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Cold Case: Searching for "Sharky," Suspected Shooter of Women

Irma Gaxiola, 40, mother and grandmother, was killed in her backyard, allegedly by her daughter's ex-boyfriend four years ago in South-Central Los Angeles, in a case that has sent detectives on a nationwide hunt. They sought the public's help this week in locating their suspect, Rodolfo Diaz, 28, pictured here, who goes by the nickname "Sharky."

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Are there fewer homicides when it rains?

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Dispatch: A Fight Turns Deadly

Two men have been arrested related to the Valentine's Day death of Joseph Mendoza, 22 (listed below), in an unusual case involving a fight, some cars, and the steel gate leading to a hillside hangout between El Sereno and Lincoln Heights.

The site, pictured here, is a popular party spot and a kind of lovers' lane for El Sereno's young people--a vacant piece of property high above the city, known to locals as "Love Hill."

Dispatch: "I've hardly been able to sleep since this happened"

Authorities said today they are now offering a $50,000 reward for information in the investigation of the killing of college student Nicole Harvey on Jan. 26 (earlier postings below). "She loved her job, her family, her church," Harvey's mother, Carmel Miller, told reporters at City Hall news conference. "I've hardly been able to sleep since this happened." New details of the case have been released, including that Harvey called in sick to work that day, and that police believe she may have known her killer.

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Victims, Feb. 9-18: (This is the coroner's official list released Tuesday.)

Stanley Williams, 46

Stanley Williams, 46, a black man, was shot through the head at 1676 E. Kingsley Avenue in Pomona, and died at 12:47 a.m. Feb. 18.

Raul Contreras, 21

Raul Contreras, 21, a Latino man, was shot in the head at 2800 Firestone Blvd. in South Gate and died at 1:40 a.m. Feb. 18.

Contreras and a second Latino man, 20, were injured by gunfire about 1:23 a.m. South Gate police heard shots and rushed to the location, where they found the two victims outside, sheriff's deputies said. They said a fight in a nearby nightclub had spilled out onto the street and culminated in gunfire.

Ricardo Lazarraga, 15

Ricardo Lazarraga, a 15-year-old Latino boy, was shot in the neck Feb. 14 at 1531 E. 46th St. in South-Central Los Angeles, and died two days later in County-USC hospital at 3:30 a.m. Feb. 16.

Police said two male Latino attackers had walked up to Lizarraga on the street at about 8:15 p.m. Apparently mistaking him for a gang combatant, they shot him.

Another boy with a bicycle might have been with or near him at the time of the shooting, but he has not been found. Neighbors described Ricardo as a quiet boy who rarely went outside. "Just a senseless killing," fretted Det. Johnny Villa of LAPD's Newton Division. "The kid was not even a doggone gang member." Police are seeking any information, including anonymous tips. Call (323) 846-6556.

* Update: This case is cleared. Two Latino men or youths were arrested.

Gilberto Garcia, 33

Gilberto Garcia, 33, a Latino man, was shot at 5937 Middleton Street in Huntington Park, and died at 2:26 a.m. Feb. 16.

Police said Garcia and another man were sitting in a car when a man with a handgun walked up to them and fired into the car many times. The suspect then fled in a small, dark imported car. Both victims were transported to a hospital, where one died. Anyone with information is asked to call police at (323) 826-6646 or (323) 826-6611.

Dino Marks, 31

Dino Marks, a 31-year-old Latino man, was shot multiple times at 1754 Cherry Ave. in Long Beach and died at 2:23 a.m. Feb. 16. Police said this was a drive-by shooting. Marks was on the ground when police arrived. Anyone with information is asked to call Long Beach investigators at (562) 570-7244.

Jorge Pacheco, 19

Jorge Pacheco, a 19-year-old Latino man, was shot in the abdomen at 2252 Del Mar Avenue in San Gabriel, and died at 8:17 p.m. Feb. 15.

Albert Chim, 23

Albert Chim, a 23-year-old Latino man, was shot multiple times outside at 7201 Lennox Ave. in Van Nuys and died at 7:38 p.m. Feb. 14.

Police said Chim was crossing out gang graffiti and putting up his own when three assailants, all Latino males, attacked. He was shot several times and died later at a hospital. Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at (818) 374-0040.

Joseph Mendoza, 22

Joseph Mendoza, 22, a Latino man, was struck by a fence that had been hit by a car at 2907 Amethyst St. in Lincoln Heights and died at 10:51 a.m. Feb. 14. Two men, occupants of the moving car, have been arrested in this case, which remains under investigation. (see above dispatch: "A Fight Turns Deadly")

Update: LAPD Hollenbeck detectives have cleared this case. Homicide charges were filed against the Latino suspects.

Martin Encinas, 23

Martin Encinas, 23, a Latino man, was shot many times at 7010 Marconi St. in Huntington Park and died at 8:37 p.m. Feb. 13. Neighbors heard shots and called police. The officers arrived and found Encinas outside, wounded. They called paramedics to transport him to a hospital, where he died.

Lewis Carter, 35

Lewis Carter, a 35-year-old black man, was shot at 1119 East 88th St. in Florence and died at 10:22 a.m. Feb. 13.

Moussa Haroonian, 43

Moussa Haroonian, a 43-year-old man of Middle-Eastern descent, collapsed and died in an apartment lobby sometime after having a fistfight with another man in the 1441 Veteran Avenue Monday, Feb. 12. Paramedics called to treat the man for injuries had concluded he was not seriously hurt, but he died mysteriously after they left the scene. Medical examiners ruled the case a homicide because Haroonian had some head trauma. But he also had pre-existing medical conditions, and LAPD detectives said district attorneys were unlikely to file a case since the exact mechanism of his death remained murky. This case thus falls into a rare category in which the Coroner has categorized the death as a homicide, but it has not been categorized as such by law enforcement.

Fred Luna, 50

Fred Luna, 50, a Latino man, was shot several times at 1236 East Avenue Q in Palmdale, and died at 8:05 p.m. Feb. 12.

Enrique Cabrera, 16

Enrique Cabrera Jr., 16, a Latino youth, was shot near the intersection of Naomi Avenue and 61st Street in Florence, and died at 6:19 p.m. Feb. 12.

Sheriff's deputies say the teenager was seen arguing with several black men in a dark sport utility vehicle. One of the men shot him, and the sport utility vehicle sped away eastbound on 61st Street. Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at (323) 890-5500.

Francisco Saucedo, 24

Francisco Saucedo, 24, a Latino man, was shot multiple times by police officers inside the Fair Oaks Manor at 5035 Echo St. in Highland Park, and died at 3:30 a.m. Feb. 11.

Police said the officers were called to a group home for people with mental disabilities; there, the young man attacked one officer with a sharp object, ripping the officer's sleeve. One of the officers then shot him, they said. Read police statement

Jose Millan, 27

Jose Millan, a 27-year-old Latino man, was shot at 10218 Brockway St. in El Monte and died at 1:50 a.m. Feb. 11.

Rondale Smith, 20

Rondale Smith, 20, a black man, was shot at the intersection of Brazil Street and Wilmington Avenue in Compton, and died at 3:35 a.m. Feb. 11.

DeShawn Cunningham, 30

DeShawn Cunningham, 30, a black man, was shot at 840 Rosecrans Ave. in Compton, and died at 12:14 a.m. Feb. 11.

Darryl Ingram, 18

Darryl Ingram, 18, a black man, was shot at 9713 S. Avalon Blvd. in Watts, and died at 5:05 p.m. Feb. 9.

Ingram was walking on the street about 11 a.m. when several suspects drove up in a silver compact or medium-sized car, yelled at him and fired, detectives said. He died hours later at a hospital. Police believe the shooting is related to a gang conflict in the area that has taken four lives over the past 12 months.

* Update: This case has been cleared by LAPD Southeast detectives. A black suspect is in custody.

Robert Zimmerman, 39

Robert Zimmerman, a 39-year-old white man, was stabbed multiple times at 10211 S. Vermont Ave. in Athens and died at 12:05 p.m. Feb. 9.