Police Searching For Hit-and-Run Driver Who Killed 33-Year-Old Man In North Hollywood

Police are hopeful that the public can help them locate a hit-and-run driver who hit and killed a 33-year-old man in North Hollywood in September. It happened on Sept. 13 at around 2 a.m. near the intersection of Victory Boulevard and Craner Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. They say that a dark-colored car struck a man who was walking outside of a crosswalk and failed to stop after the collision. The victim, who remains unidentified, was taken to a nearby hospital where he was later pronounced dead. As with all hit-and-run crashes that cause fatality in Los Angeles, city leaders are offering a standing reward of up to $50,000 that leads to the identification, arrest and conviction of the suspect. Anyone who knows more is urged to contact detectives at (818) 644-8114.

CBS 2

7-Eleven Employees Violently Attacked By Thieves In Hollywood

Two 7-Eleven employees were assaulted by thieves Tuesday night along the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The attack happened around 11:30 p.m. at the convenience store located at Wilcox Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard, according to police. A group of adults, some possibly minors, went into the convenience store and attempted to steal. When the employees attempted to stop them, the group became violent. Surveillance cameras captured the moments when the group began destroying the property and assaulting the employees. "It was the toughest day in my life," said one of the employees, who chose to remain anonymous. "They tell me 'We will kill you.'" One of the employees was taken to a hospital with minor injuries. The robbers are believed to be between the ages of 16 and 20 years old, according to police. Neighbors who work and live nearby said they are frustrated by what happened and continues to happen with smash-and-grab robberies. "Honestly, it's not fair like no business deserves to go through that and honestly, it comes down to do you feel safe in your own neighborhood," said Aiden Cortez.

NBC 4

Flash Mob Suspects Charged In The Robbery Of Topanga Mall

Three people were charged for allegedly robbing the Westfield Topanga Shopping Center as part of a flash mob that made off with more than $90,000 in merchandise. Joshua Jones, 22; Amaya McDonald, 19; and Justin Jones, 18, were each charged with three counts of robbery, two counts of burglary and one count of retail theft, the Los Angeles Police Department announced in a news release Tuesday. On Friday, a dozen people ran into two stores at the mall at around 5 p.m. and grabbed merchandise while knocking over multiple display cases, police said. Several suspects wore hoodies and face masks, according to surveillance images that captured the group running away from the scene. Investigators with the LAPD’s Organized Retail Theft Task Force arrived on the scene to work with local police and mall security to identify potential suspects and vehicles involved in the robbery. Shortly after 9:30 p.m. officers with the LAPD’s Southwest division found and detained one of the vehicles involved in the robbery. Police found five people inside, including two juveniles, believed to be involved in the robbery, according to police. Joshua Jones, Justin Jones, McDonald and the two juveniles were taken into custody by detectives and booked on suspicion of robbery.

Los Angeles Times

2 LA County Residents Arrested For Scheme To Steal $54 Million From Medicare

A federal grand jury delivered an indictment on Wednesday charging two Los Angeles County residents with two dozen charges for an alleged scheme to defraud Medicare out of $54 million. Sophia Shaklian, 36, faces 16 counts of healthcare fraud and four counts of transactional money laundering. The Department of Justice said the grand jury charged her alleged accomplice, 42-year-old Alex Alexsanian, with one count of conspiracy to laundry monetary instruments and three counts of concealment of money laundering. If convicted, Shaklian could spend the next 240 years in federal prison. Alexsanian faces a maximum of 80 years in prison. The alleged scheme lasted between March 2019 and Aug. 2024, according to the indictment. At the time, Shaklian managed and submitted claims for seven healthcare providers in LA County, all enrolled in Medicare. Prosecutors claimed she often used aliases. 

CBS 2

Man Convicted Of 1988 Murder, Rape, And Kidnap Of Woman From Mall In Pasadena

A man whose conviction and death sentence were overturned for the kidnapping, rape, robbery and murder of a woman who had been shopping at a Pasadena mall nearly 36 years ago was found guilty again Monday of the crime. The downtown Los Angeles jury found Ronald Anthony Jones guilty of first-degree murder for the Oct. 18, 1988, slaying of Lois Haro, 26, who was found by Pasadena police in an isolated area near the 134 Freeway with a gunshot wound to her head. Jurors also found true four special circumstance allegations -- murder during the commission of a rape, forcible oral copulation, kidnapping and robbery -- along with an allegation that someone involved in the crime personally used a handgun, but the jury's foreperson told Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Eleanor J. Hunter that the panel had deadlocked 6-6 on whether Jones had personally used a handgun during the crime. Jones, now 54, is facing life in prison without the possibility of parole, with sentencing set Oct. 22.

FOX 11

Reseda Apartment Damaged In Fire

A fire damaged an apartment building in the Reseda area Wednesday. Firefighters sent to the 19600 block of Sherman Way at 9:07 a.m. extinguished the flames in a top-floor unit of three-story building in 25 minutes, the Los Angeles Fire Department said. “The occupant of the unit is being evaluated but currently has no medical complaints,” an LAFD statement said. “Firefighters prevented the fire from extending beyond the unit of origin.” The cause of the fire was under investigation.

MyNewsLA

Dozens Of Los Angeles Firefighters In Florida Helping With Hurricane Milton Response Efforts

As thousands of people brace for Hurricane Milton, dozens of Los Angeles firefighters have traveled to Florida to help with response efforts. About 144 firefighters from different agencies, including the Los Angeles Fire Department and the Los Angeles County Fire Department, made their way to the Gulf Coast the past few days. The Los Angeles City Fire Department sent 43 members after FEMA activated the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System to request nationwide mutual aid. This group of firefighters from FEMA California Task Force 1 are swift water rescue specialists who will offer technical assistance to the recovery efforts, the fire department said. "As the devastation from Hurricane Helene continues to unfold and Hurricane Milton quickly approaches, the LAFD is deploying additional specialized resources to assist those in need in calibration with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and local public safety agencies," said LAFD Chief Kristin Crowley in a statement. "We stand united in providing aid and relief to those impacted by these challenging circumstances. We continue to pray for those affected by the devastating storms and for the safety of all first responders who have volunteered to deploy into the disaster area."

ABC 7

LA County Health Department Issues Warnings For 8 Area Beaches

The L.A. County Department of Public Health Wednesday warned residents and visitors to avoid swimming, surfing or playing in the water at eight area beaches due to high bacteria levels. The affected beaches are: Mothers Beach in Marina Del Rey, entire swim area; Walnut Creek at Paradise Cove, entire swim area; Marie Canyon Storm Drain at Puerco Beach, 100 yards up and down the coast from the public access steps; Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro, entire swim area; Santa Monica Pier, 100 yards up and down the coast from the pier; Redondo Beach at Sapphire Street, 100 yards up and down the coast from Sapphire Street; — Avenue I storm drain at Redondo Beach, 100 yards up and down the coast from the storm drain; and — Topanga Canyon Beach in Malibu, 100 yards up and down the coast from the lagoon.

MyNewsLA

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.