Dion Miles Jr., 19, a young black man, was shot and killed at 12303 Wilmington in Willowbrook about noon on Wednesday, June 13. He was from another part of Los Angeles and is not believed to have known much about the neighborhood where he found himself that afternoon. Detectives think he may have gotten off a bus at a nearby bus stop there.

He was wearing a red hat, shoes, and red striped shirt. The neighborhood is claimed by Crip gangs who are associated with the color blue and who are traditional enemies of red-clad Blood gangs. Miles was not a documented gang member and had no criminal record of serious or violent crime. He probably had no idea that the colors he was wearing might be considered a provocation on that stretch of Wilmington, detectives said. Almost immediately, he was confronted by two black men or youths on …

Continue reading »

Dovon Harris, a 15-year-old black male, was pronounced dead Friday, June 15, after being shot the day before in Green Meadows. He was on life support until June 17. 

Dispatch: Dovon Harris, 15, continued. [Originally published June 19, 2007]

At the hospital, Barbara Pritchett corralled the LAPD detective who would be handling the case of her son Dovon's murder."I didn't want him to be labeled with just a name and a number," Pritchett said.

Dovon, 15, was still on life support after being shot last Thursday in Watts, and would remain on life support several days so that his organs could be donated. "I want you to meet him," Pritchett recalled telling Det. John Skaggs of LAPD's Southeast Division.

The 10th-grader at Centennial High School had been struck by a bullet east of South Central Avenue on 114th Street in Watts late in the afternoon as he headed home …

Continue reading »

Detrick Ford, 20, a black man, was shot and killed by Los Angeles police officers from Southeast Division early Wednesday, June 13, about 12:40 a.m. Police said patrol officers answering a radio call of domestic violence confronted Ford, who charged them with a 10-inch knife. Officer Gilbert Padilla fired his gun and killed Ford.

Michael Miller, 25, a white man, was the victim of the Long Beach Freeway shooting near 3rd Street on Tuesday, June 12. Investigators said his girlfriend had called him to help her change a flat tire.

A Latino man drove up in an early 1990s light-blue or gray Nissan 4-door car and asked Miller if he needed help. Miller said "No." The suspect shot him and fled in the car.

Anyone with tips is asked to call sheriff's homicide detectives at (323) 890-5500.

Photos: Above, a sketch of the suspect and, below, a rendering of his car

Julio Cesar Montano, a 25-year-old Latino man, was shot at 1113 N. Oleander Ave., near the intersection of Oleander and Cherry streets in Compton, on Tuesday, June 12 at about 8:09 p.m. He died at 8:34 p.m.

This shooting took place in front of patrolling deputies' eyes. The deputies were in a car about 100 yards away, watching, when a 16-year-old black youth fired into Montano's silver Ford Expedition, striking him. Montano was transported to Martin Luther King-Harbor Hospital, where he died.

The teen suspect ran. Deputies gave chase in their patrol car; they drew up to him, and the youth pointed a gun at them. One deputy fired and missed. The youth then tossed his gun and ran. They caught up with him, and he surrendered. He was charged with homicide and a handgun was recovered. Montano worked for a catering company and lived in the area, investigators said.

Luis Rodriguez, 29, was shot and killed at 4936 W. 132nd Street in Hawthorne at about 12:45 a.m. Tuesday, June 12.

He was a metal worker just getting home from work. He parked his car on the street and was about to go into his home when he was attacked, shot and killed on the spot. Deputies answering a "shots fired" call found him.

Anyone with information is asked to call sheriff's homicide at (323) 890-5500.

Ruben Garcia Castillo, 16, a Latino youth, was shot and killed by shopkeeper Soloman Berhane, 38, inside the Normandie Ranch Market in the 5300 block of South Normandie Avenue in LAPD's 77th Street Division at about 2:30 p.m. Monday, June 11, police said.

Garcia had walked into the market and surprised Berhane, who was absorbed in the task of counting money. Hearing Ruben's voice, and believing that he was being robbed, Berhane grabbed his weapon from under the counter and fired, then "realized he had shot a longtime customer," said Det. Matt Mahoney of LAPD.

Berhane called 911 and tried to give aid to Garcia, police said. Garcia died at the scene. Berhane, who neighbors said is of Jamaican extraction, was booked for manslaughter and later released on bail with possible charges pending.

Dispatch: Shopkeeper kills youth [Originally published June 12, 2007]

Ruben Garcia Castillo, 16, was short in …

Continue reading »

Pablo Hernandez, 27, a Latino man, was gunned down at the mouth of an alley while attending a children's party on East 54th Street near Avalon Boulevard in LAPD's Newton Division at about 5:30 p.m. June 10.

Hernandez was visiting a cousin. They were standing in back of the gathering drinking sodas. One of the party hostesses asked the cousin to help set up a children's blow-up jumper. The young man walked over to help her, and as he did, he heard multiple shots from the mouth of the alley.

At the sound, the children at the party dropped and huddled. The cousin ran back out to the alley just in time to see the wounded Hernandez stagger toward the street, leaving a trail of blood behind him. He collapsed after a few yards, and died in surgery later at California Hospital.

By that time, numerous family members had gathered …

Continue reading »

Rodney Elijah Love, a 15-year-old black youngster, was killed in a shooting in the 1700 block of W. 80th Street in South-Central Los Angeles at about 4 p.m. Sunday, June 10. He was standing on the street when a car reportedly drove by, pulled a U-turn, and came back, the occupants firing.  He was a 10th-grader at Reseda High School.

Dispatch: "I watched the life just leave his body" [Originally published June 11, 2007]

The circumstances of street shootings often dictate that the victims' loved ones are on hand to watch them die.

The reasons are simple: Victims are commonly murdered in public spaces not far from their homes. Friends and relatives hear shots and run out in time to watch a son, husband or brother bleed to death.

This is what befell Angela Cooke on Sunday afternoon, June 10.

Her son, Rodney Elijah Love, 15, was a 5-foot, …

Continue reading »

Brian Alexander Herrera, a 22-year-old Latino man, was shot in front of a house while attending a baby shower near the intersection of Adams and Hooper streets Saturday evening, June 9. Many children were at the party, said Sajjid Rahim, 31, a friend of Herrera's. About a dozen of them, ages 9 to 14, were in the front yard.

Herrera had gone in front where the children were to get some cigarettes from his car. Rahim, who was was in the back yard, heard several shots and ran in front to find Herrera still conscious but bleeding. The children were not hit. Herrera died later at County-USC Medical Center.

Update: This case has been cleared. A black youth, a member of a Latino gang, is in custody.

Jairo Martinez, 19, a Latino young man, was killed Saturday, June 9,  in a shooting in the 2400 block of Michigan Street in Boyle Heights. He died at the scene. "Gang-related" is how LAPD Hollenbeck detectives described the shooting, adding that both the victim and suspects are believed to have been involved in gangs.

Martinez's family declined an interview. Male friends about his age hovered on a porch next to this shrine, below. When it was suggested that they might go inside, or in back of the property, for safety, one said: "I know. But we can't leave him alone out here.".

Update: An arrest has been made in this case. Hollenbeck Det.Mike Marin and partner cleared it with the arrest of 21-year-old NelsonTurcios, a Latino man.

Photo: A street memorial at the site of Martinez's killing.

Continue reading »

William Campos, 18, a Latino young man, was reported dead from homicide in LAPD's Mission area Saturday, June 9. He died at Providence Medical Center.

Campos was at a flyer party. He was shot. He was a local gang member, according to police, and he was confronted by gang members from the westside of the Valley. LAPD Mission Dets. Gene Parshall and John Macchairella have cleared this case. A 16-year-old Latino youth was arrested on June 18, and he faces adult murder charges.

Update: LAPD Mission detectives have cleared, or solved, this case. Latino gang members are in custody.

Arman Tomanyan, a 28-year-old man of Armenian descent, was found wounded from gunfire outside the family business in the 6600 block of Foothill Boulevard on Friday, June 8, about 8:30 p.m.

He was taken to a hospital, where he died. Erroneous information about a fleeing suspect put LAPD patrol officers into chase mode right after this shooting. Officers pursued a car they thought belonged to the suspect for two hours around the city until they finally apprehended the driver, learned that he was a parolee with a suspended license, and that he had no apparent connection to the shooting.

Detectives are seeking help from the public on this case. (818) 834-3115.

Celerino Reyes, 40, a Latino man, was shot while driving his car in the 1300 block of Mateo Street on Friday, June 8.

Reyes had been followed from the bank by would-be robbers, investigators theorized. The suspects are two black men, not particularly young. Shot at the wheel, Reyes lost control of the car, which crashed into this palm tree (left) on a noisy industrial street a short distance north of the 10 Freeway.

He was taken to California Hospital Medical Center, where he died. Detectives said he was a businessman in the area, who bought and sold warehouse pallets. Someone left an Easter lily at the death scene.

Right, a video camera caught this image of the suspects' car. It is a 4-door Chevrolet Cobalt, year 2005-07, silver colored. At the time of the homicide, the car bore a yellow paper plate that read "Hollywood" in red cursive writing. …

Continue reading »

The body of Rogelio Delgado, an 18-year-old Latino young man, was dumped at 4106 Homer St. in LAPD's Hollenbeck Division on Thursday, June 7. He had been shot. A passerby just before 6 a.m. saw his body and thought he was drunk and sleeping. Patrol officers discovered he was dead. He was from the area, investigators said.