Omar Gilberto Cota Sanchez, 30
Francisco Javier Jr Calderon, 24
Donie Vanitzian, 67
Donie Vanitzian, a 67-year-old white woman, was found dead Thursday, Dec. 28, in the 4200 block of Corinth Avenue in Del Rey, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.
About 5:38 p.m., police responded to a home on a welfare check and found Vanitzian on the ground with a gunshot wound to the head, LAPD Lt. John Radtke said.
A man on the ground next to Vanitzian was partially conscious, and detectives think he may have ingested pills, Radtke said. The man left a suicide note, police said, and investigators found a revolver on the ground under him.
Thomas Foster, a 75-year-old white man, was charged Wednesday with one count of murder with a handgun allegation, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.
Foster was married to Vanitzian for 35 years. Vanitzian was a longtime Los Angeles Times contributor who wrote a weekly column on homeowners associations for the Sunday …
Roberto Saucedo, 67
Roberto Saucedo, a 67-year-old Latino, was shot and killed Sunday, Sept. 3, in the 11800 block of Wagner Street in the West Los Angeles community of Del Rey, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s office.
Saucedo was home about 6 p.m. with his girlfriend and his son, Juan Saucedo, 36, who also lived in the house, said Los Angeles Police West Bureau Homicide Lt. John Radtke.
Police were called to the residence at 6:18 p.m. regarding a shooting in progress, and discovered Roberto Saucedo lying unresponsive inside the house with gunshot wounds, Radtke said.
Roberto Saucedo was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:51 p.m., according to coroner’s records. The cause of death was listed as gunshot wounds to the head and chest.
His girlfriend had also been shot once, in the face, Radtke said. She was taken to the hospital and is expected to survive.
Authorities believe Juan Saucedo, …
Juana "Juanita" Maritza Sandoval, 56
Juana "Juanita" Maritza Sandoval, a 56-year-old Latina, was found with blunt force trauma Friday, Feb. 17, in the 4900 block of Marionwood Drive in Del Rey, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.
About 8 p.m., a person in the area noticed Sandoval on the ground near a parking lot, said Los Angeles Police Det. Sean Kinchla.
The person called authorities, who pronounced Sandoval dead at the scene at 8:18 p.m., according to coroner’s records.
An autopsy found that Sandoval died of blunt force trauma to the head, said Ed Winter, a spokesman for the coroner’s office.
Around that time, the power had gone out in the area, so there’s no camera surveillance of what may have happened, Kinchla said.
Sandoval lived in a housing development in the area.
Detectives are looking for witnesses.
Anyone with information is asked to call LAPD detectives at (213) 382-9470. Those who wish to …
Kristine Carman, 17
Kristine Carman, a 17-year-old white teenager, was found fatally shot on Wednesday, Jan. 6, in the 4300 block of Glencoe Avenue in Del Rey, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.
Police responded to a shooting call shortly before 8 p.m. in the Villa Marina Marketplace Mall parking lot, according to a news release from the Los Angeles Police Department.
Officers discovered Carman with a gunshot wound inside a vehicle, and she was pronounced dead at the scene at 7:55 p.m.
Police said that the suspect was described as a black male wearing a gray hoodie and blue beanie. The man was last seen running across the mall parking lot and fled in a dark-colored SUV.
Anyone with information is asked to call the West Bureau Homicide investigators at (213) 382-9470. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.
Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @jeromercampbell and …
Calvin Johnson, 50
Hunter Christian Merkle, 27
Francisco Javier Ayala-Mejia, 25
Francisco Javier Ayala-Mejia, a 25-year-old Latino, was fatally shot Saturday, Aug. 17, in the 4600 block of Berryman in Del Rey, according to the L.A. County coroner’s office.
Ayala-Mejia, of Culver City, was shot about 12:30 a.m. as he was pulling away from the curb in his white Honda Civic, according to an LAPD news release.
Officers found Ayala-Mejia inside the car, according to the release.
Ayala-Mejia was pronounced dead at the scene by the L.A. Fire Department at 12:45 a.m., said Ed Winter, a spokesman for the coroner’s office.
It is unknown whether the gunman was on foot or in another vehicle, according to the news release.
Anyone with information about the attack is urged to call West Bureau Homicide Dets. Carranza and Pierce at (213) 382-9470. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.
-- Nicole Santa Cruz
Terrence Jordan Nelson, 21
Terrence Jordan Nelson, a 21-year-old black man, died from a gunshot wound on Friday, June 7, in the 4400 block of South Slauson Avenue in Del Rey, according to L.A. County coroner’s records.
Nelson was visiting friends inside a converted garage about 11 p.m. when a gunman shot him, said LAPD Det. John Radtke with the West Bureau.
The shooter fled on foot and attempted to carjack a vehicle, Radtke said. The carjacking victim, who police have not identified, then ran the man over, injuring him, Radtke said.
Nelson died at 11:15 p.m., coroner’s records show.
The shooter was later arrested and booked on suspicion of murder. LAPD officials have not released his name.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact West Bureau homicide investigators Luis Carranza or Kevin Pierce at (213) 382-9470.
-- Nicole Santa Cruz
Hector Rocha-Rizo, 19 [Updated]
Hector Rocha-Rizo, a 19-year-old Latino, was shot and killed Monday, Nov. 8, in the 4800 block of Slauson Avenue in Del Rey, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.
Ed Winter, spokesman for the coroner's office, said the shooting occurred about 7:50 p.m.
Authorities found Rocha-Rizo on the sidewalk shot twice in the head. He was pronounced dead at the scene, Winter said.
The coroner’s office had no additional details about the shooting.
The Times has contacted investigators to obtain more information about the case and will provide an update as soon as possible.
[Update Nov. 18: LAPD Pacific Det. Luis Carranza, who is handling the case, said no arrests have been made, but the investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information about the incident or the identity of the shooter is asked to contact Det. Carranza at (310) 482-6373. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers …
Alberto Dionicio-Ramirez, 22
Braylon Williams, 22
Braylon Williams, a 22-year-old black man, was fatally shot in an alley in the Mar Vista Gardens housing project in the 4800 block of Marionwood Drive about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23.
Los Angeles Police Department detectives said he was in the alley behind the complex when he was approached from behind by a gunman. The assailant fired a pistol, hitting Williams several times.
Police said the motive for the crime appears related to gang activity. The suspect was described as a Latino man, 18 to 20 years old, of medium height and build, wearing a black sweatshirt. He was last seen running along a flood control fence.
Anyone with information about the crime or the suspect is asked to call Pacific Division homicide detectives at (310) 482-6813.
—Andrew Blankstein
Update:
LAPD officials appealing for the public's help in solving this killing said they believe it is a gang-retaliation shooting. …