Sentencing Due For South L.A. Gang Members In Fatal Shooting Of LAPD Officer

Three street-gang members are expected to be sentenced Friday for the robbery and fatal shooting of Los Angeles Police Department Officer Fernando Arroyos, who was gunned down in January 2022 while off-duty and house-hunting with his girlfriend. The defendants — Luis Alfredo de la Rosa Rios, 30; Ernesto Cisneros, 25; and Jesse Contreras, 36 — each pleaded guilty in July 2023 to one count of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. A fourth defendant, Haylee Marie Grisham, 21, a gang associate who was Rios’ girlfriend, pleaded guilty last year to one count of violent crime in aid of racketeering for participating in the fatal robbery of Arroyos. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 9 in downtown Los Angeles. On the night of Jan. 10, 2022, the defendants were driving around the Florence-Firestone area of South Los Angeles looking for someone to rob when they came upon Arroyos, who was wearing gold chains around his neck, according to plea agreements filed in L.A. federal court. Rios and Cisneros exited a black pickup and confronted Arroyos, a three-year veteran of the LAPD, and his girlfriend as they were searching for a home to purchase in the area. The two gang members pointed guns at the victims and removed property from both, including a wallet and two silver chains from Arroyos’ neck. At some point after Cisneros removed Arroyos’ chains, the off-duty officer and the gang members exchanged gunfire, court documents show.

MyNewsLA

Studio City Metro Stabbing: Defense Questions Mental Competency Of Suspect In Fatal Attack

Criminal proceedings were suspended Thursday for a man accused of fatally stabbing a woman on a Metro B (Red) Line train in the Studio City area, with the defense questioning his mental competency. Elliott Tramel Nowden, 46, is charged with murder and first-degree robbery in connection with the attack that occurred around 5 a.m. April 22 on the train between North Hollywood and Universal City. The murder charge includes a special circumstance allegation of murder during a robbery, opening Nowden to a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole if he is convicted as charged. Nowden is scheduled to appear in a Hollywood courtroom on Aug. 1 for a mental competency proceeding. He remains jailed in lieu of $2 million bail. Police said the victim -- 66-year-old Mirna Soza Arauz -- had boarded the downtown-bound train at the nearby North Hollywood station and was stabbed in an apparently unprovoked attack. She managed to exit the train when it arrived at the Universal City Station in the 3900 block of Lankershim Boulevard in Studio City, where she was found mortally wounded on the platform.

FOX 11

Woman Killed In Hit-and-Run Near Florence Graham Area

A 41-year-old woman was killed in a hit-and-run collision after a dark SUV slammed into her and did not stop Friday in the Florence-Graham neighborhood of South Los Angeles. Officers from the Los Angeles Police Department were called around 12:30 a.m. to Central Avenue and 82nd St. where witnesses told them the SUV was driving south on Central when it fatally struck the woman, who was walking in the roadway, an LAPD spokesman told City News Service. Los Angeles Fire Department personnel were called and pronounced the victim dead at the scene. The driver of the SUV did not stop to render aid and drove away from the scene, police said. The LAPD’s South Traffic is handling the investigation of the collision.

MyNewsLA

Missing Man, 95, Found Dead On Cliffs Below Park In L.A.’s Harbor Region

The body of a man found on the cliffs below Point Fermin Park in San Pedro last week has been identified as a 95-year-old man reported missing the same day, authorities announced. Family and friends, as well as the Los Angeles Police Department, asked for the public’s help on July 11 in locating Walter Curtis Wolfe, who had last been seen on July 8 around the 800 block of North Malgren Avenue. Earlier in the day, the 95-year-old’s vehicle was spotted five miles away at Point Fermin in the 800 block of West Paseo Del Mar, where he was known to enjoy walks. Just before 5 p.m. on July 11, crews with the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to Point Fermin Park on reports of a “deceased person near the bottom of the cliffs,” an LAFD news release stated. Firefighters assisted police and investigators with the L.A. County Medical Examiner in the recovery operation by deploying a helicopter to hoist the victim’s body off the cliffs. Crews then safely landed near the Korean Bell and transferred his body over for an investigation. So far, authorities have not released any information on how the 95-year-old might have ended up on the cliffs, nor have they said if his death is being investigated as a homicide. 

KTLA 5

Armed Man Tries To Kidnap Girl Near School In South Los Angeles

A man tried to abduct a 15-year-old girl at gunpoint Tuesday near a school in South Los Angeles, police say. The girl fought off her attacker and managed to get away. The girl and her mother spoke to Eyewitness News to recount the terrifying ordeal. She was outside near Figueroa Street elementary school Tuesday afternoon around 3:30 p.m. Suddenly a man came up to her and put his hand around her neck. She fought back by hitting him with her cellphone and she ran away. Police say the suspect had a gun and they are treating the incident as an attempted kidnapping. The teen's mother, who also didn't want to be identified, says she thanks God her youngest daughter was able to defend herself and get away.

ABC 7

$4.5 Million Worth Of Watches And High-End Handbags Stolen From Hollywood Hills Home

A multi-million dollar heist that happened in an ordinarily quiet Hollywood Hills neighborhood during the middle of the day has left residents shaken. The alleged burglary happened on July 9 at around 12:30 p.m. in Doheny Estates, a bit north of Beverly Hills. The homeowner, who wished to stay anonymous, said the suspects entered their home after shattering a large glass door. The suspects disabled the wifi, disrupting the surveillance cameras. However, an alarm alerted the security company, who sent a patrol unit. When security arrived, the suspects had already left the area. The homeowner claimed the suspects stole 41 collectible designer watches from Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet and Rolex. They also grabbed several high-end handbags. In total, the thieves stole $4.5 million worth of jewelry and accessories, according to the homeowner. Since the suspects disabled the gate camera, workers who were sitting outside the home eating lunch witnessed the burglars jumping into a white Jeep SUV with dark-tinted windows and distinct black rims. 

CBS 2

Woman Steals LAFD Ambulance, Arrested In Inglewood

A woman who was "experiencing a psychiatric crisis" allegedly stole an ambulance after paramedics responded to help her. She then drove the Los Angeles Fire Department ambulance from South Los Angeles to Inglewood, where she was eventually arrested. Paramedics were sent to the area of Gage Avenue and Hoover Street late Thursday morning on a "behavioral emergency" call, according to the LAFD. "While on scene, the patient, who appeared to be experiencing a psychiatric crisis, commandeered the rescue ambulance, identified as RA57, and left the scene without any ambulance personnel on board," according to an LAFD statement. The ambulance was later recovered at an Arco gas station on Prairie Ave. in Inglewood. The woman was taken to a hospital for examination, pending a possible booking on suspicion of auto theft, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Her name was not immediately released.

FOX 11

Boxer Ryan Garcia Charged In Vandalism At Waldorf Astoria Hotel In Beverly Hills

Southern California boxer Ryan Garcia was charged Thursday in connection with vandalism at the Waldorf Astoria in Beverly Hills. Garcia, 25, was charged with one misdemeanor count of vandalism amounting to $400 or more in damage or destruction of property for allegedly damaging a guest room June 8 when he was staying at the hotel. The guest room and a hallway were damaged, police said. No injuries were reported. Garcia, of Victorville, is expected to appear in court Aug. 7. It was not immediately clear whether he has an attorney. He faces up to one year in county jail, if convicted as charged. “While we are grateful no injuries were reported in this incident, reckless behavior that damages property shows a blatant and unacceptable disregard for the safety and peace of our community,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Gascón said. “Our office will work to ensure the responsible individual is held accountable.” The 15-time national amateur champion was hospitalized after his arrest after complaining of a medical issue.

NBC 4

5-Year-Old In California Dies After Alleged DUI Driver Hits Whole Family; Suspect Charged

A 5-year-old boy has died after a hit-and-run driver plowed into him, his parents and siblings as they were bicycling in Garden Grove last week. The suspect is now facing vehicular manslaughter charges, authorities said Wednesday. In a news release, the Orange County district attorney’s office said it upgraded charges against Ceferino Ascencion Ramos of Santa Ana after the boy’s death. According to prosecutors, an intoxicated Ramos struck the family of five as they were out cycling the night of July 7 in Garden Grove. Angel Ramirez and Angela Hernandez-Mejia were each riding e-bikes, pulling their children behind them in bike trailers. Ramirez, 5-year-old Jacob and his 7-year-old sister were critically injured. Hernandez-Mejia and her 7-month-old daughter had minor injuries. Ramirez suffered a fractured skull and bleeding in the brain and remains in a coma. Jacob died this week after being taken off life support. His sister underwent surgery for her injuries and has been released from the hospital. After the crash, prosecutors said a witness followed Ramos until police were able to arrive and arrest him. When officers tested him, Ramos had a blood alcohol content nearly three times the legal limit, according to officials.

Los Angeles Times

More Than 100 Rounds Fired At Virginia Cruiser In Ambush Attack

Two police officers were sent scrambling for cover when a man fired more than 100 rounds from a high-powered rifle in a residential neighborhood, according to investigators in eastern Virginia. It happened around noon, Wednesday, July 17, in the Williamsburg area of James City County, officials said, and the officers couldn’t tell who was shooting until a man emerged from his home about 200 feet away and surrendered. He was identified as 35-year-old Andrew Francis Susalis and investigators have yet to release a motive. Neither of the officers were hit by shots, but one was hospitalized after being struck by two bullet fragments, officials said. The shooting lasted 5 minutes and more than 100 holes were counted in the patrol car, officials said. Multiple rounds also went into a nearby home, but none of the occupants were hit. “For whatever reason, the suspect stopped shooting, came outside of the house and surrendered ... peacefully,” York-Poquoson Sheriff Ron Montgomery said at a press conference posted on YouTube. ”The two James City officers never really knew where the shots were coming from to be able to return fire, so no law enforcement officer returned fire. All the shots that were fired were done by the suspect.”

Charlotte Observer

Firefighter Injured Battling Multi-Building Downtown L.A. Blaze

A large fire in downtown Los Angeles raged for hours Friday morning, damaging multiple buildings as 170 firefighters battled the blaze. The fire at 683 S. Kohler St. was reported just after 2 a.m. and wasn’t knocked down until about 7:20 a.m., the Los Angeles Fire Department said in a series of alerts. Capt. Cody Weireter said what began in “an outside storage area” spread to five buildings, four commercial and one vacant apartment building. Two of those buildings were completely destroyed, the LAFD said. Weireter said firefighters also used a robot to attack “deep-seated pockets of fire” in areas that were too dangerous for human firefighters. One firefighter suffered a minor injury to their knee, KTLA’s Erin Myers reports. Fire officials later said that the firefighter was in fair condition.

KTLA 5

COVID Cases In Los Angeles County Nearly Triple Over Last Five Weeks

The number of COVID-19 cases recorded in Los Angeles County nearly tripled in the last five weeks as federal health officials report California is seeing increasing levels of the virus that causes the disease. The state is one of just a handful across the U.S. seeing levels of SARS-CoV-2 that are considered "very high," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is testing wastewater to measure levels of the virus. Only Oregon, Nevada and Florida had even higher levels of the virus in wastewater examined by federal health officials. In Los Angeles County, the 7-day average number of daily cases — an average based on daily numbers recorded over the past week — has climbed steadily since mid-May. At that time, the daily average for cases was 67, according to county health officials. On Thursday, the daily average reported was 359 cases. That's nearly three times as many cases as the health department recorded five weeks earlier on June 13. Then, the daily average was 121. 

CBS 2

Excessive Heat Warning Issued For Many Parts Of Los Angeles County

The National Weather Service has issued a warning as meteorologists track another heat wave that will bring blistering temperatures to Southern California this weekend. The warning was already issued for the San Gabriel Valley, East San Fernando Valley, Santa Monica Mountains and Santa Susana Mountains. However, the NWS recently added nine other regions in Los Angeles County to the list. The excessive heat advisory will last from July 19 to July 24. It will also apply to other regions outside LA County, such as the Ventura County Mountains. Since the beginning of the month, Southern California has been inundated with excessive heat warnings. The Department of Public Health recommends taking precautions to avoid heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke. The agency reminds everyone to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day to reduce the risk of heat-related illnesses. Older adults, young children, pregnant people, outdoor workers, athletes and those with chronic medical conditions are more prone to these illnesses. 

CBS 2

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.