Felipe Salvador Soto, 34
Felipe Salvador Soto, a 34-year-old Latino male, died Friday, Nov. 26, in Valley Village, according to Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner's records.
Washi Uddin Ahmed, 55
Washi Uddin Ahmed, a 55-year-old man of Middle Eastern descent, was fatally stabbed Friday, March 25, in the 5300 block of Laurel Canyon Boulevard in Valley Village, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.
About 9:15 a.m., Ahmed and his wife were working at a 7-Eleven when a man in his 40s walked in, grabbed a Mickey’s and a hot dog and started to leave, said Lt. John Jenal of the Los Angeles Police Department.
The woman confronted the thief in the parking lot, who “shanked her multiple times,” then stabbed her husband when he came outside to check on his wife, Jenal said. The attack was caught on video.
Police were called and found the attacker walking down the street with the drink and the hot dog, Jenal said.
Ahmed and his wife were taken to a hospital, where Ahmed was pronounced dead. His wife was severely injured …
Irina Lelea, 41
Irina Lelea, a 41-year-old white woman, was shot and killed Monday, April 28, in the 12400 block of Weddington Street in Valley Village, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.
Officers went to an apartment about 10:30 a.m. after receiving a call about a domestic violence incident involving someone armed with a gun, said Los Angeles Police Sgt. Frank Preciado.
When officers arrived, they heard two gunshots. A third shot was fired as they got out of their patrol car. Inside, officers found Lelea dead. She also had a cut on her body "from a hatchet that was there," Preciado said. She was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:30 a.m., according to coroner’s records.
The officers also found the body of a man with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. A second woman — described as a neighbor “responding to all the screaming” from the first victim — had also been …
Oscar Sermeno, 61
Oscar Sermeno, a 61-year-old Latino, was shot and killed by police Thursday, June 14, near Burbank Boulevard and Morella Avenue in Valley Village, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.
Officers responded to a call regarding an “assault with a deadly weapon, shots fired” about 4:15 p.m., according to an LAPD news release. Two people had been struck by gunfire, officials said.
When authorities arrived, they learned Gerardo Ortega, a 19-year-old Latino, was doing construction work with his father when he went to his car to retrieve some tools.
While there, Ortega was confronted by Sermeno. The two got into a fight and Sermeno shot Ortega, authorities said.
Ortega's father, Gerardo Ortega Padilla, a 41-year-old Latino, came out and also got into a fight with Sermeno. During their confrontation, Ortega Padilla was also shot by Sermeno, authorities said.
Sermeno also shot at a third man but he was not hit. …
Mark Miles, 48
Mark Miles, a 48-year-old white man, died Friday, Jan. 6, two days after he was shot by police in the 5200 block of Colfax Avenue in Valley Village, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.
Officers were searching for an assault suspect at an apartment Jan. 4 about 1:45 p.m. when they were informed by a resident to speak to Miles, who was inside a unit, according to an LAPD news release.
When officers entered the unit to speak to Miles, he revealed a steak knife and pointed it at the officers, authorities said.
According to police, officers drew their weapons and ordered Miles to drop his knife, but he refused. He then lunged at the officers, at which point an officer-involved shooting occurred.
Miles was taken to a hospital for medical treatment and died two days later. No officers were injured during the incident.
The LAPD Force Investigation Division …
Chere Lynn Osmanhodzic, 34
Chere Osmanhodzic, a 34-year-old white woman, was killed Saturday, July 24, in the 11500 block of Riverside Drive in Valley Village, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
[Note: This homicide did not appear on a coroner's report several months ago because here was a security hold placed on the case. The coroner's office is unable to provide any information about Osmanhodzic's death, including whether it was deemed a homicide. It was added Sept. 15, 2010, after the LAPD put out a press release alerting the public about Osmanhodzic's alleged killer.]
The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a residential fire about 7 p.m. and after they extinguished the flames, they found Osmanhodzic's body, according to an LAPD news release. She had sustained multiple stab wounds.
During the investigation, detectives learned that Osmanhodzic's boyfriend, who also lived at the home, had returned from the store and confronted a …
Russell Rathert, 50 [Updated]
Russell Rathert, a 50-year-old man, was found dead Tuesday, Aug. 31, in the 4600 block of Radford Avenue in Valley Village, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.
Firefighters responding to a call at 3:07 a.m. found a car engulfed in flames on Radford Avenue under the 101 Freeway overpass, said Officer Bruce Borihanh, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department.
They found Rathert's remains in the rear of the four-door sedan and contacted police, Borihanh said. The LAPD is classifying the death as “suspicious in nature.”
An initial report from the coroner listed Rathert's case as a homicide. Officials have since deferred a final determination. Results will not be available for another six to eight weeks.
The Times has contacted investigators for more information about the case and will provide additional details as soon as possible.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Los Angeles Police Department North …
Vardan Tofalyan, 30
Vardan Tofalyan, a 31-year-old white man, died Saturday, April 3, in the 11600 block of Riverside Drive in Valley Village, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.
Police investigators said Tofalyan, along with three men, Sarkis Karadjian, 26; Hayk Yegnanyan, 25; and Harut Baburyan, 28, were inside the Hot Spot cafe, a Mediterranean restaurant, when a gunman or gunmen opened fire before fleeing. Tofalyan was taken to a hospital where he died about an hour after the other three men, who were pronounced dead at the scene.
Two other men were injured but were expected to survive.
Days after the killings, Los Angeles Police Department detectives were struggling with conflicting accounts and an undetermined motive.
Law enforcement sources told The Times that detectives were skeptical about some of the accounts given by witnesses at the restaurant and are still not sure whether there was one gunman or two. Detectives also …
Harut Baburyan, 28
Harut Baburyan, a 28-year-old white man, died Saturday, April 3, in the 11600 block of Riverside Drive in Valley Village, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.
Police investigators said Baburyan, along with three men, Sarkis Karadjian, 26; Hayk Yegnanyan, 25; and Vardan Tofalyan, 31, were inside the Hot Spot café, a Mediterranean restaurant, when a gunman or gunmen opened fire before fleeing. Baburyan, Karadjian and Yegnanyan were pronounced dead at the scene. Tofalyan was taken to a hospital where he died about an hour later, according to coroner's records. Two other men were injured but were expected to survive.
Days after the killings, Los Angeles Police Department detectives were struggling with conflicting accounts and an undetermined motive.
Law enforcement sources told The Times that detectives were skeptical about some of the accounts given by witnesses at the restaurant and are still not sure whether there was one gunman or …
Hayk Yegnanyan, 25
Hayk Yegnanyan, a 25-year-old white male, died Saturday, April 3, in the 11600 block of Riverside Drive in Valley Village, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.
Police investigators said Yegnanyan, along with three men, Sarkis Karadjian, 26; Harut Baburyan, 28; and Vardan Tofalyan, 31, were inside the Hot Spot café, a Mediterranean restaurant, when a gunman or gunmen opened fire before fleeing. Baburyan, Karadjian and Yegnanyan were pronounced dead at the scene. Tofalyan was taken to a hospital where he died about an hour later, according to coroner's records. Two other men were injured but were expected to survive.
Days after the killings, Los Angeles Police Department detectives were struggling with conflicting accounts and an undetermined motive.
Law enforcement sources told The Times that detectives were skeptical about some of the accounts given by witnesses at the restaurant and are still not sure whether there was one gunman or …
Sarkis Karadjian, 26
Sarkis Karadjian, a 26-year-old white man, died Saturday, April 3, in the 11600 block of Riverside Drive in Valley Village, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.
Police investigators said Karadjian, along with three men, Hayk Yegnanyan, 25; Harut Baburyan, 28; and Vardan Tofalyan, 31, were inside the Hot Spot café, a Mediterranean restaurant, when a gunman or gunmen opened fire before fleeing. Baburyan, Karadjian and Yegnanyan were pronounced dead at the scene. Tofalyan was taken to a hospital where he died about an hour later, according to coroner's records. Two other men were injured but were expected to survive.
Days after the killings, Los Angeles Police Department detectives were struggling with conflicting accounts and an undetermined motive.
Law enforcement sources told The Times that detectives were skeptical about some of the accounts given by witnesses at the restaurant and are still not sure whether there was one gunman or …
Gurmik Singh Sandhu, 54
Gurmik Singh Sandhu, a 54-year-old white male, died Wednesday, Sept. 15, after being shot in Valley Village, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.
Diego Fernando Perez, 28
Diego Fernando Perez, a 28-year-old Latino male, died Sunday, Aug. 15, after being shot in Valley Village, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.
Eugenio Cruz, 30
Eugenio Cruz, a 30-year-old white male, died Tuesday, Aug. 12, after being shot in Valley Village, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.
Jason Grant Solinger, 37
Jason Grant Solinger, a 37-year-old white male, died Saturday, Dec. 22, after being strangled in Valley Village, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.