Cesar Moreno Caballeros, a 27-year-old Latino, was shot and killed Thursday, Dec. 4, in the 1400 block of East 99th Street in Florence-Firestone, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

Caballeros was standing next to his vehicle about 12:15 a.m. when a man walked up and shot him, according to a news release from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Caballeros, who walked several yards before collapsing,  was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:24 a.m., said Ed Winter, assistant chief of investigations.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Nicole Santa Cruz

Alfonso Maldonado, an 18-year-old Latino, was shot and killed Monday, Nov. 10, in the 9000 block of Holmes Avenue in Florence-Firestone, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

A Transit Policing Division deputy was in the area when he found Maldonado with gunshot wounds, according to a news release from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Maldonado was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead at 10:54 p.m., according to coroner’s records.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Nicole Santa Cruz

Nathan Alexander Sanchez, a 6-year-old Latino, was found dead Thursday, Sept. 18, in the 1600 block of East 88th Street in Florence-Firestone, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and family members.

Authorities said the child was found stabbed on a bed inside a small white trailer behind a home.

Concerned neighbors called 911 shortly after midnight because they heard a man yelling and screaming, said sheriff’s Lt. Eddie Hernandez. Once deputies arrived, they found 38-year-old Alejandro Sanchez-Santoyo, the boy's father, covered in blood in the frontyard and "speaking incoherently."

A neighbor directed authorities to the trailer, where they performed CPR on the child before paramedics arrived. The boy was taken to St. Francis Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 12:39 a.m., said Ed Winter, assistant chief of investigations with the coroner's office. A kitchen knife was recovered at the scene ...

Continue reading »

Oscar Orlando Torres, a 64-year-old Latino, was found dead Thursday, July 17, in the 8100 block of Zamora Avenue in Florence-Firestone, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

Torres, who lived in a converted garage, was found dead by his son, said Lt. Eddie Hernandez with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Torres’ son became concerned after he did not hear from his father, Hernandez said. Torres was last seen alive July 16.

Torres was pronounced dead at 6:56 p.m. at the scene. He died from blunt head trauma, according to coroner’s records.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Nicole Santa Cruz

Dwayne Kenneth McKesson, a 47-year-old black man, was shot and killed Thursday, June 12, in the 8600 block of Maie Avenue in Florence-Firestone, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

Witnesses in the area heard gunshots about 2:45 p.m., then saw McKesson on the west curb of Maie Avenue, said Lt. Dave Coleman with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

McKesson was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 2:47 p.m., said Ed Winter, a coroner’s spokesman.Winter said that McKesson was walking down the street when he was shot.

Witnesses said that the gunman walked into an alley near the scene, Coleman said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Nicole Santa Cruz

Jorge Carlos Cardona, a 25-year-old Latino, was shot and killed Friday, March 7, in the 8700 block of Bandera Street in Florence-Firestone, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

Cardona was standing on the sidewalk shortly after midnight when two sedans drove up and asked him where he was from, said Lt. John Corina with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. 

Corina said authorities did not know whether Cardona replied before an assailant or assailants fired multiple shots, Corina said.

After getting a call reporting a gunshot victim, deputies arrived at the scene to find Cardona in the street. Cardona was pronounced dead at a hospital at 6:43 p.m., according to coroner’s records.

Anyone with information can call the Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Nicole Santa Cruz

Gerome Lashawn Summers, a 40-year-old black man, died Sunday, Feb. 23, after being shot in the 8700 block of Holmes Avenue in Florence-Firestone, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Deputies responded to a report of an assault with a deadly weapon shortly after 10 p.m. Feb. 22 and found Summers, who had been shot, said Lt. Steve Jauch with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Authorities are seeking information about the shooting and do not know whether Summers was wounded in a walk-up or drive-by attack.

Summers was pronounced dead at a hospital at 1:20 a.m. on Feb. 23, said Ed Winter, a spokesman with the coroner's office.

Anyone with information can call the Sheriff's Department Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Nicole Santa Cruz