Man Shot Dead After Argument Outside Of North Hollywood Bakery

A man was killed when a fight escalated into a shooting outside of a bakery in North Hollywood on Sunday. It happened at around 12:50 p.m. in the 12400 block of Burbank Boulevard near Whitsett Avenue, according to Los Angeles Police Department investigators. Video from the scene shows that the shooting happened outside of Sam's Kosher Bakery. They say that the victim, a 52-year-old man, got into some sort of argument with a man in between 30 and 40 years old, which soon escalated into the shooting. He was pronounced dead on scene. He has not yet been identified. The suspect was arrested at the scene, police said. 

CBS 2

At Least 1 Injured After Shots Fired At Los Angeles Warehouse Party

Shots rang out at a warehouse party in the South Central neighborhood of Los Angeles just after midnight on Sunday morning, leaving at least one injured, according to authorities. Officers with the Los Angeles Police Department responded to the 100 block of East 35th Street on reports of a multi-victim shooting inside a warehouse. Police searched the area and found one man suffering from a gunshot wound. The man was transported to a local hospital, where he remains in critical condition, according to authorities. No other victims were found despite initial reports that multiple people were struck by gunfire. Police said it’s unknown if the shooting was gang related. There was no word on a potential suspect, and no description was immediately made available.

KTLA 5

Police Searching For Attempted Rape Suspect In Canoga Park; Sketch Released

The Los Angeles Police Department is asking the public's help for information on a man who allegedly tried to sexually assault a woman in Canoga Park. The incident happened on Sunday, June 23, around 10:30 p.m. Police said a 24-year-old woman was walking westbound on Roscoe Boulevard from Owensmouth Avenue when the man attempted to sexually assault her. In surveillance footage released by police Friday, it appears the suspect was following the woman for a few minutes. Police also released a sketch of the suspect. He's reportedly between 25 and 30 years old with black hair and brown eyes. He's about 6 ft. tall and weighs 200 pounds. He was last seen wearing a red shirt, an orange and blue long-sleeved flannel and dark blue pants. Anyone with information is urged to contact police.

ABC 7

Modeling ‘Expert’ Charged With Sex Assault Of 3 Teens Looking To Break Into Industry

A photographer has been charged with a yearslong spree of sexual assaults on three teenaged men who were hoping to break into the modeling industry in Los Angeles. William Thomas Jr., 49, allegedly assaulted the three aspiring models, all between the ages of 18 and 20, after he “represented himself as a modeling industry expert” and served as their representation within the industry, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said in a news release. The Los Angeles Police Department added in a release that Thomas “claimed he could build their modeling careers forced them to submit to sexual assault under duress.” “Thomas threatened to ruin victims’ careers if they objected to his advances,” police added. Thomas faces six counts on three charges: three counts of oral copulation; two counts of sodomy by use of force; and one count of attempted sodomy of an unconscious or asleep victim. 

KTLA 5

Video Shows Thieves Giving Each Other High-Fives After Wild Jewelry Heist In West Hollywood

A group of thieves pulled off a shocking jewelry heist in West Hollywood, and surveillance video captured the group celebrating and even giving each other high-fives. It happened last week between June 17 and June 18 at Huener Jewelry on Santa Monica Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue. The owner's son told Eyewitness News the group took the store's entire inventory, including several safes. "At first I thought they like cut a hole through the wall, and they got in, and they did a quick robbery and they left, but it turned out ... it took more than 24 hours," said Robert Goukasian, who told ABC7 the store's alarms never went off. He said the four suspects completed the heist in two trips - one in the early morning hours and another late at night. They broke in through the business next-door by cutting a hole through the wall and ultimately emptied two large safes that contained hundreds of pieces of one-of-a-kind jewelry.

ABC 7

Cars Go Up In Flames At Downtown LA Street Takeover

At least two cars burned early Saturday morning in a tower of smoke and flames at a downtown Los Angeles intersection where dozens of drivers gathered for a street takeover. The fire was reported an about 3 a.m. near 18th and Main streets. Cars were burning in the middle of the intersection when firefighters arrived. Several explosions could be heard as the cars burned, sending thick smoke over the area and backing up traffic at the intersection. Witnesses said dozens of cars were seen in the area before the fire, many being driven recklessly as people set off fireworks. Tire marks could be seen on the street. It was not immediately clear whether the fireworks started the fires. There were no reports of injuries or arrests. The fire did not spread to nearby buildings. 

NBC 4

Nevada Judge Denies Release Of Ex-Gang Leader Ahead Of Trial In 1996 Killing Of Tupac Shakur

An ailing former Los Angeles-area gang leader has been denied release from a Las Vegas jail ahead of his trial in the 1996 killing of music legend Tupac Shakur, despite a bid by a hip-hop music figure to underwrite his $750,000 bond. A Nevada judge rejected house arrest with electronic monitoring for Duane “Keffe D” Davis, 61, saying she wasn’t satisfied with assurances that Davis and his would-be benefactor — Cash “Wack 100” Jones — weren’t planning to reap profits from the sale of Davis’ life story. A Nevada law prohibits convicted killers from profiting from their crime. Clark County District Court Judge Carli Kierny said in her ruling issued Wednesday that a review of Jones’ financial records also did little to address her concerns that Jones might be a “‘front’ or ‘middleman’ for the true bond poster.” Davis has sought to be released since shortly after his arrest last September made him the only person ever charged with a crime in the killing, which has drawn intense interest and speculation for 27 years. Prosecutors allege the gunfire in Las Vegas that killed Shakur stemmed from competition between East Coast members of a Bloods gang sect and West Coast groups of a Crips sect, including Davis, for dominance in a musical genre known at the time as “gangsta rap.”

Associated Press

Large Fire Engulfs Downtown LA Commercial Building Before Being Extinguished By Firefighters

A massive fire engulfed a previously burnt commercial building in Downtown Los Angeles on Sunday before firefighters were able to control the flames. The five-thousand-square-foot two-story building, located at 1390 E. Newton Street, was already engulfed in flames by the time that Los Angeles Fire Department crews arrived a little before 8 p.m., according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. It took more than 80 firefighters just under 50 minutes to control the blaze. "Extensive damage, due to multiple previous burns, will be evaluated by the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety," LAFD officials said. "LAFD Heavy Equipment crews are on standby for possible demolition, in the event the structure is deemed unsafe." No injuries were reported.

CBS 2

COVID Cases Keep Rising In L.A. County Due To FLiRT; Mayor Karen Bass Tests Positive

COVID-19 cases are continuing to climb in Los Angeles County, as are the number of people hospitalized with infections, as the typical summer surge in the illness creeps up. Among those recently testing positive for the coronavirus was Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, whose office disclosed the result Friday morning, shortly before she spoke at a press conference virtually, through Zoom. The mayor first tested positive for the virus in June 2023. The rise of COVID in California comes as levels of coronavirus in the state’s wastewater remain high, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Doctors have noted an earlier-than-normal rise for this time of year, beginning in May in L.A. County. The midyear rise in county COVID cases and hospitalizations didn’t begin until early July in 2021 and 2023, though in 2022 it started in early May. For the week ending June 23, the most current data available, reported cases averaged 215 per day, up from 154 the prior week. A month before that — for the week that ended May 26 — an average of 83 cases a day were reported.

Los Angeles Times

City Moves Forward With Reward System To Curb Copper Thefts

The Los Angeles City Council on Friday approved a reward program intended to curb copper wire thefts and make progress in arresting suspects involved in those crimes. In a 10-2 vote, council members moved to implement a tiered reward offer program for crimes involving the theft of city plaques, tombstones, statues, light standards and copper wire. Residents who provide information leading to the identification, apprehension and conviction of suspects responsible for such crimes can receive rewards. De León's office said misdemeanor convictions are set at $1,000 while felony convictions are set at $5,000. The program will need approval by Mayor Karen Bass before it can be enacted. Council members Kevin de León and Traci Park co-sponsored the motion in January, and it was seconded it by Councilman John Lee. "Today marks a significant step forward in our battle against rampant copper wire theft that has been plaguing our city," de León said prior to the vote. "The approval of this award program by the Los Angeles City Council will be a clear signal that we are united in our commitment to protect our communities and hold those accountable."

NBC 4

LA Council Committee Approves Motion To Study Feasibility Of Banning Synthetic Turf

A Los Angeles City Council committee Friday advanced a motion calling for a study on the feasibility of banning synthetic grass, citing health and environmental concerns. In a 4-0 vote, the council's Energy and Environment Committee approved the motion introduced by Councilman Bob Blumenfield and seconded by Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky on May 24. Through the study, the council members are looking to understand the health and environmental risks of what are known as polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, which can be found in artificial turf. Councilman Kevin de Leon, who sits on the committee, was absent during the vote. In 2023, Gov. Gavin Newsom passed SB 676 allowing cities to decide whether to ban the use of artificial turf. Now L.A. elected officials are seeing if it might be the right move. The cities of Millbrae and San Marino have enacted artificial turf bans of their own. Artificial turf is created by fusing together rubber and certain plastics to create the illusion of lush grasses. In recent years, people have installed artificial turf to help the environment by bolstering water conservation, among other reasons. But that might not be the case, according to the council members' motion.

ABC 7

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.