Jose Velasquez, a 36-year-old Latino, was fatally shot Monday, Dec. 31, in the 20700 block of Alburtis Avenue in Lakewood, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

The shooting occurred about 11:20 p.m. at a New Year's Eve party at a home, sheriff's deputies said.

"Words were exchanged and an argument ensued when gunfire suddenly erupted,'' according to a Sheriff's Department statement.

Velasquez was struck in the upper body. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The five additional victims, a woman and four men in the driveway, suffered minor, non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.

The male gunman fled on foot.

Anyone with information about this attack is encouraged to contact the Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Garrett Therolf

John Lee, a 33-year-old Asian man, died Monday, Dec. 31, a day after he was shot in the 4200 block of Russell Street in Los Feliz, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Los Angeles police are asking for help solving the killing.

Officers responding to a call of shots fired found Lee lying next to his black Audi at 9:18 p.m. Sunday on Russell Avenue, east of Talmadge Street.

He had been shot four times in the chest. Lee died the next day.

The Audi belongs to Lee's father, but investigators know little about the dead man, Det. Arthur Castro said. The motive is unknown.

Anyone with information about the slaying can call Castro or Det. Jose Carrillo during business hours at (323) 344-5744 or the Northeast watch commander at (323) 344-5701. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Jeff Gottlieb

Guillermo Diaz, a 38-year-old Latino, was found dead Monday, Dec. 31, in the 9400 block of John Street in Santa Fe Springs, according to the Whittier Police Department.

[Editor's note: An earlier version of this post, based on information from the coroner's office, described the victim as an unidentified person.]

Prosecutors allege Juan Manuel Ramirez , a 35-year-old Latino, fatally shot Diaz Dec. 23 and then hid the body in concrete inside a Santa Fe Springs business. The body was discovered inside the heating and air conditioning store on Dec. 31 after Whittier police, who patrol Santa Fe Springs, received a tip about a possible killing.

Ramirez, also known as Juan Alberto Galviz, was charged with murder, along with a special allegation that he fired a shotgun, the Los Angeles County district attorney's office said.

Detectives told The Times a preliminary investigation indicated the crime had resulted from …

Continue reading »

Alejandro Flores, a 19-year-old Latino, was fatally stabbed Sunday, Dec. 30, in the 800 block of Harding Street in San Fernando, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

The incident occurred about 5:50 a.m., said Sgt. Rich Pena of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, which is assisting San Fernando police in the homicide investigation.

Officials said Flores was stabbed and then run over. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene, he said.

No arrests have been made and no motive established in the slaying, Pena said.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the sheriff's homicide bureau at (323) 890-5500. Tipsters wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Carlos Lozano

James Nabors, a 22-year-old black man, was shot and killed Sunday, Dec. 30, in the 37800 block of Silk Tree Lane in Palmdale, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Nabors was found shot and unresponsive in the street about 2:19 a.m., said Ed Winter, spokesman for the coroner's office.

The victim was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead at 3:12 a.m.

No other details were immediately available about the killing.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the sheriff's homicide bureau at (323) 890-5500. Tipsters wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Los Angeles Times

Dennis Cubas-Lopez, a 24-year-old Latino, was fatally shot Sunday, Dec. 30, near 18th and Toberman Streets in Pico-Union, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Ed Winter, spokesman for the coroner's office, said Cubas-Lopez was playing catch in the park with his nephew about 4:05 p.m. when he was approached by a gang member.

The gang member asked him, "Where are you from?" and the two exchanged words, Winter said.

At that point, Cubas-Lopez was shot. Paramedics were called and the victim was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact the LAPD at (877) 275-5273. Tipsters wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Los Angeles Times

John Woods, a 50-year-old black man, was shot and killed Friday, Dec. 28, in the 3600 block of 126th Street in Hawthorne, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

A gunman at a house party opened fire, killing Woods and injuring three others, authorities said.

Police stopped a vehicle that sped away from the residence at 135th Street and Cerise Avenue and found Woods with a gunshot wound inside, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said in a statement.

Woods was taken to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Three other victims, some of the roughly 40 people who gathered for the party, were hospitalized with gunshot wounds that authorities described as non-life-threatening.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the sheriff's homicide bureau at (323) 890-5500. Tipsters wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Marisa Gerber

Favian Macias, a 22-year-old Latino, died Tuesday, Dec. 25, near East Olympic Boulevard and South Dittman Avenue in East Los Angeles, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Police believe Macias was shot as he was driving on South Hicks Avenue near Los Angeles Community Hospital.

The shooting occurred about 2 a.m. After he was shot, Macias crashed into a lamppost.

He was shot multiple times and paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene. His girlfriend was in the car with him and was uninjured.

Macias' girlfriend, who declined to give her name, told KTLA-TV (Channel 5) that they were looking for a parking space when he was shot. When she asked if he was OK, Macias said he was fine; then the car smashed into the lamppost.

“I have no idea, I wish I knew,” she said when asked about a possible motive. “It breaks my heart knowing, you …

Continue reading »

Victor McClinton, a 49-year-old black man, was fatally shot Tuesday, Dec. 25, in the 1900 block of Newport Avenue in Pasadena, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

McClinton, a well-known director of a Pasadena youth sports program, was struck by stray bullets Christmas morning as he walked a fellow coach to his car outside his home, Pasadena police said.

A gang member suspected of shooting McClinton was charged with murder Jan. 2.

Larry Darnell Bishop, a 20-year-old black man, faces one count of attempted murder, two counts of shooting at an occupied home and possession of a firearm by a felon, and an enhancement for personal discharge of a handgun, the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office said in a statement.

Prosecutors have yet to decide whether to seek the death penalty for Bishop, who has two prior felony convictions for commercial burglaries in San Bernardino County.

Authorities believe the intended …

Continue reading »

Jason Vega, a 35-year-old Latino, was shot and killed Monday, Dec. 24, in the 5300 block of Valley Boulevard in El Sereno, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Vega was inside a business about 5 p.m. when he got into a fight with another person, said Ed Winter, spokesman for the coroner's office.

During the fight, Vega was shot, Winter said. Authorities were called and the victim was pronounced dead at 5:20 p.m.

No other details were available about the case.

Anyone with information about the killing is asked to contact the LAPD at (877) 275-5273. Tipsters wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Los Angeles Times

Jimmie Brown Jr., a 40-year-old black man, fatally shot Monday, Dec. 24, in the 1400 block of East Turmont Street in Carson, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Ed Winter, spokesman for the coroner's office, said Brown was at his girlfriend's grandmother's home when he went to the porch to have a cigarette about 8:18 p.m.

During that time, people in the area heard gunshots and called 911. It wasn't until thirty minutes later that Brown's girlfriend discovered him down, shot and unresponsive.

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

Anyone with information about the incident or the identity of the shooter is asked to contact the sheriff's homicide bureau at (323) 890-5500. Tipsters wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Los Angeles Times

Ronald Lavell Oliver, a 55-year-old black male, died Monday, Dec. 24, after sustaining blunt force trauma in Broadway-Manchester, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Joel Garcia Jr., a 32-year-old Latino, was stabbed to death Sunday, Dec. 23, in the 14500 block of McNab Avenue in Bellflower, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

The incident was reported about 12:30 a.m., said Sgt. Edmundo Hummel of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Garcia was pronounced dead at the scene, he said.

No arrests have been made in the case, and the investigation is ongoing, Hummel said.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the sheriff's homicide bureau at (323) 890-5500. Tipsters wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Carlos Lozano

Joshua Shoop, a 35-year-old white man, was fatally shot by law enforcement Sunday, Dec. 23, in the 7700 block of Norwalk Boulevard in West Whittier-Los Nietos, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Whittier police officers were attempting to stop a stolen car near Norwalk and Washington boulevards in west Whittier when police were shot at about 12:30 a.m. and then fled, authorities said. Sheriff's deputies joined in the search for the suspects.

The search ended in a stand-off with two suspects barricaded in a garage. Nearby homes were evacuated.

At least one shot was fired out of the garage at sheriff's deputies, according to a sheriff's statement.

A woman came out of the garage about 4:30 a.m. and surrendered, while her male companion, later identified as Joshua Shoop, remained inside, authorities said.

Shoop, who was armed, emerged from the garage about 6:50 a.m., and deputies fired at him, according …

Continue reading »

Jorge Herrera, a 24-year-old Latino, was fatally shot Saturday, Dec. 22, in the 1400 block of West 65th Place in Harvard Park, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Ed Winter, spokesman for the coroner's office, said residents in the area heard gunshots about 4 a.m. They observed people running after the shooting.

More than three hours after the gunfire, Herrera was discovered on the sidewalk. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Anyone with information about the slaying is asked to contact the LAPD Criminal Gang and Homicide Division at (213) 485-1383. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Los Angeles Times