A story for every victim

Suggested searches:

Bashar "Pop Smoke" Jackson, 20

By Hannah Fry and Richard Winton

Bashar "Pop Smoke" Jackson (2020-02-19)

Bashar Jackson, a 20-year-old man also known as the rapper Pop Smoke, was shot and killed Wednesday, Feb. 19, in the 2000 block of Hercules Drive in the Hollywood Hills, according to law enforcement and Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s records.

About 5 a.m., police responded to a home in the area after a person called from the East Coast to report that several people, including one wearing a mask and armed with a handgun, had burst into the property, police said.

Officers found Jackson wounded by gunfire. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

At least four people fled the scene, and authorities say they have not been found.

Investigators suspect the home where the up-and-coming rapper was staying was targeted by the assailants. In recent years, Los Angeles residences being rented by musicians have been the target of several home invasions, according to law …

Continue reading »

Alfred Longoria, 34

Alfred Longoria, a 34-year-old Latino, was shot and killed by police Saturday, Jan. 16, in the 1800 block of Nichols Canyon Road in Hollywood Hills West, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

About 2:15, a resident reported a burglary at his home in the 1800 block of Courtney Terrace, police said.

Officers from the Los Angeles Police Department's Hollywood Division responded and set up a perimeter in the area to look for the robber, LAPD Det. Meghan Aguilar said.

About an hour and a half later, a police helicopter spotted “some movement" within that perimeter and Longoria emerged on Nichols Canyon Road. Two officers stationed nearby to monitor the perimeter were involved in the fatal encounter, Aguilar said.

LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said Jan. 19 that the man pointed what appeared to be a blue steel pistol at the officers, prompting them to open fire.

Investigators later determined the …

Continue reading »

Michael Valentino, 27

Michael Valentino, a 27-year-old white man, was killed in an officer-involved shooting Monday, March 24, in the 8100 block of Gould Avenue in Hollywood Hills West, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

Officers were responding to a domestic violence call about 8 a.m. and had just crossed the home’s threshold when Valentino shot at them with a semiautomatic gun, injuring an officer.

Valentino barricaded himself inside the home, police said.

LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said that the initial incident report showed the injured officer fired seven rounds at Valentino and “ultimately killed” him. He was pronounced dead at 11:24 a.m. at the scene, according to coroner’s records.

The attack was described as sudden and unprovoked by Los Angeles Police Asst. Chief Michel Moore.

“Our investigation’s ongoing as to how this occurred and why this occurred,” he said before cautioning that it was “not quite clear that we’ll come to …

Continue reading »

Kristin Franya Baldwin, 38

Kristin Franya Baldwin, a 38 year-old white woman was shot and killed Sunday, May 27, in Hollywood Hills West, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

According to coroner's records, Baldwin's shooting took place about 6:40 a.m. at 8581 Cole Crest Drive  and was witnessed by two people. Her assailant allegedly dumped her body in San Bernardino County.

An LAPD detective on the case asked the Los Angeles County coroner to take jurisdiction, according to the report.

The following is an excerpt from the Times' story on the case:


A question that baffled Los Angeles homicide detectives — where is the body of the woman whom lawyer David Mahler is accused of shooting at an upscale Hollywood Hills home — has been answered, authorities said Monday.

A body discovered by two men 10 days ago in a ditch four miles east of Barstow was confirmed by officials to be that …

Continue reading »

Next »