Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - A deputy shy of 20 years with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department survived a shooting while waiting at a red light Monday afternoon.

A suspect believed to be driving a white sedan with tinted windows shot the uniformed 43-year-old deputy who sat on an LA County Sheriff’s motorcycle while perched at a red light on South Barranca Street at East Garvey Avenue North. The deputy remains hospitalized in stable condition, according to Sheriff Robert Luna.

The shooting happened around 2:45 p.m. Monday, April 22. The white sedan fled westbound on the I-10 freeway.

“He was sitting on a marked black and white police motorcycle in full uniform and he was shot in the back,” according to Sheriff Luna in an evening press conference.

An examination of the deputy’s vest shows that he was struck once. The bulletproof vest saved the deputy’s life, Sheriff Luna said.

It is not yet clear if this was a crime of opportunity, or if the suspect followed the deputy and waited for a time to strike, Sheriff Luna said.

A license plate was obtained regarding a vehicle possibly tied to the shooting. Within the hour or so after the incident, deputies and California Highway Patrol officers surrounded a house in La Puente where several people were detained. These persons of interest will be released, if they haven’t already been released, since investigators cannot link them to this crime, Sheriff Luna said.

“Right now there is somebody out there armed with a firearm who shot one of our deputies in the back and if he’s willing to do that, he’s willing to shoot at anybody,” Sheriff Luna said.

Anyone who witnessed this shooting, or who may have information leading to a suspect, or suspects, is urged to call Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide detectives 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

WEST COVINA - A pedestrian was struck and killed while running in lanes of the westbound I-10 freeway at Vincent Avenue Monday night.

The California Highway Patrol received at least one report of what the caller described as a woman running across freeway lanes, causing vehicles to swerve. The pedestrian was struck by a red Ford Explorer, according to CHP traffic logs.

First responders were notified of the collision at 10:14 p.m. Monday, April 15. The pedestrian, who has yet to be identified publicly, died at the scene, according to Officer Garcia of the California Highway Patrol.

It appears the collision happened in the HOV lane. A Sig Alert was issued for the HOV and the No. 1, 2 and 3 lanes.

By 2:16 a.m. the Sig Alert was canceled. Some officers still remain on scene for the investigation, Garcia told SGV CityWatch.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - Police and arson investigators are continuing to investigate a fire that ignited inside a boys bathroom at South Hills High School Friday afternoon.

As of Saturday morning, no arrests have been made. No one was detained the day of the fire, according to Lt. Matt Nelson of the West Covina Police Department.

First responders were sent to the school, 645 S. Barranca St., around 1:50 p.m. Friday, April 12. West Covina firefighters remained on scene for a little more than two hours to determine the cause.

“It was contained in the boys restroom, there was no structural damage. They were trying to figure out the cause of it, which is inconclusive at this point,” Nelson told SGV CityWatch.

Students were evacuated as a precaution.