Re-Sentencing Bid Denied For Man Convicted Of Murdering Ex-Girlfriend

A state appeals court panel Wednesday rejected a bid for re-sentencing by a former Canoga Park resident who was convicted of murdering an ex-girlfriend who had testified against him. The three-justice panel from California’s 2nd District Court of Appeal turned down the defense’s request to reverse a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge’s order that found Mark Bowersock was not eligible for re-sentencing under a change in state law that affects defendants in some murder cases. Bowersock is serving life in prison without the possibility of parole for the Feb. 3, 1995, shooting death of 36-year-old Laurie Ann Prejean at her sister’s home in Saugus. He was convicted in June 1996 of first-degree murder and first-degree residential burglary, with jurors finding true the special circumstance allegation that the murder was committed in retaliation for Prejean’s testimony in a criminal proceeding against him, according to the appellate court panel’s 12-page ruling. The appellate court panel noted that the judge found that Bowersock “was convicted under a currently valid theory of murder as a direct perpetrator of the willful, deliberate and premeditated murder of Laurie Ann Prejean,” and that he was ineligible for relief.

MyNewsLA

60-Year-Old Hospitalized After Being Stabbed By Homeless Man In Venice

A 60-year-old man was hospitalized Wednesday after being stabbed by a homeless person in Venice, authorities confirmed. First responders were called to the intersection of Washington Boulevard and Lincoln Boulevard at 8:43 a.m. Wednesday following 911 calls of a stabbing. The suspect, described as a homeless man, was armed with a knife and swung the weapon around until he struck someone, the Los Angeles Police Department said. Paramedics were called and took the victim to a hospital following the violent act, the Los Angeles Fire Department said. The suspect was gone on arrival, but was last seen wearing a blue shirt, black jeans and black shoes, according to the LAPD. It was unclear how severe the injuries to the victim were at this time, according to the LAFD.

Westside Current

Man Sought Following Stabbing Near Metro's North Hollywood Station

Police are looking for a man who stabbed another man near the Metro Red Line station in North Hollywood on Wednesday. The violence was reported around 1:40 p.m. near the intersection of Lankershim and Chandler Boulevards, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. There, the assailant stabbed another man in the ribs with a knife. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital. The severity of his injuries is unclear. Wednesday's stabbing comes after Metro reported a drop in violent crime at its North Hollywood station. Transit authorities credited its Tap to Exit program -- which requires subway riders to tap their Metro cards in and out of the station -- for the 40% decrease. LAPD said they are looking for a man believed to be in his 30s. The attacker is described as being about 6 feet tall and weighing about 180 pounds. He was wearing all black with a bicycle and bike helmet. He was last seen in a parking lot on Lankershim Boulevard. In a statement, Metro said it wishes the victim a "full and swift recovery." "Metro appreciates the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers, already assigned to the North Hollywood Metro Station, responding immediately and assisting the victim after an altercation between two passengers resulted in a person being stabbed as they exited the station," the transit agency added.

NBC 4

Parking Garage Shooting In Jefferson Park Leaves 2 Injured

Two people were left injured following a shooting inside a parking garage in the Jefferson Park area of Los Angeles. The incident happened in the structure along West Adams Boulevard Tuesday night, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Authorities say someone at that location had their car stolen. While they were waiting for officers to respond, a man they believed to be the suspect approached them. That's when some sort of argument broke out, which led to a fight, police said. It ended with two people being shot. Additional details about the incident were not available.

ABC 7

Man Who Broke Into L.A. Mayor’s Home Enters Vandalism Plea, Avoids Prison

A 29-year-old man accused of breaking into the residence of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, forcing her to flee into a safe room, pleaded no contest to a felony vandalism charge on Wednesday, with prosecutors dismissing a more serious burglary charge. Ephraim Hunter was sentenced to two years probation and ordered to pay $15,000 in restitution. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Armenui Amy Ashvanian ordered Hunter to undergo drug treatment and stay away from Bass, the mayor’s residence and Los Angeles City Hall for three years. The early-morning incident in April exposed shortcomings in security at Getty House, the official mayor’s residence in Windsor Square, and raised questions about whether Hunter had intentionally targeted Bass. Hunter’s family has insisted he was in an apparent drug-induced psychosis on April 21, unaware of where he was and not there to take anything. Bass spokesperson Zach Seidl declined comment on the plea agreement. Deputy Public Defender Howard Stern, who represented Hunter, said his client is “pleased” with the resolution of the case.

Los Angeles Times

Mother, Teen Daughter Become Latest Victims Of Encino Burglaries

Some terrifying moments unfolded for a mother and her teenage daughter after their multi-million dollar home in Encino was burglarized late Wednesday night. An official with the Los Angeles Police Department said the burglary happened around 10 p.m. at a home in the 5000 block of Rubio Avenue, located near the intersection of Magnolia Boulevard and Hayvenhurst Ave. When the mother and her daughter returned home, they discovered shattered glass and heard the burglars yelling "Go, go, go!" as they ran out of the home. The residents watched in shock as the suspects ran out with bags filled with stolen items and jumped into a getaway vehicle, believed to be a white Chrysler. The vehicle was last seen traveling southbound on the 101 Freeway. A detailed description of the suspects was not available. No injuries were reported, the LAPD said. 

FOX 11

LAPD Responds To Man On Pacoima Rooftop, Acting Erratically, Throwing Objects

Los Angeles Police officers are responding to a man on a Pacoima residential roof, acting erratically as he paces back and forth, grabbing 2x4s sitting on the rooftop, and even throwing a piece of wood toward officers standing in line with guns drawn. Police were called around 4:20 p.m. to the 13300 block of West Judd Street to a report of a backyard rubbish fire. Police said the man set his backyard on fire and that officers put it out with a fire extinguisher. The man is believed to be intoxicated. The man began crawling off the roof around 6:27 p.m. but paused and sat next to some solar panels. Officers eventually convinced the man to get off the roof and surrender to officers.

CBS 2

Man Found Guilty In 2018 Shooting That Killed California Deputy

A jury on Tuesday found a man guilty in the murder of a Sacramento County sheriff’s deputy at a Rancho Cordova auto parts store during a 2018 shootout. The jury convicted Anton Paris, 44, on a charge of first-degree murder and attempted murder in the Sept. 17, 2018, shooting that killed Deputy Mark Stasyuk and wounded his partner. The jurors had been deliberating since last week in Sacramento Superior Court. “So obviously a very emotional day for everybody involved, especially Mark’s family,” Sgt. Amar Gandhi, a Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office spokesman, said after the verdict was read in court. “And of course, everybody that he worked with, he touched us all.” Stasyuk, 27, died after being shot in the head when what started as a routine call for service at a Pep Boys store on Folsom Boulevard escalated into what sheriff’s officials called an “extensive” firefight. Stasyuk and his partner, Julie Robertson, 28, were dispatched to a customer disturbance call at the store. Within seconds, they became engaged in a gunfight with Paris; Robertson was shot in the arm, authorities said. She survived and has since returned to duty. “We stand with Deputy Mark Stasyuk’s family and Deputy Julie Robertson and her family,” Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho said in a news release. “With today’s verdict, we are one step closer to justice.”

Sacramento Bee

Murder Suspect Arrested In Mexico After 19-Year Manhunt

Riverside police and their federal law enforcement partners arrested a man in Mexico accused of killing someone 19 years ago. In June 2005, 38-year-old Alfonso Vera tried to stop a man from beating his girlfriend in the 4700 block of Doane Avenue in Riverside. As Vera tried to protect the woman, then 32-year-old Luis Contreras allegedly stepped in and shot Vera multiple times before leaving him to die. Detectives said witnesses saw two cars leaving the area. Investigators eventually arrested two of three suspects but could not track down Contreras before he traveled to Mexico. In July 2005, police issued an arrest warrant for the suspect but could not find him until 19 years later. In June 2024, the Riverside Police Department's Homicide Cold Case Unit reignited the search, eventually teaming up with the department's METRO Team and the US Marshals Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force. About a month later, Mexican police arrested Contreras with the help of the Marsals. Authorities transferred him to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department jail, where he was booked for murder and awaits prosecution. One of the other suspects arrested in the case was charged as an accessory to the murder and served three years in prison. Authorities released another suspect due to a lack of evidence. 

CBS 2

Identity Sought Of Man Found Outside Los Angeles Hospital

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services is asking for the public’s help to identify a patient who was found more than a week ago right outside an L.A. area hospital. The unidentified man has been receiving treatment at Los Angeles General Medical Center in Boyle Heights since July 15, when he was found in front of the medical facility. The man does not have any identifying information on his person and hospital staff are hoping someone might recognize him. He’s believed to be about 60 years old, and hospital officials described him as “thin/frail,” standing at 5 feet 10 inches and weighing about 155 pounds. He has brown eyes, as well as long brown hair and a brown beard, both of which were recently dyed. Due to patient confidentiality laws, information about the man’s condition was not released. Anyone with information about the man’s identity is urged to contact LA General clinical social workers Nicole Crayon at 323-409-3877 or Jessica Barahona 323-409-3758.

KTLA 5

Over 8 Million Fentanyl Pills Seized In California This Year

The Governor’s Office announced Wednesday that over 8 million fentanyl pills and 4,000 pounds of powder have been seized in California within the first six months of the year. In June alone, the California National Counterdrug Task Force seized more than 1 million fentanyl pills. The June seizures hold an estimated street value of over $3 million, according to a news release. “We’re doubling down on our work to tackle the opioid and fentanyl crisis. California is hard at work getting illegal fentanyl off our streets, intercepting the drug at our border, and holding traffickers accountable,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement. Last month, Newsom announced that Cal Guard’s Counter Drug Task Force operations were doubling statewide, including adding nearly 400 service members to ports of entry along the border. The task force focuses specifically on gathering information to cut off illegal narcotics trafficking. Last month, the federal government also announced sanctions against cartel traffickers bringing fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine into the United States.

KTLA 5

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.