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.

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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 - A man hospitalized after being shot late Friday night died from his wounds, police said.

The victim was found shot in the 600 block of South Sunset Avenue. First responders were sent to the scene around 9:13 p.m., according to the west Covina Police Department.

It is not immediately clear if the victim was shot at the location or perhaps dropped off there.

No suspects are in custody.

Anyone with information on this shooting 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

LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner revealed the manner of death for a 38-year-old man found in a home July 14.

Felipe de Jesus Rodriguez died from multiple sharp force injuries. The death was deemed a homicide.

An early-morning call of a man down led first responders to a dead body July 14 in a house in the 2300 block of West Havenbrook Street around 5:49 a.m. Firefighters declared the victim dead at the scene.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - One week after a brutal homicide was reported at a bus stop, detectives arrested a suspect.

Kevin Davis, 64, a North Hollywood resident, was found with a stab wound to the chest at a bus stop at California Avenue and West Covina Parkway around 3:47 a.m. Sunday, July 7. Despite efforts to save Davis, he was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Detectives somehow identified Rodney Chapman Jr., 34, as a suspect. He was located in the city of Pomona where he was arrested.

Chapman was charged with first-degree murder along with enhancements for using a weapon during the murder and for having been convicted of five previous felonies dating back to 2010, according to the West Covina Police Department in a written statement.

Chapman is being held without bail at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles. He is next scheduled for an appearance in West Covina Superior Court, July 29.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - Detectives tracked down and arrested two additional suspects tied to the murder of a West Covina convenience, store clerk.

19-year-old Arturo Ornelas, a Monterey Park resident, and 18-year-old Ivan Ventura Vanegas, an Alhambra resident, were taken into custody and booked on suspicion of murder, robbery, being an accessory to a crime and conspiracy to commit a crime, according to the West Covina Police Department.

Ornelas was arrested November 16. Vanegas was arrested December 7.

Ornelas was released on bond. Vanegas remain behind bars and is being held without bail.

All three suspects are believed to be members of the same criminal street gang, which detectives will not disclose, according to the West Covina Police Department.

A 17-year-old suspect was the first to be arrested, taken into custody October 10

Karanvir Singh, a 34-year-old clerk of Big Bob’s Liquor was gunned down October 8.

First responders found the clerk was wounded in the upper torso. He was hospitalized and later died, according to the West Covina Police department.

“It appears two males entered the store and stole merchandise. The victim confronted the men at which time a shooting occurred,” according to the West Covina Police Department in a written statement.

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 - A convenience store clerk trying to do the right thing ended up on the wrong side of a gun October 8 and was shot and killed during a robbery.

The shooting occurred around 8:45 p.m. Sunday at big Bob’s Liquors & Market, 1413 W. Puente Ave. First responders found a 34-year-old clerk wounded in the upper torso. He was hospitalized and later died, according to the West Covina Police department.

“It appears two males entered the store and stole merchandise. The victim confronted the men at which time a shooting occurred,” according to the West Covina Police Department in a written statement.

Both persons of interest were described as male Hispanics in their late teens to early twenties. The suspects fled the area in an unknown model light-colored SUV, according to the West Covina Police Department.

Anyone with information on this murder is urged to call the West Covina Police Department 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 - 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 - The murderer of 29-year-old Gabriela De Haro Perez remains at-large and investigators renewed calls for public assistance in identifying the person or persons responsible.

Gabriela was shot and killed near Azusa Avenue and Amar Road January 2, 2021. Investigators believe she was the victim of gang violence and was likely misidentified. Gabriela was not involved in gangs or gang activity, according to the West Covina Police Department.

"Detectives are keeping the details of the shooting and details regarding the suspect vehicle confidential. Detectives believe there are people that know who committed this horrific crime and would be able to provide these specific details to validate their reliability as a witness, which they believe could potentially solve the case," according to the West Covina Police Department in a written statement.

Rewards are still being offered to being Gabriela's murder to justice: a $50,000 approved by the West Covina City Council, a $15,000 reward approved by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and Gabriela’s family has offered a reward of $35,000 for the arrest and conviction of the murderer.

Anyone with information is urged to call West Covina Police at 626-939-8500. 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

UPDATE, 10:33 a.m., December 26: The West Covina police Department announced the second shooting victim who was hospitalized died sometime December 25. The investigation continues. It is unclear if I suspect still remains on identified or out of custody.

WEST COVINA - Detectives are reportedly still searching for a suspect or suspects involved in a double shooting that left one person dead at an apartment complex December 25.

Officers were dispatched to a report of a shooting at an apartment complex in the 2600 block of South Azusa Avenue at 12:51 p.m. Saturday. The surviving victim was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, according to the West Covina Police Department.

“The investigation is still ongoing and no suspects have been arrested or identified at this time,” the West Covina Police Department said in a written statement.

Anyone with information on this shooting is urged to call the West Covina Police Department tip line at 626-939-8688. Information can be provided anonymously by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.