Leon Deandre Simpson, a 39-year-old black man, was shot and killed Thursday, Sept. 3, near East 50th and South San Pedro streets in South Park, according to police and Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

Shortly before 3 p.m., Simpson was shot while driving west on East 50th Street, LAPD Det. Richard Arciniega said.

It is unclear where the gunman may have fired from, but the shooting led Simpson to crash his SUV into two parked cars and a home, which then erupted in flames.

More than 30 firefighters responded to the shooting. Two LAPD officers pulled Simpson from the burning SUV, and he was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 3:39 p.m., according to coroner’s records.

Simpson was a father of four who also served as the president of a local motorcycle club named Hogg Life.

Cameron Buffington, 47, a friend of Simpson for more than …

Continue reading »

Ricardo Macias Mendoza, a 46-year-old Latino, was shot and killed Thursday, Sept. 3, in the 25900 block of South Western Avenue in Harbor City, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

Shortly after 7 p.m. Mendoza was closing up his auto shop for the night when a person walked up and shot him, said LAPD Det. Julie Scruggs.

Mendoza's daughter came out when she heard the shots, Scruggs said.

Police said the gunman fled through an alley that is west of the body shop.

The suspect was described as a Latino with a dark baseball hat, dark clothing and black boots. He may be between 25 and 35 years old and is between 5-foot-9 and 5-foot-11 with a mustache, police said.The man possibly fled in a dark-colored Dodge Charger.

Anyone with information is asked to call Harbor Homicide detectives at (310) 726-7884. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call …

Continue reading »

Thomas Martinez Mendez, a 49-year-old Latino male, died Thursday, Sept. 3, after sustaining blunt force trauma in Santa Clarita, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Ernest Ramos, a 25-year-old Latino, was shot and killed Tuesday, Sept. 1, in the 5100 block of Astor Avenue in Commerce, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

Shortly before 9 p.m., Ramos was standing in front of his home when three Latinos walked up to him, according to a news release from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

One of the men pulled out a gun and began shooting at Ramos, who was pronounced dead at 9:12 p.m. at the scene, according to coroner’s records.

The three men ran south and got into a vehicle, according to the news release. The vehicle went south on Astor Avenue.

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.

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

Jascent-Jamal Lee Warren, a 26-year-old black man, was shot and killed Sunday, Aug. 30, in the 300 block of Ocean Front Walk in Venice, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

Officers responded to a call of shots fired in the area and were directed by witnesses to two men who had been shot, LAPD Officer Norma Eisenman said. Warren was pronounced dead at 2:35 a.m. at the scene, according to coroner’s records.

Another man in his 40s who was wounded was taken to a hospital, where he is in stable condition. Police said that both shooting victims were involved in a dispute when someone pulled out a gun and fired at them.

Sris Sinnathamby, the owner of a beachfront hotel near the boardwalk, was charged Aug. 31 with one count of murder in Warren’s death.

Sinnathamby, a 54-year-old Asian man, was taken into custody Aug. 30, according to …

Continue reading »

Daniel Guzman Gurrola, a 41-year-old Latino, died after he was shot Sunday, Aug. 30, in the 8700 block of Woodman Avenue in Arleta, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

About 11:15 p.m., Gurrola was standing outside an Internet café when several people approached him, said LAPD Det. Juan Santa. Gurrola got into an argument with the group, and one of the men pulled out a gun and shot him, Santa said. The men then fled in a vehicle.

It’s unknown how many people were involved in the argument, but police said it is at least two.

Gurrola was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead at 11:50 p.m. An autopsy found the Gurrola died from blunt force and gunshot wounds.

Anyone with information can call the Mission detective desk at (818) 838-9810. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

Contact the …

Continue reading »

Daniel Orozco Garcia Sr., a 56-year-old Latino male, died Sunday, Aug. 30, after being shot in Wilmington, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Trevon Oneal Lark, a 33-year-old black man, was shot and killed Saturday, Aug. 29, near West 84th Street and South Broadway in Florence, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

About 12:55 a.m., police responded to a call of a shooting and found Lark on the sidewalk near a parked sedan, LAPD Det. Dave Garrido said.  Lark was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

Police believe that Lark may have been shot at another location, then driven to the spot where police found him.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Criminal Gang Homicide Division at (323) 786-5113. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

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

Giovan Beals, a 26-year-old black man, was shot and killed Saturday, Aug. 29, in the 5800 block of South 8th Avenue in Hyde Park, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

About 12:25 p.m., Beals and another person were arguing in front of a home when the man pulled out a gun and shot Beals, LAPD Det. Dave Garrido said.

Beals was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 3:32 p.m., according to coroner’s records.

The gunman, who is described as a black male in his 20s wearing dark clothing, ran west and out of sight.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Criminal Gang Homicide Division at (323) 786-5113. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

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

FOR THE RECORD: A previous version of misspelled Beals' name as Giovon …

Continue reading »

Henry Anthony Cruz, a 66-year-old Latino, died Saturday, Aug. 29, after he was assaulted in the 13700 block of Foothill Boulevard in Sylmar, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

On Aug. 19 shortly before 9:30 p.m., a security guard in the area got into an argument with at least three other people in a restaurant parking lot, said LAPD Det. Juan Santa. 

A 46-year-old man tried to intervene and was pushed away. Cruz then tried to intervene and was pushed down and assaulted by one of the people in the group. Cruz hit his head on the ground.

At first, Cruz refused medical treatment, but then was taken to a hospital, where he remained for 10 days.

Cruz was pronounced dead on Aug. 29 at 6:13 p.m., according to coroner’s records.

Santa said that it’s unknown what sparked the dispute.  The assailant fled on foot and police are looking …

Continue reading »

Glen Lee Brittner, a 59-year-old white man, died Friday, Aug. 28, as a result of blunt-force trauma in the 26200 block of East Avenue W 8 in Llano, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records. 

The attack happened at Brittner's home sometime between Aug. 17 and Aug. 18, according to Los Angeles County sheriff’s Det. Robert Kenney. 

Investigators were called to the residence about 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 18, after a co-worker reported finding Brittner unconscious, according to a department news release. 

Brittner was airlifted to Antelope Valley Hospital in Lancaster to be treated for head trauma, Kenney said. He never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead on Aug. 28 at 9:22 a.m., according to coroner’s records.

Brittner was a widower who lived alone, Kenney said. He was last seen the day before at his business, Domestic Water Delivery.  After Brittner didn't show up for work, a co-worker went …

Continue reading »