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Baldwin Hills stabbing case lacks leads, witnesses

It was about 3 on a January afternoon and Roshon Dwayne Davis had just left his Baldwin Hills apartment. He wanted to catch the bus to get to the DMV before it closed.

His wife, Araceli, stayed behind with the kids.  Within minutes, she heard a woman screaming. The 27-year-old ran downstairs from the apartment  to see her husband stumbling, his gray shirt covered in red. 

A neighbor brought a towel to soak up the blood. Roshon lifted up his shirt, revealing a stab wound. He began slipping in and out of consciousness. Araceli knelt down and began CPR.

Please don’t let it be the heart, she thought. Please don’t let it be the heart.

Araceli would wait for what seemed like too long for the paramedics to arrive. When they did, the sirens were deafening. She couldn’t be by his side in the ambulance, they said. She …

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Professional boxer sentenced in beating death

A professional boxer was sentenced April 5, 2006, to state prison for the October 2004 beating death of a freelance sportswriter, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

James Butler Jr., 33, was sentenced to more than 29 years in prison and ordered to pay almost $40,000 in restitution.

In March 2006, Butler pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and arson. He admitted to bludgeoning Sam Kellerman to death with a hammer and then setting a fire inside his apartment.

Kellerman, a 29-year-old white man, was fatally beaten Oct. 12, 2004, in the 1400 block of North Vista Street in Hollywood.

After not hearing from him, Kellerman’s family and friends broke into his Hollywood apartment on Oct. 17. They found him dead on the floor, covered by a bedspread, according to court records.

Butler, who reportedly suffered from bipolar disorder, was arrested at UCLA Medical Center, where …

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Ruben Castaneda, 52

Ruben Castaneda (2014-04-22)

Ruben Castaneda, a 52-year-old Latino, was shot and killed Tuesday, April 22, near the Avenue 60 onramp of the northbound 110 Freeway in Highland Park , according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

Castaneda stepped out of a makeshift tent in the area about 5 p.m. and was shot multiple times, according to a news release from the Los Angeles Police Department.

Castaneda was pronounced dead at 5:32 p.m. at the scene, said Ed Winter, a coroner’s spokesman.

Anyone with information is asked to call LAPD’s Hollenbeck Homicide detectives at (323) 342-8957. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Nicole Santa Cruz

Omar Duran Saunders, 39

Omar Duran Saunders (2014-04-22)

Omar Duran Saunders, a 39-year-old black man, was shot and killed Tuesday, April 22 in the  6400 block of Brynhurst Avenue in Hyde Park, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

Saunders was standing in front of an apartment complex with three other men about 7 p.m. when a dark-colored four-door sedan approached and someone inside fired multiple shots at the group, said Los Angeles police Det. Sal LaBarbera. The car fled west on Hyde Park.

Saunders was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead at 11:53 p.m., according to coroner’s records.

The three other men, ages 28, 39 and 49 were treated for non-lethal wounds.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Criminal Gang Homicide Division at (213) 485-4341. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477

-- Nicole Santa Cruz

Antelope Valley man sentenced in 2003 shooting death

An Antelope Valley man was sentenced April 28, 2004, to state prison for the May 2003 shooting death of John Louis Regos, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

Victor Ransom, 57, was sentenced to 66 2/3 years to life in prison and ordered to pay $38,000 in restitution for killing Regos.

In February, Ransom was convicted of first-degree murder, assault with a semiautomatic firearm and dissuading a witness.

Regos, 53, was shot and killed May 25, 2003, near Ransom’s home in the 3100 block of West Mildwood Court in Lancaster. He was at the Lancaster house with his teenage son and daughter helping his ex-wife Mary Regos move out of the home she shared with Ransom.

Deputy Dist. Atty. William Johnson said the relationship between Ransom and Mary Regos had deteriorated and she had decided to move out. Ransom, who initially was away from the home, …

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Long Beach man sentenced in killing of girlfriend

A Long Beach man was sentenced Jan. 28, 2004, to state prison for the May 2002 murder of his girlfriend, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

Pedro Tepoz Leon, 35, was sentenced to 26 years to life for the murder of Mayra Mora Lopez.

In October 2003, a jury deliberated less than an hour before convicting Leon of first-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of Lopez.

Lopez, a 19-year-old Latina, was stabbed to death, Oct. 27, 2002, at the couple’s apartment in the 1900 block of East 1st Street in Long Beach.

Lopez had been a student of Leon’s at Woodrow Wilson High in Long Beach, where he coached girls soccer and taught Spanish.

Leon was arrested several hours after the fatal stabbing near Vacaville, Calif.

Update: On Jan. 29, 2004, less than 24 hours after being sentenced to state prison, Leon was found …

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Keenan Smith Smith-Whiteside, 20

Keenan Whiteside-Smith, a 20-year-old Latino, was shot and killed Monday, April 21, in the 200 block of East Carson Street in Carson, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

Whiteside-Smith was hit by gunfire during a car-to-car shooting about 8:53 p.m. near East Carson Street and Orrick Avenue, according to a news release from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

He was then driven in a gray or silver sedan to the 22100 block of South Neptune Avenue.

Whiteside-Smith was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 9:44 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

Jesse Aaron Serrano, 19

Jesse Aaron Serrano, a 19-year-old Latino, was shot and killed Sunday, April 20, in the 6600 block of South Broadway Avenue in Florence, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

About 2:30 p.m. Serrano was standing near a street vendor and had money in his hand when a man pulled up in a black four-door car, got out of the car and shot him, said Los Angeles Police Det. Kelle Baitx.

The man ran back into the car, which was last seen fleeing east on West 66th Street from Broadway Avenue, Baitx said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Newton Division homicide detectives at (323) 846-6556. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Nicole Santa Cruz

Featured reader comment: 'He is remembered every day'

This week, the Homicide Report received an email from Alex Perea, whose brother Cesar Jeremias Perea was killed in Florence in March 2013.

Cesar Jeremias Perea
Cesar Jeremias Perea was my beloved brother who I will never forget. He was born on Aug. 2, 1989. Cesar has four siblings ages 29, 27, 23 and 22. Cesar was the middle brother. He would have been 24 years old, turning 25 this year.

My brother was an amazing guy who we will never forget. He had a great sense of humor and was a very hard-working person. He worked as a barber ever since he finished attending John C. Fremont High School. Cesar was a very important person to the lives of his loved ones. He is still remembered every day by his friends and family. Cesar has a 5-year-old daughter he left behind.

The Homicide Report welcomes your emails and comments.

-- Matt …

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Ramon Gerardo Vera, 25

Ramon Gerardo Vera, a 25-year-old white man, was shot and killed Saturday, April 19, in the 2900 block of Glenn Avenue in Boyle Heights, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

About 12:20 a.m., Vera was in a parking lot at an apartment complex when he was shot multiple times with a 12-gauge shotgun, according to a news release from the Los Angeles Police Department.

Vera was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:40 a.m., according to coroner’s records.

Anyone with information is asked to call Hollenbeck homicide detectives at (323) 342-8957. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Nicole Santa Cruz

Roqueyro Cipriano Vasquez, 30

Roqueyro Cipriano Vasquez, a 30-year-old Latino, was shot and killed Saturday, April 19, in the 300 block of South Rampart Boulevard in Westlake, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

Vasquez was dropped off in the area by a taxi about 12:55 a.m. and crossed the street from the west to the east side of South Rampart Boulevard, said Los Angeles Police Det. John Motto.

Vasquez then walked up to a black four-door sedan and someone from inside the car shot him, Motto said.

A witness said that before Vasquez walked up to the car, two black males and a black female got into the car. The witness believed that Vasquez was the fourth passenger, Motto said.

Vasquez was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 6:07 a.m., according to coroner's records.

Vasquez had no gang ties and had lived in the neighborhood for several years. He …

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Sentencings in five homicide cases; updates on three

The Homicide Report has updates for eight homicides that occurred in Los Angeles County.

Following are five reports on people who were sentenced for killings. Click on each victim's name for more information.

Lawrence Ray Davila: Sentenced in 2007 for the 2006 stabbing death of David Alexander Deamorelli in Granada Hills.

Armando Abundis Sr.: Sentenced in 2008 for the 2005 death of Sarah Chavez.

Nathan Lee Hall: Sentenced in 2007 for the 2005 stabbing death of Jurgen Hapke in Beverly Hills.

Raul Damian Martinez: Sentenced in 2007 for the 2005 shooting death of Osiel Hipolito in East Compton.

Domingo Linares Rodas: Sentenced in 2014 for the 2009 stabbing death of Keith Falin in Hollywood.

Following are three updates on recent killings in Los Angeles County. Click on each victim's name for more information.

Terri Kwan Smith, 42: Shot to death Monday, April 14, in Hyde Park.

Christopher Max …

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Pedro Antonio Rodriguez, 36

Pedro Antonio Rodriguez (2014-04-18)

Pedro Antonio Rodriguez, a 36-year-old Latino, was shot and killed Friday, April 18, in the 400 block of West 47th Place in Vermont Square, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

About 7:30 a.m., officers found Rodriguez bleeding inside the cab of a delivery truck, according to a news release from the Los Angeles Police Department.

A person called police when he noticed that the delivery truck was parked strangely at the curb.

Rodriguez was pronounced dead at 7:31 a.m. at the scene, according to coroner’s records.

Anyone with information is asked to call Dets. Eddie Amaral or Miguel Gutierrez at (213) 485-1383. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477

-- Nicole Santa Cruz

Canoga Park man sentenced for 2006 stabbing death

A Canoga Park man was sentenced Nov. 6, 2007, to state prison for a June 2006 murder, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

Lawrence Ray Davila, 22, was sentenced to 16 years to life for killing David Alexander Deamorelli, a student at UC Santa Barbara.

In October, a jury deliberated a little more than a day before convicting Davila of one count of second-degree murder.

Deamorelli, 26, was stabbed to death June 24, 2006, near the intersection of Kingsbury Street and Lindley Avenue in Granada Hills.

According to Deputy Dist. Atty. Lou Holtz Jr., Deamorelli was killed just after midnight when he started talking to Davila, who was leaning against Deamorelli’s car on Kingsbury Street. Davila who was waiting for a ride, stabbed Deamorelli multiple times before getting into his friend’s pickup truck and driving away.

Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics who were called to the …

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