Desiree Nicole Garza, 29
Desiree Nicole Garza, a 29-year-old Latino female, died Sunday, March 8, after being shot by law enforcement near 18202 Yukon Ave. in Torrance, according to Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner's records.
Christopher Deandre Mitchell, 23
Juan Carlos Perez-Victor, 19
Michael David Lopez, 44
Michael David Lopez, a 44-year-old Latino, was fatally shot by police on Saturday, Oct. 14, in the 2800 block of South Sepulveda Boulevard in Torrance, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.
Torrance police spotted Lopez, who was driving a green Ford Ranger and was believed to be under the influence, and tried to pull him over about 2 a.m., according to a news release. Lopez refused to stop, and a chase began, authorities said.
Police twice tried to stop Lopez by hitting the back of his truck in an effort to send it into a spin, a tactic known as a Pursuit Intervention Technique, or a PIT maneuver. The second attempt ended in the 2800 block of Sepulveda Boulevard, where police shot Lopez, the release said.
He was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 2:44 a.m., according to coroner’s records.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Torrance Police …
Michelle Lee Shirley, 39
Michelle Lee Shirley, a 39-year-old black woman, was shot to death by a Torrance police officer Monday, Oct. 31, near the intersection of Sepulveda Boulevard and Cabrillo Avenue in Torrance, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.
About 2:28 p.m., Torrance officers received a multiple calls about a reckless driver, according to a news release. Callers said a Ford Fusion,had collision damage and that the side airbags had deployed, the release said.
Once police spotted the car, officers boxed it in, according the news release. As the driver tried to get away, officers opened fire on the car, striking the driver, who was later identified as Shirley, the release said.
Shirley, of San Diego, was taken to a hospital where she was pronounced dead at 3:05 p.m., according to coroner's records.
The shooting is being investigated under the direction of Capt. Martin Vukotic of the Torrance Special Operations Bureau with …
Asa James Dolak, 19
Asa James Dolak, a 19-year-old white male, was shot and killed by police Thursday, Dec. 26, on a middle school campus in Torrance.
Dolak had set fire to the apartment shared by his ex-girlfriend and their 2-year-old son earlier that day, authorities said, then set his mother's home ablaze. Torrance police found him with a knife at Madrona Middle School, where school was not in session, about 1:35 p.m.
Torrance Police Sgt. Robert Watt said Dolak made it clear in telephone conversations with officers that he did not intend to be taken into custody without a fight.
"He threatened his family and threatened to kill police if confronted," Watt said. "We took that threat very serious."
The chain of events began just after midnight, when Dolak set fire to an apartment in the 16700 block of Crenshaw Boulevard. Fire crews and officers responded, rescuing the toddler.
The child was treated …
Richard Dale, 54
Richard Dale, a 54-year-old white man, was killed in an officer-involved shooting Saturday, April 19. According to Torrance police spokesman Dave Crespin, officers responded to a complaint of loud music in the 2200 block of Torrance Boulevard in Torrance about 12: 45 a.m., but when they arrived the music had been turned off.
A few minutes later, officers responded to a second complaint of loud music. According to Crespin, officers were making their way to an upstairs apartment when they were confronted by Dale, who allegedly pointed a handgun at them. Shots were fired and Dale was killed.
According to a coroner's report, Dale was shot multiple times in the chest. His time of death was listed as 1:52 a.m. by paramedics with the Torrance Fire Department.
A handgun was recovered at the scene, police said. Police also recovered "numerous weapons and ammunition" inside Dale's home.
Rodney Sandberg, 24
Rodney Carl Sandberg, 24, a white man, was shot multiple times inside a trailer home in an officer-involved shooting at 1820 Torrance Blvd. in Torrance about 9:44 p.m. Saturday, March 15. He was declared dead at the scene by paramedics.
According to Lt. Tom Stark, police officers responded to a call regarding a suicide. Upon arrival, officers encountered Sandberg holding a steak knife to his chest. Relatives were evacuated from the home.
Officers then ordered Sandberg to drop the knife. Multiple Taser shocks administered by three officers were ineffective, Stark said.
Sandberg was shot multiple times when he allegedly advanced toward officers with the knife, said Lt. Lloyd DeGonia. It was unclear how many officers fired their weapons, authorities said. Sandberg's stepfather, Monte Self, 47, said he heard four or five shots.
According to Self, Sandberg had been drinking most of the day. He became angered when Self and his …
Charlie Wilson, 20
Charlie Wilson, 20, was one of two young black men shot and killed in a confrontation with Torrance police officers at 2:38 p.m. Saturday, July 14, in the 2600 block of 231st Street. Also killed was Shaun McCoy, 22.
According to a news release issued by Torrance Police Lt. Rod Irvine, the incident began with a report of a possible burglary. Officers were called to the 2600 block of 231st Street, where a resident had reported seeing men go into a neighbor's house, then jump the fence to the backyard. There had been similar burglaries in the area recently, the release said.
When officers arrived, other neighbors repeated that the suspects were in the backyard and that a red Chevrolet Cavalier connected to the crime had just left. Officers stopped the Cavalier at Elm Avenue and 232nd Street and arrested the driver, Erin Jamahl Madden, 19, of Harbor City.
Other …
Shaun McCoy, 22
Shaun McCoy, 22, was one of two young black men shot and killed in a confrontation with Torrance police officers at 2:38 p.m. Saturday, July 14, in the 2600 block of 231st Street. Also killed was Charlie Wilson, 20.
According to a news release issued by Torrance Police Lt. Rod Irvine, the incident began with a report of a possible burglary. Officers were called to the 2600 block of 231st Street, where a resident had reported seeing men go into a neighbor's house, then jump the fence to the backyard. There had been similar burglaries in the area recently, the release said.
When officers arrived, other neighbors repeated that the suspects were in the backyard and that a red Chevrolet Cavalier connected to the crime had just left. Officers stopped the Cavalier at Elm Avenue and 232nd Street and arrested the driver, Erin Jamahl Madden, 19, of Harbor City.
Other …
William Vasquez, 43
William Vasquez, 43, a Latino man, was shot several times by a police officer at 18325 Mansel Ave. in Torrance and died at 5:44 p.m. Monday, July 2.
Torrance police officers responded to a call of a man with knife cuts on his stomach who was threatening to kill himself. He had reportedly hit his wife. Officers went in and tried to negotiate with Vasquez. What happened next is unclear. Police issued a news release saying only that an "officer-involved shooting occurred." Vasquez was transported by paramedics to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.
Jose Luis Gomez, 19
Jose Luis Gomez, a 19-year-old Latino male, died Thursday, Aug. 19, after being shot by law enforcement near 24010 Hawthorne Blvd. in Torrance, according to Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner's records.