The Homicide Report

$50,000 reward offered for information in Bijan Shoushtari's death

Nov. 7, 2013, 7:33 p.m.

Los Angeles police detectives have pored over each available surveillance video, walked up and down Crenshaw Boulevard and interviewed more than 100 people in the death of 18-year-old Bijan Shoushtari. But they’re still looking for more information.

Investigators on Thursday announced a $50,000 reward approved by the city in the case. They also released a composite sketch of a person seen in the area at the time of the shooting.

Shoushtari was a passenger in a 1973 Buick Electra traveling north on Crenshaw Boulevard approaching Vernon Avenue about midnight Aug. 3 when a gray or silver vehicle, also traveling north, approached and a person inside opened fire, striking Shoushtari, said LAPD Det. Supervisor Sal LaBarbera.

The music was loud enough in the Buick that the driver and another passenger didn't hear the shots. Shoushtari, who wanted to become a paramedic and volunteered at a fire station after church on …

Dispute among neighbors turns deadly in Sun Valley

Nov. 6, 2013, 8:19 a.m.

In a group of shacks behind a house on Beck Avenue in Sun Valley, a dispute among neighbors was brewing. Norberto Correa thought someone had been peeping into his window. He told a neighbor that he thought it was Jessie Ochoa, who lived in one of the shacks.

"He said that he was going to do something about it," said the neighbor, who testified in a preliminary hearing Oct. 17 about what he saw. He said Correa showed him his gun. "And I'm like, 'Don't do anything.' "

On Sept. 15, Jessie Ochoa woke up, drank some beer and headed out with the neighbor to get tacos. They worked construction together.

Upon returning to their shacks, Ochoa told the neighbor he was going to confront Correa over the peeping allegations.

Ochoa knocked on Correa’s door and told him to come outside. Ochoa cursed and told Correa that he didn't care if …

Orlando Clark Iles, 24

Nov. 6, 2013

Orlando Iles, a 24-year-old black man, was shot and killed Wednesday, Nov. 6, in the 3700 block of West 36th Street in West Adams, according to L.A. County coroner’s records.

Iles and another person were sitting in a parked car in front of a house at about 1:40 a.m. when a gray or silver SUV pulled alongside and a person inside fired several gunshots, said LAPD Det. Supervisor Sal LaBarbera. Iles and the passenger were struck.

Detectives believe the homicide was not gang related, he said.

Iles was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead at 2:32 a.m., said Ed Winter, a spokesman with the coroner’s office.

Anyone with information can call the Criminal Gang Homicide Division at (213) 485-1383. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Nicole Santa Cruz

Atilio S. Benavides-Amaya, 39

Nov. 6, 2013

Atilio S. Benavides-Amaya, a 39-year-old Latino, was shot and killed Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2013, in the 1300 block of South Union Avenue in Pico-Union, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

Benavides-Amaya had just gotten off work and was walking home about 8:15 p.m. to the apartment he shared with his mother when two men walked up to him, LAPD Det. Reynaldo Martinez said.

Benavides-Amaya was shot multiple times at close range, then the two men ran east on Union Avenue and may have gotten into a dark SUV.

Benavides-Amaya was pronounced dead at the scene at 8:30 p.m., according to coroner’s records.

Anyone with information is asked to call LAPD Rampart Division homicide detectives at (213) 484-3639. Anonymous tips can be made through Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Nicole Santa Cruz

Matthew Austin Jeffcoat, 34

Nov. 6, 2013

Matthew Austin Jeffcoat, a 34-year-old white male, died Wednesday, Nov. 6, after being stabbed in Hollywood Hills West, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Murder charges dropped against Compton man in double homicide

Nov. 5, 2013, 6:07 p.m.

Murder charges were dropped Oct. 29 against a 19-year-old man from Compton due to a lack of evidence.

Justin Marquis Scott, who had been charged with the Oct. 8 capital murder of Dora Lee Dawson, 64, and Crystallyn May Nguyen, 18, said he spent his days in jail crying and waking from nightmares.

A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge approved a motion by prosecutors to dismiss murder charges against Scott based on surveillance footage that showed him at two shopping centers in Compton on the day of the shootings.

“Based upon newly discovered evidence, prosecutors said they could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the charged crimes,” said Jane Robison, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney's office.

On Oct. 30, he told reporters about the 20-day ordeal.

"I didn't do it," Scott said. "And I wouldn't be here right now …

Anthony Julian Ramirez, 51

Nov. 3, 2013

Anthony Julian Ramirez, a 51-year-old white man, was shot and killed Sunday, Nov. 3, in the 1900 block of Locust Avenue in Long Beach, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

About 8:15 p.m., Long Beach police responded to a call of a fight in the area. When officers arrived, they found Ramirez in the street with a stab wound, according to a news release from the Long Beach Police Department.

Detectives found that Ramirez may have been involved in a fight with a group of people before the stabbing, according to the release.

Ramirez was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10:14 p.m., said Ed Winter, a spokesman for the coroner’s office.

Police don’t have any suspect information. Anyone with information is urged to contact Dets. Scott Lasch and Donald Goodman at (562) 570-7244. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers …

Jose Frank Johnson, 42

Nov. 3, 2013

Jose Frank Johnson, a 42-year-old Latino male, died Sunday, Nov. 3, after sustaining blunt force trauma.

Nelson Zenteno, 29

Nov. 3, 2013

Nelson Zenteno, a 29-year-old Latino male, died Sunday, Nov. 3, after sustaining blunt force trauma in Palmdale, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Matthew Martin, 40

Nov. 2, 2013

Matthew Martin, a 40-year-old black male, died Saturday, Nov. 2, after being shot in Pomona, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Carlos Saenz, 27

Nov. 1, 2013

Carlos Saenz, a 27-year-old Latino male, died Friday, Nov. 1, after being shot in Paramount, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Gerardo Ismael Hernandez, 39

By Los Angeles Times Staff

Nov. 1, 2013

Gerardo Ismael Hernandez, a 39-year-old Latino, died Friday, Nov. 1, 2013, after he was shot at the Los Angeles International Airport, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

Hernandez was shot at a document screening podium in Terminal 3 at point-blank range, authorities said. The gunman rode up an escalator, turned around and noticed the bleeding man squirming. He went back and fired again, authorities said, killing Hernandez. Hernandez was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 11 a.m.

Three others were wounded in the 10-minute rampage.

The shooter was apparently dropped off at LAX just after 9 a.m. Nov. 1. The gunman wore dark clothes and a bulletproof vest and had not purchased a ticket. He carried a Smith & Wesson .223-caliber M&P-15 assault rifle, five loaded magazines and a trove of ammunition, said David Bowdich, special agent in charge of the Counterterrorism Division at the FBI’s Los …

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