The Homicide Report

Man sentenced to life without parole in Chinatown murders

June 4, 2019, 10:28 a.m.

A 39-year-old man was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole Thursday in the fatal stabbings of two men at a Chinatown social club in 2017.

Vinh Dao, wearing a blue L.A. County jail uniform with his wrists cuffed behind his back, showed no expression as Superior Court Judge Robert J. Perry announced the sentence.

No one spoke on behalf of the victims, Kim Kong Yun and Joe Hoe “Tony” Young, both 64.

Outside the courtroom after the sentencing, Dao’s public defender declined to comment.

A jury deliberated for just an hour and a half last month before convicting Dao of two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances. Prosecutors decided not to pursue the death penalty.

The slayings occurred at a Chinatown social club popular among older Chinese immigrants. Dao showed up there in January 2017 and disrupted a mah-jongg game.

Authorities have said that Dao …

Nuntapat Kumdee, 32

July 30, 2019

Nuntapat Kumdee, a 32-year-old Asian male, died Tuesday, June 4, in Westchester, according to Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner's records.

Gang members found guilty in fatal shooting of 19-year-old Marine in South L.A.

June 3, 2019, 4:47 p.m.

Two gang members were convicted last week of killing a 19-year-old Marine while he was on leave from Camp Pendleton visiting family and friends in South Los Angeles nearly three years ago.

A Los Angeles jury deliberated less than two hours Wednesday before finding Oscar Aguilar, 28, and Esau Rios, 31, guilty of first-degree murder and shooting at an occupied motor vehicle. The jury also found Aguilar guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm and determined that the shooting was committed for the benefit of a criminal street gang, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

Aguilar was convicted of possession for transportation or sale of narcotics in 2015, criminal threats in 2011 and assault with a deadly weapon and vandalism in 2008, according to a criminal complaint filed by prosecutors.

He and Rios will face maximum sentences of 107 years to life and 50 …

Julio Cesar Urbina, 31

By Nicole Santa Cruz

June 7, 2019

Julio Cesar Urbina, a 31-year-old Latino, was shot and killed Sunday, June 2, in the 1500 block of East Young Street in Wilmington, according to Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s records.

About 1:45 a.m., Urbina was walking east on East Young Street when a vehicle drove up and a person got out, said Los Angeles Police Officer Jeffrey Tiffin.

The person fired at Urbina and got back into the vehicle, which fled.

Urbina was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:15 a.m., according to coroner’s records.

The vehicle may have been a dark-colored SUV, Tiffin said.

Urbina was not a gang member but lived in the area, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Tiffin at (310) 726-7884. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @nicolesantacruz and @latimeshomicide on Twitter.

Oscar Bonilla, 34

June 14, 2019

Oscar Bonilla, a 34-year-old Latino male, died Sunday, June 2, after being shot in Reseda, according to Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner's records.

Oscar Carmona, 22

By Jeanette Marantos

June 3, 2019

Oscar Carmona, a 22-year-old Latino, was fatally shot on Saturday, June 1, in the 5300 block of Rockvale Avenue in Azusa, according to Los Angeles County medical examiner-coroner records.

Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies responded around 11:15 p.m. after someone in the residential area reported hearing gunshots and seeing someone lying in the street, said Lt. Derrick Alfred.

Investigators believe Carmona was shot as he was walking on Rockvale between East Renwick Road and East Newburgh Street, under high-tension power lines where someone was growing nursery plants, Alfred said.

Carmona was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:26 p.m. The cause of death was listed as a gunshot wound to the head.

Alfred said Carmona lived in another part of Azusa, not far from where he was shot, and had a friend who lived near the shooting scene.

Investigators don't have a suspect description but believe the shooting may be …

Dennis Anthony Bracamonte, 18

June 3, 2019

Dennis Anthony Bracamonte, a 18-year-old Latino male, died Friday, May 31, after being shot in West Covina, according to Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner's records.

Billy Ray Louis Jr., 40

By Nicole Santa Cruz

June 7, 2019

Billy Ray Louis Jr., a 40-year-old black man, died Friday, May 31, after he was shot in the 2100 block of East 101st Street in Watts, according to Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s records.

On May 30 about 10 a.m., Louis was standing in the area of the Jordan Downs Housing Development when a person walked up to him, shot him, then ran through the housing development and out of view, said Los Angeles Police Det. Nathan Kouri.

Louis was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead the next day at 1:18 a.m., according to coroner’s records.

Police are still trying to determine a description of a suspect.

Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at (323) 786-5111. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @nicolesantacruz and @latimeshomicide on Twitter.

Jose Luis Lara, 33

July 15, 2019

Jose Luis Lara, a 33-year-old Latino male, died Friday, May 31, after being shot in Van Nuys, according to Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner's records.

$75,000 reward offered for information in USC student’s killing

By Alexa Díaz

May 30, 2019, 5:12 p.m.

A $75,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the death of Victor McElhaney, a 21-year-old USC student who was fatally shot in March.

The Los Angeles City Council voted Tuesday to offer a $50,000 reward and the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors approved a motion the same day to offer a $25,000 reward.

McElhaney, who was studying jazz percussion at the Thornton School of Music, was with a group of friends about a mile and a half from USC on March 10 when he was killed during a robbery outside a liquor store at Maple Avenue and Adams Boulevard.

The three assailants fled in a dark-colored sedan, police said.

No arrests have been made in connection with the slaying.

“It’s disheartening to know the killers are still on the loose while a family and entire community continues to grieve in …

Antonio Macias, 39

By Nicole Santa Cruz

May 31, 2019

Antonio Macias, a 39-year-old Latino, was shot and killed Thursday, May 30, in the 2300 block of Elm Avenue in Long Beach, according to Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s records.

Shortly before 10 p.m., officers were called to the area for a report of an assault with a deadly weapon, according to a news release from the Long Beach Police Department.

When officers arrived, they discovered Macias in the street with a gunshot wound to the upper body, police said. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.

Police did not release a suspect description, and the circumstances leading to the shooting are unclear.

Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at (562) 570-7244. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @nicolesantacruz and @latimeshomicide on Twitter.

Efrem Yeallah Douglass, 43

By Nicole Santa Cruz

June 7, 2019

Efrem Yeallah Douglass, a 43-year-old black man, was shot and killed Tuesday, May 28, in the 9500 block of South Vermont Avenue in Vermont-Vista, according to Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s records.

Shortly after 7 p.m., Douglass was discovered on the sidewalk outside a motor home with gunshot wounds, said Los Angeles Police Det. Nathan Kouri.

Police believe that Douglass was shot inside the motor home, then walked outside and collapsed. When police arrived, the door to the camper was open.

Douglass was pronounced dead at the scene at 7:28 p.m., according to coroner's records.

Douglass was known in the area and lived down the street, Kouri said.

Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at (323) 786-5111. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @nicolesantacruz and @latimeshomicide on Twitter.

Jose Moises Ostorga, 35

July 1, 2019

Jose Moises Ostorga, a 35-year-old Latino male, died Tuesday, May 28, after being shot in Downtown, according to Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner's records.

David Solomon Crockett, 28

Aug. 22, 2019

David Solomon Crockett, a 28-year-old black male, died Tuesday, May 28, in Lancaster, according to Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner's records.

Angel Benjamin Hernandez, 23

By Nicole Santa Cruz

June 14, 2019

Angel Benjamin Hernandez, a 23-year-old Latino, was shot and killed Monday, May 27, in the 1000 block of West 245th Street in Harbor City, according to Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s records.

Shortly before 9:30 p.m., police said, Hernandez was hanging out at an apartment building with others when an argument broke out and a man grabbed a rifle and shot him, said Los Angeles Police Det. Dawna Killingsworth.

Hernandez was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 9:50 p.m., according to coroner’s records.

After the shooting, the gunman fled. Officers responding to the shooting encountered a suspect, identified as Kenneth Alonso Rosales, a 23-year-old Latino, running east on West 253rd Street toward Petroleum Avenue, armed with a rifle, according to a news release from the LAPD.

Officers ordered him to drop the rifle, but instead he pointed it at officers, prompting them to shoot, police said. …

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