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Dispatch, Jan. 31, 2007: Introduction

The list represents an effort to provide comprehensive coverage of all homicides that occur in Los Angeles County.

Overwhelmed by the sheer volume, the Los Angeles Times, like other major media organizations, covers only a fraction of the more than 1,000 murders in Los Angeles County each year. Many violent deaths become, in essence, private homicides -- catastrophic on a small scale, invisible on a broader one.

Starting with this week's homicide report, however, The Times will list all homicides reported to the Los Angeles County coroner, plus additional information gleaned from street and law enforcement sources. This week's list is larger than usual because of a January crime wave, but otherwise fairly typical in terms of the ages and ethnicities of those killed and the manner of their deaths.

Their number includes a young woman found on a Playa del Rey roadside, a young couple mysteriously shot and then set on fire, and a Valley man who placed himself between his landlord and an attacker and died for his courage.

Victims, Jan. 20-27, 2007:

Rodolfo Cruz, 24

Rodolfo Cruz, a 24-year-old Latino man, was shot at 14032 Oxnard St. in Van Nuys, and died at 1:31 a.m. on Jan. 27.

Alex Thomas, 25

Alex Thomas, a 25-year-old Latino man, was shot repeatedly at 11812 Marbel Ave. in Downey and died at 12:42 a.m. Jan. 27.

Nicole Harvey, 21

Nicole Harvey, a 21-year-old black woman, was found burned with possible gunshot injuries on a roadside in the 8100 block of Tuscany Avenue in the Playa del Rey area. Her time of death was listed as 2:15 p.m. Jan. 26. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Dets. Brian Carr or Orlando Martinez at (213) 485-2129 during normal business hours. LAPD statement, Los Angeles Times story

Jose Macias, 26

Jose Macias, a 26-year-old Latino man, died of multiple gunshot wounds at an undisclosed address in Long Beach at 11:33 p.m. Jan. 24.

Marvin Tobar, 21, and Renee Spata, 18

Marvin Tobar, a 21-year-old Latino male, and Renee Spata, an 18-year-old Latina, were found dead in a burning house, their bodies charred, at 10441 N. Danube Ave. in the northeast San Fernando Valley. The time of death was 6:30 a.m. Jan. 23.

Police described this as an unusual and perplexing case. They said the Tobar and Spata were ordinary, decent young people with no ties to crime or gangs -- he was an office worker for Time/Warner, she was an acquaintance he had been dating recently. They saw a movie in the Valley before heading back to his rental house, where they were discovered dead the next morning by police officers responding to smoke and flames. Investigators are seeking anyone who might have seen the couple the previous evening, perhaps at a theater in the Valley. Call Det. Efren Gutierrez or Det. Terrence Keyser at (818) 838-9948.

Emanuel Valenciano, 22

Emanuel Valenciano, a 22-year-old man of Filipino descent, was stabbed repeatedly at 1322 S. 5^th Ave. in Los Angeles’ Midtown area. His body was found in an alley and his time of death was listed as 9:57 p.m. Jan. 23. LAPD statement.

Britney MacIntosh, 20

Britney MacIntosh, a 20-year-old black woman, was struck by gunfire at 3001 Palm Grove Ave. and died at 10:42 p.m. Jan. 23. She was sitting on the porch when someone ran up and shot her. Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at 213-485-2418. LAPD statement.

Mathew Powell, 24

Mathew Powell, a 24-year-old black man, was shot in the head at 671 S. Coronado Place in Los Angeles and died at 6:42 a.m. Jan. 22.

Francisco Zarate, 57

Francisco Zarate, a 57-year-old Latino man, was stabbed during an argument at 7530 S. LaSalle Ave. in LAPD's 77th Street Division and died at 10:32 p.m. Jan. 22.

Zarate was killed for being a good Samaritan, police say. According to them, Zarate had stepped between his landlord and a hostile tenant, trying to stop an argument. The tenant, Tam Phoune Le, 48, allegedly stabbed them both and was later arrested, still wearing his bloodstained shirt. The landlord survived. LAPD statement

Elijah Lee, 35

Elijah Lee, a 35-year-old black man, was shot in the head at 16306 S. Caress Ave. in Compton and died at 2:30 p.m. Jan. 22.

Jacob Walker, 15

Jacob Walker, a 15-year-old black male, was shot at 8572 Park St. in Bellflower and died at 7:25 Jan. 21.

Police allege that his 24-year-old brother brought him along on a burglary, breaking into a house to steal marijuana plants purportedy used for medical reasons. The burglary victim came across them in the backyard and fired shots as they fled, killing the boy. Prosecutors are weighing whether the shooting was self-defense.

Los Angeles Times stories, 1, 2, and 3.

Sovannak Pov, 21, and Satiyason Sokun, 24

Sovannak Pov, 21, and Satiyason Sokun, 24, both men of Cambodian descent, were killed by gunfire at 6439 Downey Ave. in Long Beach Jan. 21 just before 1 a.m.

The victims were outside at a party when the suspects drove by and fired at them. The two men died shortly after. Less than a week later, Long Beach police arrested a suspect — Ratanak David Kim —an acquaintance of the victims. Ratanak is suspected of killing them after an argument, possibly over women or money. Dets. Daniel Mendoza and Robert Gonzalez are seeking help from the public for further investigation. (572) 570-7244.

Reginald Burson Jr., 21

Reginald  Burson Jr., a 21-year-old black man, was shot at 241 E. Albertoni St. in Carson and died at 2:44 a.m. Jan. 21.

Armando Vera, 22

Armando Vera, a 22-year-old Latino man, was shot at 9510 Van Nuys Blvd. in the north San Fernando Valley and died at 4:33 p.m. Jan. 20.

Police officers found him wounded on the sidewalk. Prior to his death, Vera reportedly was arguing with his girlfriend over a child custody issue. Police believe the girlfriend’s brother, 24-year-old Rudy Angel Magana, shot Vera, then fled in a red Ford Explorer. Dets. G. Parshall and J. Weiler are asking for the public’s help. (818) 838-9810. LAPD statement.

The photo below is of suspect Magana.

Update: Magana committed suicide during a police standoff.

Flor Alvarez, 46

Flor Alvarez, a 46-year-old Latina, was shot at 906 S. 54^th St. in South-Central Los Angeles and died at 11:06 p.m. Jan. 20. Police are investigating this killing as a possible domestic violence incident. They say Alvarez was trying to wrest a gun from one of her family members when she was shot.

Prior Cold Case

Sofia Gomez, 92, a Latina great-grandmother killed a year ago in Panorama City.

PRIOR WEEKS

Victims, Jan. 1-19

Joseph Watson, 17

Joseph Watson, 17, a black youth, was shot multiple times at 10965 Budlong Street and died at 8:21 p.m. Jan. 19. He did not want to join the local gang, and may have been killed for it.

See: "Dispatch: Omissions"

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