Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - The suspect accused of assaulting his grandparents during an argument New Year’s Day will be facing a murder charge after his grandmother, who remained hospitalized since the attack, has died.

Priscilla Sesanto, 74, was identified by the West Covina Police Department. Philip Sesanto, 77, continues to recover after being released from the hospital, according to the West Covina Police Department.

The grandmother died a day after the attack.

The victims’ grandson, 28-year-old Joshua Philip Day, was officially charged by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office with one count each of murder, and elder/dependent adult abuse. He also faces a special allegation of causing great bodily injury to an elderly victim, according to Los Angeles Superior Court records.

First responders were called to a home in the 1700 block of West Mossberg Avenue New Year’s Day to a family disturbance just before 12:30 p.m. They discovered a man and woman with severe injuries. Day was arrested at the scene, according to the West Covina Police Department.

Day has since appeared in Pomona Superior Court and is scheduled for another preliminary hearing January 14. He is being held without bail.

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The death record in this article is being redistributed by SGV CityWatch and is protected by constitutional, publishing and other legal rights. Information about the decedent(s), including cause and manner of death, is public record and was distributed by government sources.

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Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - Two Los Angeles men were charged with one count each of murder in the January 17 slaying of a La Puente man.

Sonny Ruiz, 23, and Drygani Gonzalez, 24, were arrested May 2 by West Covina Police detectives in the killing of Michael Varela, 24, according to the West Covina Police Department.

READ THE ORIGINAL STORY>>>

Varela died at a hospital.

Ruiz and Gonzalez are being held without bail in the Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles ahead of a scheduled appearance in Pomona Superior Court May 8.

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The arrest records in this article is being redistributed by SGV CityWatch and is protected by constitutional, publishing and other legal rights. Arrest information is public record and was distributed by government sources. The persons named in this article have only been arrested on suspicion of the crime(s) listed and is presumed innocent.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - Less than a day after a victim was critically wounded in a drive-by shooting, a suspect was identified and taken into custody.

West Covina man Anthony Henry Harris, 30, was arrested after officers served a warrant at his residence in the 900 block of East Service Avenue around 7:38 a.m. Sunday, September 1. Harris was booked on suspicion of attempted murder and is being held without bail, according to the West Covina Police Department.

The victim, a 28-year-old man, was walking on Lark Ellen Avenue near Fairgrove Avenue when a vehicle drove by. An occupant shot at the victim several times. The victim was shot in the face. He remains hospitalized, according to the West Covina Police Department.

No other suspects are being sought.

Harris is scheduled for an appearance in West Covina Superior Court Thursday, September 5.

Anyone with additional information on this shooting is urged to call the West Covina Police Department at 626-939-8688, reference case 24-05258. 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 motorcyclist is dead at the very same intersection where a crash, also involving a motorcycle, took two lives just one day prior.

This latest crash occurred at the intersection of Amar Road and Westport Street around 7:09 p.m. Friday, November 24. A westbound motorcyclist collided with a sedan in the intersection. The motorcyclist died at the scene. Two people inside of the sedan sustained minor injuries, according to Sgt. Steven Spagon of the West Covina Police Department.

Amar Road between Temple Avenue and Shadow Oak Drive remains closed during an investigation.

This reporter spoke briefly with two residents who live south of the affected intersection and both have said that fatal collisions have occurred at that intersection over the past few years and that the traffic light sequence is likely aiding in these collisions.

Spagon told SGV CityWatch that traffic collision investigators will have to meeting with the city’s Engineering Division to determine a course of action.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - Detectives announced the arrest of a 17-year-old from East Los Angeles who is accused of being the gunman they killed a liquor store clerk in West Covina, October 8.

The teen is being held at a juvenile detention facility ahead of a scheduled court appearance at the Pomona Courthouse Friday, October 13.

The teen, who is unnamed because of his age, is facing one count of first-degree murder in the shooting of 34-year-old Karanvir Singh, a charge filed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Singh was gunned down outside Big Bob’s Liquor & Market. The teen and an accomplice are accused of stealing merchandise before the shooting.

Detectives still seek help in identifying the second person of interest. Anyone with information his whereabouts is urged to call the West Covina Police Department tip line at 626-939-8688. 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 - SWAT officers and crisis negotiators are attempting to get a barricaded suspect to surrender from a residence Friday.

The incident is unfolding near South Citrus Street and East Walnut Creek Parkway.

Details are very sketchy at the moment, But a call for service went out to a residence around 8 a.m. Friday, September 29, but the suspect went back inside the home and refused to exit around 10:30 a.m., according to Sgt. Mike Weathermon of the West Covina Police Department.

It is unclear what the suspect is wanted for.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - Authorities announced the arrest of a man sought in the double slaying of two brothers at the West Covina apartment complex.

Michael Antonio Mariano Junior was arrested Tuesday, March 21 at an apartment complex in Corona. He was arrested days after the arrest of his sister, Lorraine Fisher, who was booked on suspicion of being an accessory after the fact, according to the West Covina Police Department.

Mariano is accused of gunning down Maliki Faust, 22, and Majarion Faust, 19, in the carport of an apartment complex November 2, 2022.

The murdered men are cousins of Mariano.

The men were found shot in the 3400 block of South Sentous Avenue after police were called at 10:45 p.m. One man was declared dead at the scene, the second victim died at a hospital according to Lt. Travis Tibbetts of the West Covina Police Department.

According to Los Angeles county booking records, Mariano was originally arrested November 3, 2022 at 11:52 a.m. and was held in lieu of $4 million bail. He was then released the same day at 9:42 pm. Booking records show that he was held for detention only. It is not publicly clear why investigators originally deemed that he be released.

The March 21 arrest was made with the help of the US Marshal Service Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force.

Mariano is currently being held without bail ahead of a scheduled appearance in West Covina court Thursday, March 23.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - Few details are available after a death was reported just after 8 p.m. June 25.

Police responded to Vons, 777 S. Glendora Ave., according to Lt. Brian Daniels of the West Covina Police Department.

Daniels had no other details regarding the possible circumstances surrounding the death, or even a general description of the victim.

Video from the scene showed a body covered in a white sheet at the front entrance to the supermarket, yellow crime scene tape setup and officers on scene.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

UPDATE, 8:53 p.m.: A Sig Alert for westbound lanes of the I-10 freeway at Sunset Avenue has ended and CHP officers are leaving the scene. It is unclear if CHP officers ever located evidence tied to a vehicle-to-vehicle shooting.

WEST COVINA - California Highway Patrol officers are canvassing the westbound I-10 freeway near Vincent Avenue after a driver reported a suspect fired a weapon Friday night.

The CHP responded to the scene around 7:30 p.m. May 6. Freeway lanes near Azusa Avenue are also being checked, according to Officer Stephan Brandt of the California Highway Patrol.

Brandt did not have a suspect description, or vehicle description.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - The No. 5 lane of the east I-10 freeway west of Azusa Avenue may reopen to traffic soon while all others remain closed after a fiery crash killed at least one person.

As many as two vehicles were involved in the crash that was reported just after midnight. One vehicle was allegedly being driven in excess of 100 miles per hour before crashing, according to California Highway Patrol radio traffic.

As officers arrived on scene to the crash, they observed one vehicle already fully-engulfed in flames, according to the California Highway Patrol.

One caller reported hearing the crash from their residence.

Caltrans is en route to set up a closure.