Man dies after Panorama City hit-and-run; police seek driver
Law Enforcement News
Man dies after Panorama City hit-and-run; police seek driver
Los Angeles police are investigating a fatal hit-and-run crash in Panorama City that left a pedestrian dead earlier this month. The collision happened around 11:50 p.m. Feb. 7 near Devonshire Street and Densmore Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Investigators say a vehicle traveling westbound on Devonshire Street struck a man who was in the roadway, knocking him onto the pavement and causing severe injuries. The driver continued westbound without stopping or attempting to help the victim, police said. Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics transported the man to a hospital, where he later died. Authorities described the victim as a Hispanic man in his mid-30s. His identity is being withheld pending notification of family members by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. Detectives with LAPD’s Valley Traffic Division are now asking witnesses or anyone with information about the crash to come forward as they work to identify the driver involved.
Los Angeles man charged with attempted murder in attacks on transgender shopkeeper
A 23-year-old Los Angeles man has been charged with attempted murder and multiple hate crime allegations in connection with a series of violent attacks targeting a transgender shopkeeper near MacArthur Park last year, prosecutors announced Thursday. Paul Alan Thompson faces 11 felony counts, including willful, deliberate and premeditated attempted murder, assault with a firearm, robbery and criminal threats stemming from repeated attacks against longtime Westlake business owner Sabrina de la Peña, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Authorities allege Thompson targeted the victim because she is transgender, repeatedly assaulting and threatening her inside her shop between April 8 and May 31, 2025. “Violence fueled by hate strikes at the very core of our community and will not be tolerated,” District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said in a statement. “This defendant allegedly targeted the victim because she is transgender, repeatedly terrorizing and assaulting her in her own business.”
Teenager, man shot while sitting in car in Del Rey, police say
An investigation is underway after two people, including a teenager, were shot and injured in Del Rey overnight. A 15-year-old boy and a 36-year-old man were shot as they sat inside a car on Marionwood Drive Friday morning, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Details about what led up to the shooting were not available, but the victims took themselves to the hospital in unknown condition. No arrests have been made. Police could not say whether the shooting was gang-related.
2 arrested, 2 on the run after police chase connected to catalytic converter theft
A police pursuit in Los Feliz ended in a crash after officers say they interrupted a catalytic converter theft in progress. Two suspects, including a 23-year-old driver, are in custody and facing several felony charges, while two other passengers remain on the run. The incident began near Vermont and Los Angeles when patrol officers spotted a car that was double parked. Next to the car, four men appeared to be working on a parked vehicle. Police immediately suspected they were witnessing a catalytic converter theft in progress. When the patrol car pulled up, the four men jumped into an Infiniti and drove away, prompting a pursuit. According to police, the chase lasted 28 seconds and went along Western just north of Franklin when it all ended in a crash. Inside the hatchback of the Infiniti, officers found several catalytic converters they believe are stolen, along with a bag full of tools commonly used to steal them. Two additional suspects managed to get away and remain at large.
Suspect arrested in series of San Fernando Valley USPS carrier armed robberies
A 28-year-old man was arrested in connection with a series of armed robberies involving United States Postal Service carriers in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley, the LAPD said Thursday. The robberies dating from Dec. 3 occurred in Valley Village, Studio City and Sherman Oaks. Heists also were reported Jan. 31 and Feb. 21 and 22. In each case, a man with a firearm approached the carriers and demanded their postal keys and electronic scanners. The robber then left the scenes in a white Lexus sedan, police said. On Feb. 22, following a robbery in the 5400 block of Ethel Avenue in Sherman Oaks, police located and arrested the suspect during a traffic stop. Evidence was recovered from the car that linked the man to the crimes, police said. The suspect was identified as 28-year-old Andranik Naghdalyan. He was arrested on suspicion of robbery. An initial court date was not immediately available. Authorities are attempting to determine whether there are more victims. Below are the locations and dates of the crimes. Reported cases of serious crimes against USPS employees have increased in recent years, with robbery among the fastest growing crimes, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office. A GAO analysis of U.S. Postal Inspection Service data showed serious crimes doubled from 2019 (609) to 2023 (1,198).
Suspect who fatally shot 2 Missouri deputies was released on bond 5 days prior
The suspect who killed two Christian County deputies was released on bond for felony charges days before the shootings, the Springfield Daily Citizen reported. The incident began around 3:50 p.m. on Feb. 23 when a man, identified as 45-year-old Richard Dean Bird, shot and killed Deputy Gabriel Ramirez during a traffic stop, Christian County Sheriff Brad Cole said. Bird fled the scene, prompting a massive multi-agency manhunt across southwest Missouri. Hours later, as officers closed in on him in rural Stone County, Bird opened fire again, killing Deputy Michael Hislope and wounding two more deputies — a third Christian County deputy and a Webster County deputy. Bird was killed in a shootout with law enforcement. Bird had a lengthy criminal history, including a history of shooting at law enforcement officers, according to the report. In 2014, Bird was charged with attempted first-degree murder for shooting at deputies responding to a theft at a construction site. He entered a plea deal, loweing the charges to aggravated battery — intentional, great bodily harm along with fleeing, interfering and firearm possession charges.
Public Safety News
4 people hospitalized after Metro train collides with car in South Los Angeles
Four people were taken to the hospital after a Metro A line train collided with a car in South Los Angeles. The collision happened at about 5:40 p.m. near the 5400 block of S. Long Beach Avenue. The collision wedged the vehicle between a pole along the tracks. The Los Angeles Fire Department rescued the 48-year-old driver, who sustained minor injuries. In total, LAFD evaluated nine people after the crash, four of whom were taken to the hospital with minor injuries. The remaining five declined hospitalization. LAFD advised commuters that traffic in the area will be affected for an extended period. Firefighters advised motorists to avoid the area and to find alternate routes. Metro said there will be no train service between the Vernon and Florence stations due to the collision. "At Vernon, trains are turning back to Pomona. At Florence, trains are turning back to Long Beach," Metro wrote in a post to X. "We're setting up bus shuttles to run between Vernon & Florence Stations."
Fire fully engulfs home in South Los Angeles
Firefighters were battling a fire that engulfed a home in South Los Angeles Friday morning. The incident was reported just before 6 a.m. on E.112th Street, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. AIR7 was over the scene as fire crews worked to extinguish the flames. They quickly got a handle on the fire. It's unclear if anybody was inside the home. No injuries were immediately reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
LA firefighter survives life-altering crash after car plummets off 800-foot cliff
The parents and sister of Mario Escobar are heartbroken, traumatized, yet deeply grateful. In a split second, the El Monte firefighter’s life and his family’s flipped upside down. The 22-year-old’s blue Honda Civic burst into flames after plunging 800-feet down a cliff off Angeles Crest Highway in La Cañada Flintridge earlier this month. Mario, training for fire season, was on his way to becoming a Hotshot when the tragic accident occurred. LA Co. Sheriff’s Search and Rescue airlifted Escobar from the canyon to the hospital. "They basically tell you that he flatlined, and they brought him back to life is a miracle," his dad said. "We just got in the car, left. We didn't know where we were going. We just said, Let's just go to general," his mom added. Escobar fractured his neck, spine and leg, lacerated a major artery and shattered his ankle so severely, the bone was exposed. Escobar has a long road to recovery.
