Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - The FBI announced the extradition and arrest of a man sought in a shooting that claimed his spouse’s life and their unborn child. Octavio Curiel-Martinez, 37, was extradited from Mexico to the U.S. January 3 and arrested by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies. He awaits prosecution by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, according to a joint statement issued by the FBI Los Angeles Field Office. Curiel-Martinez, a Mexican national, was originally arrested by Mexican police on unrelated charges May 17, 2019 in Bolanos, Jalisco, Mexico -- right where investigators believed he fled after they say he killed his estranged wife, Ana Maria Nunez, 37, and their unborn child. The county DA formally requested Curiel-Martinez’s extradition and a provisional arrest warrant was issued by the Mexican government May 23, 2019. Family of Nunez went to her El Monte home August 29, 2018 to check on her welfare hours after Curiel-Martinez allegedly fired upon, but failed to injure a family member. Nunez was found with multiple gunshot wounds, investigators said. Nunez and her unborn child later died at a hospital. The coroner listed her cause of death as multiple gunshot wounds of the torso.
The shooting took place in the 2700 block of Leafdale Avenue in El Monte. The estranged couple share additional children who were not home when the shooting took place, investigators said. Curiel-Martinez was charged in Los Angeles County Superior Court with two counts of murder, attempted murder, two counts of assault with a firearm, shooting at an inhabited dwelling or occupied car, two counts of corporal injury to a spouse, assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury, two counts of felony child endangerment and six counts of misdemeanor child endangerment, the FBI said. A state warrant was issued for Curiel-Martinez’s arrest September 5, 2018. The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California issued a federal arrest warrant March 15, 2019 and he was federally charged with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, the FBI said. The arrest and extradition was the work of the Policía Federal Ministerial, Fiscalia General de la Republica, Instituto Nacional de Migracion, the FBI’s Legal Attaché in Mexico City, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s detectives, the El Monte Police Department and the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. The extradition was handled by prosecutors with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of International Affairs. “Curiel-Martinez’s extradition was sponsored by the U.S. government’s “Project Welcome Home,” which provides funding for the transportation of FBI fugitives to the United States, where the repatriation by the host country occurs through deportation or extradition,” the FBI said. A $10,000 reward was offered for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of Curiel-Martinez, but it is unclear if anyone will claim the reward. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor 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. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - Homicide detectives are again asking for public assistance in identifying the gunman who killed an 18-year-old in a friend’s garage. Oscar Garcia, 18, was shot and killed in a garage in the 100 block of West Cypress Street April 22, 2017 by a still-unidentified shooter. A 17-year-old boy was also hit by gunfire, but survived. A teen girl escaped injury. The gunman is a Hispanic male 20 to 25 years, stands 6 feet tall, has a medium build, light skin, has black hair and brown eyes. A $20,000 rewards is offered to anyone who provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect. The three teens were in a detached garage when the gunman approached and stood at the doorway and pointed a gun at the teens. There was a brief verbal exchange and gunfire erupted.
The shooting was reportedly unprovoked. Anyone with information on the gunman 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). Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - Homicide investigators announced the arrest of a female suspect implicated in the April 16 shooting death of a man in Carson. Maricela Mercado and her daughter, 15-year-old Alora Benitez, were found and deported by Mexican authorities after being detained in Chihuahua, Mexico. The two were accused of entering the country illegally, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Mercado was detained by U.S. Customs and Border protection agents upon her transfer to the Paso Norte port of entry. El Paso Police officers jailed Mercado pursuant to a warrant issued for the murder of Jeffery Appel, the Sheriff’s Department said. Benitez was taken by FBI agents and Victim/Witness advocates from the FBI.
At the time deputies issued a written statement a little after 1 p.m. July 24, Mercado was awaiting extradition to California. Benitez was waiting reunification with family. Mercado, 40, and fellow murder suspect Roman Cerratos, 39, are accused of being involved in a shooting death April 16, 2019. A victim, Appel, was found dead inside a vehicle in Carson. During the investigation, detectives believed the two suspects and Benitez fled across the border. Cerratos was found in Mexico June 14 and was extradited to waiting Sheriff’s detectives. He was subsequently booked on suspicion of murder. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - The man prosecutors claim shot his neighbor July 15 during a dispute entered his plea during a July 17 arraignment. Massimo Barbagallo, 46, pleaded not guilty to one count of murder with an allegation of using a handgun to cause death, according to Ricardo Santiago of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Barbagallo is accused of gunning down his unarmed neighbor, 26-year-old Cristian Jonathan Alarcon.
The shooting may have been the result of a long-standing feud between the two neighbors, homicide investigators said. Barbagallo’s bail has been set at $3 million. He is scheduled to return to Alhambra Superior Court August 9. He faces a possible maximum of life in state prison if convicted as charged.
Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor
REGION - The suspect who infamously broadcast a live Facebook video while he fired upon deputies in unincorporated Covina was sentenced to prison time in January.
Sean Vasquez, 22, pleaded guilty to seven counts of assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer January 22, 2019. He was immediately sentenced to 30 years and eight months in state prison, according to Shiara Dávila-Morales, media chief for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. According to California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation records and county booking records, as of February 21 Vasquez is serving time in the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison, Corcoran, after having been released from Wasco State Prison. On April 9, 2017, Deputies responded to a suspect firing at passing vehicles in the 16700 block of East Cypress Street in the unincorporated community of Vincent. As deputies arrived and contained the home, Vasquez fired a handgun in their direction multiple times -- he even fired at two deputies in circling helicopter. No one was injured in the shooting. Vasquez streamed live video as he fired at deputies while taking refuge in and around a home. Eventually, he surrendered without further incident. Originally, Vasquez was also charged with five counts of attempted murder. The five charges were eventually either dismissed or not prosecuted. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - Homicide detectives located and arrested a 17-year-old boy days after he allegedly shot three people at a West Covina house party, fatally wounding one. The suspect, who remains unnamed due to his age, was found at an undisclosed hospital June 6 after being injured in a possibly-separate shooting, according to Detective Jason Marks of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau. The suspect in a red hat seen in a low-quality photo taken from surveillance video is the gunman, Marks said. Numerous tips led to the suspect’s identification. The teen is accused of shooting and killing 18-year-old Dennis Bracamonte of La Mirada at a party May 31. Two others were wounded. The gunman was charged by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office with one count of murder, two counts of attempted murder and one count of assault with a deadly weapon, Marks said.
The shooting took place around 10:30 p.m. A fight erupted prior to the arrival of police. Officers found three victims in a rear yard. Bracamonte was declared dead at the scene. Two male juveniles received gunshot wounds to their legs, the Sheriff’s Information Bureau said. A female juvenile wound up at a nearby hospital with non life-threatening injuries. The second suspect seen wearing a black Raiders hat remains outstanding. Anyone with information on the remaining suspect is urged to call Homicide detectives at 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously by calling L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - The suspect accused of gunning down his own brother in Baldwin Park June 30 remains at large Monday. Gregory Thomas Kingsbury, 37, allegedly shot and killed his as-of-yet unidentified brother in the 14600 block of Demblon Street in Baldwin Park Friday. Kingsbury is known to frequent the Baldwin Park, West Covina and Monrovia areas, Homicide detectives said. He fled in a charcoal grey 2012 Nissan Altima, which was recovered, Homicide detectives said. Kingsbury is a white male, stands 5 feet 9 inches tall, has green eyes and a bump on the back of his head from a previous injury.
Anyone with information on Kingsbury’s whereabouts 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). Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - Officials recently identified a 19-year-old man killed in a drive-by shooting in Altadena. William Harris IV, from Pasadena, died after being taken to an area hospital. He was shot by a suspect from an undescribed vehicle June 10. Harris died from gunshot wounds of the torso, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. Harris and a 17-year-old were both struck by gunfire in the 2100 block of Santa Anita Avenue June 10. The condition of the teen injured was not disclosed. Anyone with information on the suspect or who witnessed 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). Email Newsletter! | Advertise! | Donate! Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - Two counts each of murder, second-degree robbery and one count of attempted murder have been filed against the 30-year-old man who went on a crime spree that left two people dead. Rhett McKenzie Nelson of St. George, Utah is scheduled for arraignment in the Foltz Criminal Justice Center Thursday. the charges include special allegations of multiple murders and murder by means of discharging a firearm from a motor vehicle and allegations of using a handgun in the commission of crimes, according to Ricardo Santiago of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Nelson is being held without bail. Those killed in Nelson’s crime spree are Dmitry Koltsov, shot dead in Central Los Angeles June 10 and Joseph Gilbert Solano, a 13-year veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The latter was shot inside an Alhambra Jack In the Box about an hour after the Los Angeles murder.
“Hours after shooting Solano, the defendant committed two robberies in Long Beach, one at a Shell gas station and the other at a 7-Eleven,” Santiago said. If convicted as charged, Nelson faces life in prison without the possibility of parole. A decision on the possibility of capital punishment will be determined at a later date, Santiago said. Email Newsletter! | Advertise! | Donate! |
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