26. Sepulveda, 49, was declared dead at the scene, according to the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau.

The exact circumstances surrounding the homicide are not publicly known.

The California Highway Patrol intermittently shut down the transition roads from the east 210 and west 210 freeway to the southbound 605, as well as the Arrow Highway on ramp to the north 605 freeway and Mt. Olive on ramp to the southbound 605 freeway during the operation.

The Azusa Police Department assisted Irwindale police with the tactical operation.

SGV CityWatch readers who traversed the freeway closures witnessed police in tactical gear, guns trained on an unspecified target in a homeless encampment.

Homicide investigators said a suspect remains at-large.

BARSTOW – A twenty-something couple are accused of murder in the death of their 1-year-old child who was driven all the way to Pomona where family made the grisly discovery in the couple’s vehicle, police said.

Ricardo Mendez, 27, and Antanita Miller, 24, were booked at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga after Pomona officers and Barstow detectives began investigating the suspicious circumstances behind the child’s death.

Pomona officers were called to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center just before 8 p.m. April 25. The child was declared dead by hospital staff upon arrival. The child displayed suspicious trauma, including lesions, bruising and burn marks. Some injuries were in various stages of healing, according to the Barstow Police Department.

A homicide investigation was launched by Barstow Police after Pomona officers notified them that the death likely occurred in the child’s Barstow residence. Miller was detained as she arrived to Pomona Valley. Mendez was detained in the 2100 block of Spencer Street after leaving the family’s Pomona home, according to the Barstow Police Department.

“During the investigation detectives learned that on April 25, 2022, at approximately 7:00 PM, Ricardo Mendez and Antanita Miller arrived unexpectedly at Mendez’s family’s home located in the city of Pomona. Family members located the victim’s lifeless body in the back of Ricardo Mendez’ and Antanita Miller’s vehicle,” according to the Barstow Police Department. 

“Some of Mendez’s family members immediately drove the victim to the Pomona Valley Hospital for treatment. Ricardo Mendez and Antanita Miller stayed at the family home and did not initially go to the hospital.”

A search warrant served at the Barstow home and vehicle occupied by the couple during their grisly journey revealed items believed to be used during the crimes, according to the Barstow Police Department.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is urged to call Barstow Police Detective Matthew Helms at 760-255-5132 or at [email protected]. Information can be provided anonymously by calling the WE-TIP hotline at 1-800-79-CRIME (27469), or at www.wetip.com.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

LOS ANGELES – Investigators identified the partially-decomposed body found along Glendora Mountain Road from mid-August.

The remains belonged to 51-year-old Miguel King. He died from a gunshot wound to the head. His death is listed as a homicide, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

King’s body was discovered along Glendora Mountain Road near mile marker 1 about 15 feet off the roadway August 14, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department radio traffic.

King was initially listed as DOE #14 until coroner investigators were able to identify the body.

The body discovered in the mountains is likely the same Miguel King, also age 51, who was listed as a missing person by Sheriff’s detectives.

Miguel Angel King was last seen by his family at his Los Angeles home in the 12300 block of Spring Street July 20. He reportedly did not have a history of going missing, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The niece of Miguel Angel King started a gofundme page to raise funeral expenses for her uncle.

The missing King’s white Toyota hatchback was found abandoned and parked at an Inglewood apartment complex in the 100 block of West Queen Street around 1 p.m. July 24, according to the Los Angeles Times.

LOS ANGELES – Coroner investigators are still working to identify the remains of a person found in the San Gabriel Mountains August 14.

The partially decomposed body was found Saturday August 14 along Glendora Mountain Road at mile marker 1 about 15 feet off the roadway, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department radio traffic.

The body has been given the temporary identification of Doe #14, according to Sarah Ardalani, public information officer with the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

The circumstances surrounding the discovery, as well as any possible criminal doings that may have led to the death are not publicly known. The Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau has not returned a request for information on the investigation.

Deputies and mountain rescue personnel worked over the weekend to recover the body.

MOUNTAINS - A man in his 60s was found dead in a culvert, suffering from a gunshot wound to the torso along Mt. Baldy Road, Thursday afternoon, deputies said.

Deputies were called to Mt. Baldy Road at mile marker 3.09 around 1:45 p.m. March 25 to an unresponsive man found 60 yards off of the roadside, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

The unidentified man’s vehicle was recovered at the scene.

It is not yet clear if the man’s wounds were self-inflicted.

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, or  lacrimestoppers.org.

LOS ANGELES - The investigation continues into the death of a man whose body was found near a freeway on ramp in Azusa Thursday afternoon.

Carlos Zuniga Medina, 29, was identified by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. He died from gunshot wounds. His death was ruled a homicide.

The body was found just before 3:18 p.m. April 9 on the Vernon Avenue on ramp. Medina was declared dead on arrival, according to Dispatch Supervisor Troy of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

LOS ANGELES - A Pomona man was identified as a homicide victim found shot in a residential area.

Marvin Watkins, 57, was identified by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. He was found dead on a sidewalk.

Officers responded to Viewpoint Circle near Skyview Circle to investigate a gun fire call just before 7 p.m. March 23. Family members of the victim reported the shooting, Pomona Police said in a written statement.

The Pomona Police department deemed the death a homicide, but the county coroner has yet to conduct an autopsy, according to public records.

Anyone with information regarding the shooting is urged to contact the Pomona Police Department at 909-620-2085.


The Cause of the Shooting Has Not Been Shared. CLICK TO READ MORE

LOS ANGELES - The manner of death for a man found inside a vehicle in El Monte last week was revealed recently.

Michael Meza, 27, died from a gunshot wound to the head. His death was ruled a homicide, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

LOS ANGELES - The man found shot dead inside a vehicle in El Monte March 6.

Michael Meza, 27, was identified by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

MOUNTAINS – A dead man was found with a single gunshot wound and seated in the passenger seat of a BMW on Highway 39 Friday morning.

The body was found near East Fork Road on a turnout along mile marker 24.68. An employee with the U.S. Forest Service discovered the vehicle, according to Lt. Mark Skaggs of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s San Dimas Station.

​There wasn’t enough evidence yet to confirm how the man received the gunshot wound, Skaggs said.

Only one victim was found, according to a representative with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, which sent multiple units, including a battalion chief to the scene.

Firefighters were ordered to stage and wait for deputies to clear them in to the scene. The exterior of the BMW showed damage from gunfire, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said.

The Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau also responded to the scene.

Sheriff’s Homicide detectives are investigating.