Two Minors Arrested For Murder In North Hollywood 

Police on Wednesday announced the arrest of two juveniles for the murder of a 19-year-old man in North Hollywood in February. A search warrant on February 29 led to the arrest of a 13-year-old male in Van Nuys, and a 14-year-old in North Hills, said the Los Angeles Police Department. On February 20 officers responded to a shooting at the intersection of Vanowen Street and Ethel Avenue, the Los Angeles Police Department said. Upon arrival, they found 19-year-old Jorge Ramos on the sidewalk, suffering from a gunshot wound, according to police. Ramos was pronounced dead at the scene. The District Attorney’s office has filed one count of murder for the 14-year-old, and an Accessory to murder for the 13-year-old. Anyone with information on this case is asked to call 1-818-374-9550.

NBC 4

Burglars Use U-Haul Truck To Break Into North Hollywood Warehouse

Los Angeles Police Department officers interrupted a burglary crew that used a large rental truck to smash their way into a North Hollywood warehouse overnight. Around 3:30 a.m. Monday, LAPD officers responded to a report of a burglary in progress in the 10800 block of Burbank Boulevard, located near Vineland Avenue. The caller stated the suspects used a U-Haul and plowed into the gates and garage of the building.

FOX 11

Police Warn Of Thieves Using Wifi-Jamming Tech To Disarm Cameras, Alarms

Authorities with the Los Angeles Police Department are warning residents in Los Angeles’ Wilshire-area neighborhoods of a series of burglaries involving wifi-jamming technology that can disarm surveillance cameras and alarms using a wireless signal. According to police, the burglaries typically involve three to four suspects who enter homes through a second-story balcony. 

KTLA 5

Former LA Pro Basketball Player Sentenced To 90 Years For Sexual Assault

Former professional basketball player Rashid Byrd has been sentenced to 90 years to life in state prison for a series of violent sexual assaults spanning a five-year period in Los Angeles and Santa Clara counties. Byrd has been in police custody since his arrest by the Los Angeles Police Department for sexual assault on Sept. 20, 2020, and was sentenced Friday. An LAPD investigation began after a victim came forward to report that she had been sexually assaulted by Byrd in 2019. During the police investigation, detectives discovered Byrd had been arrested for sexually assaulting a young woman in the state of Washington in 2005 and had been convicted of a sexual assault involving a different victim in 2010. According to Byrd's victims, he initially came across as charming, but then eventually forced them into a variety of sex acts. "He started as a charmer, playing up his status as an athlete and pseudo-celebrity, but that quickly faded into rapes and violence," said Detective Dara Brown, the lead investigator on the case. "The LAPD is grateful for the brave women who came forward to tell their stories," Brown added. "While this investigation has gone on for years, we are thankful that Byrd is no longer on the streets."

CBS 2

Man Injured After Being Shot With Crossbow Near Dodger Stadium

A man was hospitalized after being shot by a crossbow in his shoulder near Dodger Stadium in Echo Park Tuesday morning. The attack happened near a gas station in the 1400 block of Sunset Boulevard near Dodger Stadium around 8 a.m., according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The man, in his 40s, was taken to the hospital for his injuries and is in stable condition. Authorities said the victim was being uncooperative and refused to provide any information about the suspect. The crossbow was recovered from the scene. No one has been arrested for the attack and the motive is unknown.

CBS 2

California Dentist Fatally Shot At Work, ‘Disgruntled’ Ex-Customer Arrested

A dentist is dead and two others are wounded after a man, believed to be a “disgruntled former patient,” allegedly opened fire in a southern California dentist’s office last week, KTLA sister station KSWB. Police in El Cajon, about 15 miles east of San Diego, were called to Smile Plus Dentistry and Orthodontics shortly after 4 p.m. Thursday for an active shooting. When officers arrived, they found three victims, El Cajon police explained. One of those victims, later identified as 28-year-old Benjamin Ariel Harouni by the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office, was pronounced dead at the scene from apparent gunshot injuries to the body. The other victims, a man in his 40s and a woman in her 20s, were taken to the hospital in stable condition. Details about their injuries and their association with the dentist’s office were not released. Police noted others were in the building at the time of the apparent shooting but did not say whether they had been injured, or whether they were employees or patients.

KTLA 5

Masked Gunmen Kill 4, Wound 3 At Outdoor Party In Central California, Police Say

A group of men in masks opened fire at an outdoor party in central California, killing four people and wounding three others Sunday evening, police said. The King City Police Department said in a statement that officers responded to a reported shooting around 6 p.m. in King City and found three men with gunshot wounds who were pronounced dead in a front yard. Four other people sustained gunshot wounds, including a woman who died after being transported to Mee Memorial Hospital in King City, about 106 miles south of San Jose. The three wounded men were transported to Natividad Hospital in Salinas, police said. According to the police statement, several people were at the party outside a residence when three men wearing dark clothes with dark-colored masks over their heads got out of a silver Kia and fired at the group. The suspects, who weren't immediately identified, then fled the scene in the car. Police cautioned that, "The suspects are considered armed and dangerous. If you see them or the vehicle, call 911. Do not try to contact them."

CBS 2

US Citizen Arrested At California Checkpoint After Attempting To Smuggle $130k In Fentanyl Pills

An American citizen was arrested on Wednesday after attempting to smuggle $130,000 worth of fentanyl pills through a California immigration checkpoint, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Thursday. Border Patrol agents at the El Centro Sector checkpoint in Indio said a ride-share taxi driver with four passengers entered the inspection area – which is on Highway 86 near the Salton Sea – at around 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The vehicle was sent to the secondary inspection area for further investigation, where a K-9 team specializing in concealed humans and narcotics detection received permission from the taxi driver to search the vehicle. The K-9 alerted authorities to the vehicle's trunk, which contained several bags, and then specifically alerted to a backpack and a speaker. A passenger, who was not named and only identified as a U.S. citizen, said both belonged to him. When searching both items, Border Patrol agents found "several wrapped packages consistent with wrapping commonly used to transport illegal narcotics," the agency said.

FOX 11

Man Found Guilty Of Murdering Chicago Officer Ella French, Wounding Another

A man was found guilty Tuesday of shooting and killing a Chicago police officer, wounding her partner and firing at a third officer in August 2021. Emonte Morgan, 23, of Chicago was found guilty in the slaying of Officer Ella French and wounding of Officer Carlos Yanez Jr. during a traffic stop on the city’s South Side. The jury deliberated less than two hours before convicting him of first-degree murder, attempted murder of a peace officer and possession/use of a firearm as a felon. French, 29, was slain and Yanez was wounded after they stopped an SUV with expired tags. An email seeking comment was sent to Morgan’s public defender. The defense rested without calling any witnesses. Morgan’s brother, Eric Morgan, pleaded guilty in October to charges of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, battery and obstruction of justice. A third man, Jamel Danzy of Hammond, Indiana, was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison last December after pleading guilty to a federal firearms charge for making an illegal straw purchase of the handgun used to kill French.

Associated Press

Firefighters Save LA County Lifeguard Boat Taking On Water Near LA Harbor

A Los Angeles County Fire Department lifeguard boat was saved from capsizing after it hit a rock near the LA Harbor in San Pedro on Tuesday. Firefighters were dispatched to the area, near the 1000 block of S. Seaside Avenue, at around 7:40 p.m. after learning that the Baywatch lifeguard boat was taking on water, according to Los Angeles Fire Department. At around 9:15 p.m., crews reported that they had safely removed the water on the boat and saved it from sinking. With SkyCal overhead, crews could be seen setting up pumps to help with dewatering the 30-to-40-foot vessel. No injuries have been reported. 

CBS 2

Free COVID-19 Tests Are Still Available By Mail — Until Friday

Free COVID-19 tests are still available by mail, but the U.S. Postal Service says orders will be suspended after Friday. Since Nov. 20, residents have been eligible to receive up to two orders of four at-home COVID-19 tests via the USPS, meaning each home could receive up to eight tests. The offer is ending just as COVID-19 restrictions and recommendations from health officials have been significantly relaxed, but testing continues to be a central part of the recommendations made by state and federal officials. In California, the state’s department of health now states newly infected people don’t need to isolate if they aren’t showing symptoms of COVID. They can also stop isolating if the illness starts to improve quickly. The California Department of Public Health still recommends people test and, if they get a positive result, wear a mask when indoors with others. Those who have been infected can remove their masks if they have two sequential negative tests taken a day part.

Los Angeles Times

Kevin De León Takes Early Lead Against 7 Opponents In LA City Council Race

City Councilman Kevin de León took a major step in his efforts at reputation redemption in the wake of the City Hall racism scandal -- taking an early lead in primary balloting for the City Council seat from District 14. In early results Tuesday, de León was in front of an eight-candidate field with 29% of the vote, followed by Assemblyman Miguel Santiago at 22.42%; tenant rights attorney Ysabel Jurado at 17.6%; and Assemblywoman Wendy Carillo at 15.38%. Attorney Teresa Hillery (5.26%), community advocate Genny Guerrero (3.91%), LAUSD teacher Eduardo "Lalo" Vargas (3.64%) and health professional Nadine Diaz (2.79%) trailed the top four vote-getters. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote in the primary, the top two vote-getters will face each other in a runoff in the general election on Nov. 5. District 14 encompasses Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights, Downtown L.A., El Sereno and Northeast L.A. 

ABC 7

About the LAPPL: Formed in 1923, the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) represents more than 8,900 dedicated and professional sworn members of the Los Angeles Police Department. The LAPPL serves to advance the interests of LAPD officers through legislative and legal advocacy, political action and education.