Investigation underway after man found dead outside Los Angeles Convention Center
Law Enforcement News
Investigation underway after man found dead outside Los Angeles Convention Center
An investigation is underway after a person was found dead outside the Los Angeles Convention Center in downtown. Officers responded to the area of Convention Center Drive and Venice Boulevard around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday following reports of an assault with a deadly weapon, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Lt. Ryan Rabbett said witnesses reported that someone had been assaulted by a suspect. Video from the scene shows police officers setting up a white tent near some bushes on the sidewalk. That's where the victim, only identified as a man in his 50s, appeared to be suffering from blunt force trauma, Rabbett added. "What we know at this point is that the suspect possibly fled westbound on Venice Boulevard...," Rabbett said. "Our detectives are here now. They're reviewing video from, not only the convention center parking structure itself, but other locations. They're talking to other witnesses and they are collecting evidence at the scene."
Los Angeles man charged with killing girlfriend's pet rabbit
A 25-year-old man from North Hollywood was charged with killing his girlfriend's 2-month-old rabbit. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office charged Nikolas Hart, 25, with six counts, including felony animal cruelty and misdemeanors related to allegations of domestic violence, witness tampering and disobeying a court order. If convicted as charged, Hart faces up to eight years in state prison. He pleaded not guilty to all counts. He's being held on a $150,000 bail. Prosecutors said the court issued an order preventing him from owning, possessing or having any animals in his care or custody. "This defendant is accused of assaulting his girlfriend on prior occasions, then later killing a defenseless animal in a violent outburst," LA County DA Nathan Hochman said. "That kind of criminal behavior will land you in prison. We will prove these charges in court and seek the full punishment under the law."
Missing At-Risk 62-Year-Old Man in Reseda Sought by Authorities
A Silver Alert was activated Monday on behalf of an at-risk 62-year-old man last seen Monday in Reseda. Valentine Zepeda was last seen at approximately 4:50 p.m. Monday near Saticoy Street and Wilbur Avenue, according to the California Highway Patrol, which activated the alert on behalf of the Los Angeles Police Department. Zepeda was described as a 5-foot-7-inch-tall man weighing 200 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a brown shirt and black pants. Anyone with information regarding Zepeda’s whereabouts was urged to call 911. The Silver Alert program was established by the CHP to issue and coordinate alerts involving the unexplained or suspicious disappearances of elderly, developmentally disabled or cognitively impaired individuals.
Silver Alert Activated For At-Risk 78-Year-Old Man
A Silver Alert was activated on behalf of an at-risk 78-year-old man last seen Monday in the Florence area of Los Angeles. Jose Rodriguez was last seen at approximately 6:45 a.m. Monday near East 64th Street and San Pedro Street, according to the California Highway Patrol, which activated the alert on behalf of the Los Angeles Police Department. Rodriguez was described as a 5-foot-2-inch-tall man weighing 150 pounds with gray hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a red and black hat, a gray long-sleeve button-down shirt, black pants, white socks and red shoes. Anyone with information regarding Rodriguez’s whereabouts was urged to call 911.
Man charged with kidnapping a UCLA student, raping a Culver City woman
The Santa Monica man, who was arrested last month for kidnapping a UCLA student, has officially been charged with the crime as well as the rape of another woman from October 2025. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office announced 25-year-old Alexander Schecter was charged with five counts of felony crime, including kidnapping to commit another crime and forcible rape. Schecter was arrested last month for the alleged kidnapping on March 8. Police said Schecter was supposed to drop off the UCLA student, but instead, he prevented her from getting out of the car and continued to drive half a mile on Gayle Avenue. While the suspect was out on bail on the kidnapping charge, detectives began to look closely into Schecter and determined he was linked to a previously unreported rape in Culver City. The female victim, who has no known ties to UCLA, was assaulted on Oct. 12, 2025 between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. near Venice Boulevard and Clarington Avenue, police said. Schecter was arrested again for the alleged rape, but he was freed on bond the next day, jail records showed. "I want to first recognize the bravery of the victims for coming forward to report what happened to them. Their bravery not only brings us closer to justice but also helps us protect others," District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement.
Man accused of trying to lure child from L.A. County playground
A man suspected of trying to lure a 4-year-old child away from their parent at a park in Los Angeles County is in custody, police announced Tuesday. The March 30 incident occurred around 12:53 p.m. at Fox Hills Park on Green Valley Circle in Culver City. Officers responding to a reported kidnapping attempt were told that a man wearing a red hoodie approached the child at the playground and told the minor to come with him, according to the Culver City Police Department. The child’s parent and another community member witnessed the interaction and moved to intervene. “When the parent and community member approached, the suspect walked away from the playground and left the area,” police said. “At no time was the child physically taken or harmed.” A search of the park did not immediately lead to the suspect. Officers later located a person matching the description inside a vehicle parked in the structure of a nearby shopping center.
LA County mother, stepfather who tortured and killed 16-year-old daughter sentenced to life in prison
A Los Angeles County mother and stepfather who were convicted in the torture and death of their 16-year-old daughter in 2021 were sentenced to 22 years to life in prison on Friday, according to the LA County District Attorney's Office. Vallejo residents Oriana Elias, 28, and Vincent Gibbs, 39, each were sentenced for Pearlene V.'s death in August 2021, which occurred "after they became upset with her for sending inappropriate text messages to teenage boys." In a news release from the LA County District Attorney's Office, prosecutors said that Elias and Gibbs punished Pearlene V by having her perform strenuous exercises in the hot sun and that they beat her with a wooden plank and belt for several hours. Prosecutors further noted that the abuse was witnessed by the girl's sisters. Pearlene V collapsed and died in the makeshift bathroom of a trailer that the family was living in, the release said, noting that the trailer didn't have electricity or running water.
BWC: Man calls 911 on himself, runs at California officer with knife before OIS
The Sacramento Police Department released body camera footage showing an officer-involved shooting of a suspect who ran at officers with a knife outside of an elementary school. The March 10 incident began when a 911 caller reported that a man was walking around an elementary school with a knife and chasing anyone who approached him. A Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office helicopter went to monitor the scene. Video from the helicopter response shows the suspect pacing around, holding a knife with a long blade. As an officer arrived at the scene, the suspect repeatedly walked toward the cruiser before turning around and walking away. The officer’s body camera eventually shows the suspect approaching the officer with the knife. “Sir, please put down the knife!” the officer says. The man can be seen walking toward the officer, gesticulating with the knife and speaking. The officer backed away, pleading with the man to drop the knife. As additional units arrived, the officer ordered them to have less lethal at the ready. Moments later, the man started to run toward the officer. After issuing more instructions to drop the knife, the officer fired shots, striking the man. Another officer deployed a TASER as shots were fired.
BWC: Woman threatens to kill Kentucky officers, advances with porcelain shard before fatal OIS
The Louisville Police Department released body camera footage showing an officer-involved shooting of a woman in crisis who approached them with a broken piece of porcelain after threatening to kill them. The March 27 incident began when a family member called 911 to report that a woman had slit her wrists, according to 911 audio. The caller went on to say that the woman was in a “violent mode” and had cut herself with glass. The woman can be heard yelling in the background. Minutes later, another call was made to 911 to report that the woman in crisis drank cleaning products to “try and kill herself” and locked herself in the bathroom. The caller reported that the woman was still conscious. Body camera footage shows the first officer arriving at the scene. He was directed to the bathroom by the 911 caller and another relative, who told the officer that the woman’s name was Kaitlyn. “Hey Kaitlyn, what’s going on?” he asked through the door. “Kaitlyn is dead,” the woman responded.
‘I’m the one who shot him': NYPD cops asked for doorbell cam footage, got confession instead
NYPD detectives investigating the fatal shooting of a 21-year-old man in the hallway of his Bronx apartment building knocked on the door of the victim’s 76-year-old neighbor to see if he might have any footage from his doorbell camera that could help. They didn’t get the video. They got a confession instead, police sources said Friday. “I’m the one who shot him,” Gilbert Smalls told police, according to a source with knowledge of the case. Smalls is now facing murder and manslaughter charges for killing his neighbor — who is about 55 years his junior — in the Thursday night clash, cops said. The killing was one of two harrowing back-to-back shootings in the Bronx on Thursday, a borough Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said was leading the city in crime reduction this year. In the apartment building killing, 21-year-old Justin Chatfield was shot in the chest at about 10:20 p.m. after he heard an argument in the hallway outside his apartment on Richman Ave. near Sedgwick Ave. in Morris Heights, cops and relatives said.
Public Safety News
15-Year-Old Boy Suffers Minor Injuries in Kitchen Fire
A 15-year-old boy suffered minor injuries in a kitchen fire Monday evening southeast of downtown Los Angeles and taken to a hospital. Firefighters were sent to the 1300 block of East 20th Street, near Central Avenue, at approximately 7:20 p.m. Monday to reports of a fire at a house with visible smoke from the attic, according to Lyndsey Lantz of the Los Angeles Fire Department. The fire, which originated from a stove, was located and confined to the kitchen in 12 minutes upon the crews’ arrival, Lantz said.
LAFD Knocks Down Fire at Northridge Strip Mall
A second-story fire at a combination one- and two-story strip mall in Northridge was knocked down by Los Angeles Fire Department personnel Tuesday. Fire crews responded at 4:38 a.m. to 8363 N. Reseda Blvd. between Chase Street and Roscoe Boulevard, where they battled the second-story fire. It took 75 firefighters 47 minutes to extinguish the blaze, said LAFD spokeswoman Lyndsey Lantz. No injuries were reported. The Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety has been contacted to assess the mall’s structural integrity, while LAFD companies begin overhaul and salvage operations, Lantz added.
