Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

SAN GABRIEL - Detectives were able to identify and arrest August 20 the juvenile suspect accused of unloading a firearm outside of Del Mar High School Monday.

The juvenile led police on a brief foot chase after they tried to make contact with the suspect outside of a home. During his run, the teen allegedly tossed a handgun, which was recovered, according to the San Gabriel Police Department.

The teen is a student within the San Gabriel Unified School District.

Multiple witnesses reported a suspect firing a gun near the high school, 312 S. Del Mar Ave., around 1:52 p.m. August 19.

The suspect fled after firing the gun. A search near the school turned up no suspects. Evidence of a shooting was found. Due to the nature of the incident neighboring police and fire agencies arrived to assist.

The shooting did not occur on school grounds.

“Parents, students, and staff can expect to see a heavier police presence around local school campuses. There is no known immediate threat to any other school campuses or students,” according to the San Gabriel Police Department.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

SAN GABRIEL - Investigators are trying to determine what led to the apparent shooting death of a man early Saturday morning.

The shooting took place in the 100 block of Walnut Grove Avenue around 1:37 a.m. Saturday, June 8. First responders found the victim, only described as an Asian male adult, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds near a stairwell. The man was taken to a hospital where he later died, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau.

​The scene is taped off near the New Century Inn, 1114 E. Las Tunas Dr.

Investigators stated that a suspect is unknown.

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

SAN GABRIEL - Investigators are determining the cause of death for a male who was found on the ground near a bus stop May 15.

A passerby reported an unconscious man near a bus stop in the 500 block of West Valley Boulevard around 5:22 a.m. Wednesday. Police officers performed CPR on the male until San Gabriel Firefighters arrived to continue care. Despite efforts, the male was pronounced deceased at the scene, according to the San Gabriel Police Department.

The male was identified as 27-year-old Steven Caldera.

Investigators do not suspect foul play, but the cause of death will be revealed by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, according to the San Gabriel Police Department.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

SAN GABRIEL - A driver was hospitalized for minor injuries after a two-vehicle collision sent one car crashing into a business Tuesday morning.

First responders were sent to 223 W. Las Tunas Blvd. just after 8 a.m. January 23. First responders found one of the vehicles crashed into the security doors of what appeared to be a closed business.

It is not immediately clear if authorities determined the cause of the crash.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

SAN GABRIEL - A transient with an extensive criminal history was jailed after allegedly crashing a stolen San Gabriel Fire Department ambulance during a pursuit.

The ambulance was taken after paramedics responded to a call for service in the 700 block of Sunset just before 3:30 p.m. Sunday, December 31, according to the San Gabriel Police Department.

While on foot in the area the transient, only described as being in his 40s, entered the parked ambulance and sped away. No one else was in the ambulance when it was driven away, according to the San Gabriel Police Department.

Police officers located the stolen ambulance and attempted a traffic stop, but the driver refused and continued fleeing until crashing in the 2800 block of Canterbury Road in San Marino.

“The suspect sustained non-life threatening injuries during this pursuit and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. As a result of the suspect colliding into numerous motorist, 2 sustained minor injuries and were released on scene. 3 others sustained minor injuries and were transported to two separate hospitals,” according to the San Gabriel Police Department in a written statement.

The ambulance was so badly damaged it was taken out of service and has since been replaced.

SAN GABRIEL - More than 90 firefighters knocked down a four-alarm fire that destroyed a building under construction Sunday morning.

The roadway continues to be closed between Palm Avenue and Euclid Avenue during the investigation, according to the City of San Gabriel.

Firefighters arriving to the scene in the 300 block of West Valley Boulevard just before 3:30 a.m. June 11 reported flames more than 40 feet high and the entire building was engulfed, according to the San Gabriel Fire Department.

Two nearby buildings were evacuated as a precaution. No one was injured and no nearby structures were damaged, according to the San Gabriel Fire Department.

“Currently, power has been restored to affected neighborhoods. There are reports of ash and debris throughout the city. Athens Services has been and will be conducting street sweeping to clear debris off roads,” according to the San Gabriel Fire Department in a written statement.

Assisting San Gabriel firefighters were firefighters from Alhambra, Monterey Park, Montebello, San Marino, Arcadia, Pasadena, Glendale and the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Investigators with the Verdugo Arson Task Force are determining the cause.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

LOS ANGELES - The county coroner identified the 19-year-old man who took his own life on a pedestrian bridge over the I-10 freeway in San Gabriel March 19.

Abel Alexander Ruiz died by hanging, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

Ruiz was a San Gabriel High School student and football player for the Matadors having graduated in 2022.

“There are no words. Just deep sorrow. Abel was such a kind person. He was the kid who stayed after to pick up. The kid who stayed late for extra reps. He was the best teammate. I’m so heartbroken,” according to San Gabriel High School Varsity Football Head Coach Kevin Encinas in a social media post.

“If you knew Abel he was an incredibly smart boy with the sweetest attitude who always put others before himself. He touched the hearts of those around him. He was like a son/little brother to everyone he met,” according to Sasha Ruiz on Abel’s gofundme fundraiser.

Abel leaves behind his mother, brother and three sisters.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

SAN GABRIEL - Freeway traffic continues to be hampered on the west I-10 freeway after a person reportedly hung themselves from a pedestrian bridge Sunday.

First responders were called to the pedestrian bridge east of New Avenue just before 11 a.m. Sunday, March 19. Firefighters reported a body hanging from the bridge and within minutes stated the operation would be a body retrieval, according to San Gabriel Fire Department radio traffic.

Officer Moises Marroquin of the California Highway Patrol Traffic Management Center told SGV CityWatch that a Sig Alert in effect was due to a hanging on the pedestrian bridge.

at 12:11 p.m., the CHP stated the eastbound express lanes off ramp to New Avenue and the westbound express onramp will continue to be blocked. the westbound I-10 mainline has been reopened.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

UPDATE, 9:09 p.m.: The barricaded suspect was taken into custody, the San Gabriel Police Department said in a statement just before 8:30 p.m.

SAN GABRIEL - Surrounding residents have been evacuated in a San Gabriel neighborhood Wednesday after a woman reportedly barricaded herself with a weapon inside the house.

The incident is unfolding in the 100 block of East Broadway and began just before 9:30 a.m. October 19, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau have assumed command of the operation and crisis negotiators are attempting to get the woman to peacefully surrender.

It is not immediately clear what led up to the woman to barricade herself inside the house.

ALHAMBRA - Police and campus security will have a heightened presence at San Gabriel High School today after a threat was posted to Instagram August 20.

The threat, which has since been taken down, was described by the Alhambra Police Department as vague and is is believed to not be credible.

Alhambra Police detectives continue to investigate the post.

“We thank the members of the community for alerting the school, the district and APD about the IG post,” according to the Alhambra Unified School District in a written statement.

Anyone with information on this threat is urged to call the Alhambra Police Department at 626-570-5151.