Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

VALINDA - No one was found wounded and there was no damage created by gunfire that was reported in a Valinda neighborhood Monday night.

The gunfire was reported at South Backton Avenue and Northam Street around 9:40 p.m. Deputies searched, but could not locate any victims and no structures were hit. Deputies apparently could not find any shell casings, according to Lt. Cheatham of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Industry Station.

There is no suspect description available. It is unclear if anyone was an intended target of the gunfire. Deputies are investigating the shooting as possibly a negligent discharge of a firearm, Cheatham told SGV CityWatch.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

11:16 a.m.: The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner identified the suspect as 45-year-old Brandon Matthew Ursa.

VALINDA - Authorities helped to repopulate 10 families that spent three days away from their homes during a marathon operation to get a barricaded gunman to surrender.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department provided some details into the efforts to get the gunman to surrender during a nighttime press conference outside the Sheriff’s Industry Station March 12.

Around 2 p.m., Sunday, March 13, the suspect was located deceased after apparently taking his own life, according to Chief Jorge Valdez of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s East Patrol Division.

Crisis negotiators remained in contact with the suspect throughout most of the barricade operation, and he apparently gave no motive as to why he decided to randomly shoot at pedestrians in the neighborhood, according to Lt. Kevin Ma of the Sheriff’s Operation Safe Streets Bureau.

When asked why the operation lasted more than 48 hours, Tom Giandomenico, commander of the Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau, emphasized that de-escalation, risk management and the threat the suspect posed to the community required deputies to slow their operation.

No deputies reportedly returned fire when the gunman started shooting at them, Giandomenico said.

The suspect possibly fired more than 100 rounds from what was described as a “high-powered rifle” at deputies and citizens in the area, Valdez said.

Deputies injected pepper spray into the home in an effort to disrupt his ability to shoot straight and to theoretically force the suspect to surrender.

The Los Angeles Police Department deployed its SWAT team, which used its BatCat, a specialized forklift to open gaping holes in the roof and front of the home to insert cameras.

Once cameras were inserted, the suspect was found dead, Giandomenico said.

On March 10, Industry Station deputies were called around 2:19 p.m. to the home on an assault with a deadly weapon call of a shooter firing upon pedestrians in the 16900 block of Wing Lane. Deputies were fired upon as well and worked to evacuate 10 families near the scene.

The suspect randomly fired off round within the home while keeping deputies at bay.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

VALINDA - More than 48 hours after allegedly committing assault with a deadly weapon and allegedly firing upon deputies and passersby, the suspect barricaded inside of a home has been found dead, according to Los Angeles County Board Supervisor Hilda Solis.

Solis made the statement just before 5 p.m. on Twitter.

“I have been informed that the suspect involved in the Valinda barricade situation has committed suicide,” Solis said adding “My office is reuniting families and coordinating so that they can get back to their homes safely.”

​Aerial footage from above the neighborhood showed that tactical vehicles from the Los Angeles Police Department have been working to demolish part of the house. There was much extensive damage to the front of the single-story home, including at least three gaping holes in the roof.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has yet to issue an official statement regarding the status of the suspect.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

VALINDA - Deputies remain on scene more than 16 hours after exchanging gunfire with an assault with a deadly weapon suspect.

The suspect remains inside a home in the 16900 block of Wing Lane in unincorporated Valinda Saturday, March 11. It is unclear if crisis negotiators are still in communication with the suspect, according to deputy Maria Lucero of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

It is unclear if the suspect is even still alive,

Deputies with the Sheriff’s Industry Station initially responded to the home March 10 to investigate an assault with a deadly weapon report.

The suspect reportedly fired upon deputies who then returned fire. No one was struck. A woman was apparently wounded somehow before deputies were called. The extent of their injuries is not publicly known.

Residents will not be permitted inside the crime scene area, according to the Sheriff’s Industry Station.

Deputies are coordinating with La Puente school police and Red Cross and shelter is available at Workman High School, 16303 Temple Ave., in City of Industry.

Street closures:
- Wing Ln between Glenhope Dr. and Mangate Ave.
- Samgerry Dr between Grandview Ln. and Galecrest Ave.
- 500 Block of Raminda Ave.
- 500 Block of Dunsview Ave.
- 500 Block of Roxdale Ave.

Writtten by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

VALINDA - No one was wounded after an assault with a deadly weapon suspect exchanged gunfire with deputies Friday afternoon.

The suspect remains barricaded in the 16900 block of Wing Lane Friday, March 10. Industry deputies originally responded to the location for an assault with a deadly weapon report just before 2:30 p.m. Surrounding homes have been evacuated as a precaution, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

One female was taken from the scene and hospitalized for undisclosed injuries, although deputies did say that she was not hit by gunfire.

The Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau and crisis negotiators are attempting to get the suspect to surrender peacefully.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

VALINDA - A suspect fire a handgun at least 3 to 4 times at a victim, but missed striking the intended target Wednesday night, a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s sergeant said.

Deputies responded to Glengray Street and Vanderwell Avenue at 9:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 8. An unknown suspect fired the handgun from a white SUV, according to Sgt. Robles of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Industry Station.

The white SUV was last seen being driven southbound on Vanderwell Avenue, Robles told SGV CityWatch.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

VALINDA - One person was found wounded by gunfire in a Valinda neighborhood a little more than 15 minutes ago.

First responders were dispatched to the scene in the 16200 block of Amar Road in the unincorporated community of Valinda around 7:46 p.m. Tuesday, February 14. The extent of injuries is unclear, but the victim is conscious and apparently unwilling to provide information to investigators.

Investigators are trying to determine how many suspects were involved.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

VALINDA - A 5-ton box truck was knocked over after a collision on a residential street Thursday.

The crash was reported around 2:06 a.m. in the 15800 block of Caldwell Street December 29. Deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Industry Station arrived and believed one of the people involved was deceased at the scene, according to California Highway Patrol traffic logs.

A heavy duty tow truck was requested to upright the tipped-over box truck that weighed an estimated five tons.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

VALINDA - Possibly as many as three suspects, at least one of them armed with a handgun, stole thousands in cash and took marijuana products from their victim Sunday morning.

The robbery was reported in the 16000 block of East Maplegrove Street sometime after 9:30 a.m. The victim told the deputies that she was forced face down on the ground during the robbery, according to a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s crime broadcast.

Deputies were told that $5,000 worth of marijuana products and $3,000 in cash were taken, according to the crime broadcast.

One suspect was reportedly armed with a black semi-automatic handgun. A second silver weapon was possibly used.

One suspect was described as a heavy-looking black man in his mid-30s who stands 6 feet 2 inches tall. He wore a gray sweater, sweatpants and a black mask.

The victim did not get a good look at the two other suspects, but she described them to deputies as being black.

All three suspects fled in an older-model white four-door Honda westbound on Maplegrove towards Valinda.

VALINDA – The coroner has yet to publicly identify both the male and female who died after a head-on crash September 4 caused both vehicles to become engulfed in flames.

The crash occurred at 5:40 p.m. when a male driving a 2012 Dodge Avenger east on Temple Avenue west of Mangate Avenue veered into opposing lanes, striking a2016 Honda Accord, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Three people were pulled from the Honda Accord before it caught fire. The driver was trapped in the Avenger and died at the scene.

The three occupants of the Accord were taken to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center for minor, moderate and major injuries. The female was later pronounced dead, according to the CHP.

“Alcohol and/or drugs were not suspected to be a factor in this traffic crash,’ according to the CHP in a written statement.

Any witnesses to the crash are urged to call CHP Investigating Officer A. Liu at 626-33-1164.