Maurice LeRoy Cox, 38

Maurice LeRoy Cox, a 38-year-old black man, was mortally wounded in an officer-involved shooting at about 7:30 p.m. near the intersection of Crenshaw Boulevard and Slauson Avenue in Hyde Park on Saturday, March 1.

The incident  began when officers from LAPD's South Traffic Division saw a gray pickup truck speeding south on Crenshaw Boulevard. The pickup truck then crashed into a palm tree. As officers approached the truck, Cox, while reaching for the glove compartment, told officers to "move away or he would kill them," police said.  Officers from LAPDs 77th Street  and Southwest divisions responded to the site  to assist the officers. A perimeter was set up along Slauson Avenue, while Cox remained barricaded inside his truck.

Police  gave the following account of what happened next: At about 7:20 p.m., Cox exited his truck and pointed an object appearing to be a weapon at Officer Jose Campos from LAPD's 77th Street Division. Campos fired and Cox ran south and east from his truck. As he ran, Cox continued to point the object at pursuing officers from the northeast corner of Slauson Avenue. More shots were fired, then Cox ran into a bank parking lot, where he was shot and wounded by other officers. Cox was taken  by paramedics to California Hospital, where he was declared dead at 8:55 p.m. Police said a cigarette lighter power adapter was recovered at the scene.

Other officers involved in the shooting were Thomas Callian, Osbaldo Ramos, Hector Ramirez and Corey Meisner. All four officers were also from LAPD's 77th Street Division, but it was unclear exactly where each officer was at the time of the shooting.

On the same evening, Alex Alonso from  Street Gangs Magazine was at the scene filming the incident. According to Alonso, Cox had been involved in a hit-and-run before crashing into a palm tree. He said officers did not approach the vehicle, but via bullhorn kept instructing Cox to exit his vehicle.  Alonso said officers  began shooting at Cox after he backpedaled away from them. The shooting increased as Cox continued running from his truck and into the bank parking lot, where he was shot several times. Click here to read Alonso's recount of the incident and to see video footage.

Eric Dawson, 35

Eric Dawson, a 35-year-old black man, was fatally shot at 2011 E. Alondra Blvd. in Compton about 7:15 p.m. Sunday, March. 2. According to authorities, Dawson was shot during an argument with another man. Detectives with the Sheriff's homicide bureau are investigating.

Westlake stabbing

Westlake: A man was found stabbed to death at about 6:50 a.m. at 806 S. Burlington Ave. on Sunday, Feb. 24. Police and fire personnel responded to a 911 call of a man lying on the sidewalk, said spokesman Cecil Manresa of the Los Angeles Fire Department.   Homicide detectives with LAPD's Rampart Division are investigating. More to come.

Jose King, 35

Jose King, a 35-year-old black man, died from a gunshot wound at about 7:04 p.m. Sunday,  March 2. The location of his death was unavailable. HR is seeking further information.

Guillermo Villezcas, 28

Guillermo Villezcas, a 28-year-old Latino man, was stabbed to death in the 6800 block of Laurelgrove Avenue in North Hollywood on Sunday, March 2. According to a coroner's report, his time of death was listed as 1:43 a.m.

Santos Joaquin Turcios, 42

Santos Joaquin Turcios, 42, and his son Alan Turcios, 20, both Latino, were shot multiple times at 1018 E. 73rd St. in South-Central L.A. about 12:55 a.m. Saturday, March 1. According to police, Santos and Alan were confronted by a man who pulled out a gun and began firing several shots. Both Santos and Alan were hit multiple times but managed to ask for help in the 7300 block of South Central Avenue. Paramedics pronounced Santos dead at the scene at about 1:12 a.m. Alan was taken  to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:27 a.m. The motive for the shooting is still unknown, police said.

The gunman was last seen driving southbound on Central Avenue from 73rd Street in a light blue four-door sedan with chrome rims. Anyone with information is asked to call homicide Dets. Linda Heitzman or Refugio Garza at (213) 485-1383.

Alan Steve Turcios, 20

Alan Steve Turcios, 20, is the second victim in the double homicide in South-Central L.A. above.

Bunthan Roeung, 26

Bunthan Roeung, 26, an Asian man, was shot at 11100 W. Hesby St. at about 1:50 a.m. Saturday, March 1. According to police, Roeung and his friends were driving along Hollywood Boulevard when they got into a verbal dispute with several  men in another vehicle, described as a gray or black Chevrolet Monte Carlo with red pinstripes and "F-1 motor sports" paper plates. The men were tailgating Roeung and his friends northbound on the 101 Freeway, when a man from the vehicle fired a single gunshot at Roeung's car. Roeung, who was sitting in the rear of the car, was struck.  His friends exited the freeway at  Lankershim Boulevard and drove onto Hesby Street, where they called 911.

Los Angeles City Fire Department personnel responded and transported Roeung to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 2:29 a.m.  Police have put out a sketch of a possible suspect. He was described as a black man between the ages of 25 and 29 years old. He was last seen wearing a white baseball cap with a red bandanna  underneath. Anyone with information can call detectives from LAPD's North Hollywood Division at (818) 623-4075.

 

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Isaac Lauriano, 20

Isaac Lauriano, 20, a young Latino man, was shot at 854 S. Oxford Ave. in Koreatown at about 11:50 p.m. Friday, Feb. 29. Officers from LAPD's Wilshire Division responded to a report of a shooting in progress with a gunshot victim. Upon arrival, the officers discovered Lauriano and another man with gunshot wounds. Both men were transported to a local hospital, where Lauriano was pronounced dead the next day at 12:30 a.m. The other man was later released, authorities said. There is no motive for the shooting, said Officer Mike Lopez of LAPD's media relations office. A gunman is still at large. Homicide detectives from LAPD's Wilshire Division are investigating. Anyone with information about the incident can call (213) 473-0446

Sangmas Saluckait, 45

Sangmas Saluckait, a 45-year-old Asian man, was found stabbed to death at 7th Street and Figueroa Avenue at about 3:57 a.m. in Downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, March 1. Saluckait was found dead on the stairway of the Metro station, which is patrolled by deputies from the L.A. County Sheriff's Department. Saluckait was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. According to Sgt. Mitch Loman of the sheriff's Homicide Bureau, Saluckait, a homeless man, was sleeping when Robess Nelson, a 68-year-old homeless black man, allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed him several times. An MTA employee discovered the body early in the morning. After reviewing security videotapes, a description was sent out to law enforcement agencies around the area. Deputies later arrested Nelson at another subway station that day on suspicion of murder. There is no motive for the stabbing. "This is one of those out-of-the-blue incidents,"  Loman said. "But at least he's no longer on the streets where he may try to do this again," he added.

Carlos Edwin Arevalo, 22

Carlos Edwin Arevalo, 22, a Latino man, was killed in an officer-involved shooting at 3411 Loosmore St. in Cypress Park at about 6: 25 p.m. Friday, Feb. 29. Police said the shooting occurred when police officers Mario Gallegos, Joshua Kniss and Jason Schwab from LAPD's Metropolitan Division were patrolling the area in an unmarked vehicle. As officers approached Pleasant View Street they saw two men, Carlos Edwin Arevalo, 22, and Moises Mora, standing behind a parked vehicle. Arevalo ran from the officers after they stopped near the two men to investigate. Schwab chased after Arevalo on foot to the rear side of the residence where the officer-involved shooting occurred. Arevalo was shot in the left side of the upper back and right hip. He was transported to County-USC hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 6:56 p.m. A .45 caliber pistol was recovered at the scene, police said.

Duwayne Bennett, 44

Duwayne Bennett, 44-year-old black man was stabbed outside an International House of Pancakes restaurant located at 4070 Lincoln Blvd in Marina Del Rey at about 1:40 a.m. Saturday, March 1. Bennett was transported to UCLA Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 2:18 a.m. Officers with LAPD's Pacific Division later arrested Victor Vela, 37, on suspicion of murder. According to police, Bennett and Vela began arguing outside a bar as it was preparing to close. The argument was broken up, but escalated further after Vela followed Bennett across the street to the restaurant, where Vela allegedly struck the man with a bicycle chain, stabbed him, then fled the scene on a skateboard, according to witnesses.

Grace Razack, 58

Grace Razack, 58, a white woman, was found dead inside her home in the 1000 block of Easy Street in Highland Park about 9:40 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28. According to authorities from LAPD's Northeast Division, the body was discovered by a friend of the family. Police said the woman died from blunt force trauma to her head. Paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene at about 11:49 p.m.

Update: Authorities have arrested Jehad Ramzi Razack, 25, on suspicion of murder.

Byron San Jose, 25

Byron San Jose, 25, a Latino man, was shot and killed by a police officer at the intersection of Valerio Street and Kester Avenue in Van Nuys about 7:05 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27. He was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. More details about the incident in the Los Angeles Times story.

Glen Giles, 47

Glen Giles, 47, a white man, was stabbed multiple times at 3005 Joaquin Drive in Burbank on Tuesday, Feb. 26. He was pronounced dead at the scene at about 10 a.m. The stabbing occurred overnight, said Sgt. Irving Travis of the Burbank Police Department. Giles ran across the street and collapsed in the front porch of a neighbor's home, Travis said. A day later, police arrested Jorge Ernesto Villalobos, 41, on suspicion of murder. Police said Villalobos had grown angry over Giles relationship with his female friend.  He was arraigned on Feb. 29 at Pasadena Superior Court and faced one count of murder, said L.A County Deputy District Attorney Stephanie Mire. Bail was recommended at $1.02 million, she added.

Lamont Terrell, 19

Lamont Terrell, a 19-year-old young black man, was shot in the buttock and back near the intersection of Figueroa Street and Colden Avenue about 7:36 p.m. in South Los Angeles Monday, Feb. 25. According to police, LAPD officers with the Southeast Division responded to a radio call of shots fired near the intersection. Upon arrival, officers discovered Terrell with gunshot wounds. He was transported to California hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 8 p.m.

Alicia Rivera Perez

Alicia Rivera Perez, 47, a Latina woman, was fatally shot inside her home at 14542 Rockenbach St. in Baldwin Park at about 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 25. She was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics, police said. According to authorities, officers with the Baldwin Police Department responded to a radio call of a shooting in progress along with gunshot victims. Upon arrival, officers encountered Roy Perez, 28, on the street armed with a handgun. He was arrested on suspicion of murder. 

Authorities said Roy got into an argument with his mother and allegedly shot her. He then went to his neighbors home on a "shooting rampage," said Det. Daniel Rosenberg of the sheriff's homicide bureau. Dalmy Perez De Mata, 31, and her 4-year-old daughter, Briana De Mata, were pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. De Mata's two other children, a 14-year-old youth and a 9-year-old girl, were hospitalized. The girl was listed in stable condition and the 14-year-old youth remained in critical condition. Neighbors described Roy as a little strange. More details in the Los Angeles Times story.

Dalmy Perez De Mata, 31

Dalmy Perez De Mata, 31, a Latina woman, is the second victim of the multiple homicides in Baldwin Park above.

Briana De Mata, 4

Briana De Mata, a 4-year-old Latina girl, is the third victim of the multiple homicides in Baldwin Park above.

David Harris, 23

David Harris, a 23-year-old young black man, was shot in the chest at 103rd and Alameda streets in an unincorporated area near Watts at about 3:30 p.m Monday, Feb 25.  Harris was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4:03 p.m.

Ratchanok Seesura, 28

Ratchanok Seesura, a 28-year-old Asian woman, was stabbed to death in a domestic dispute at 10429 La Reina Avenue in Downey at about 3:25 a.m. Monday, Feb. 25. According to authorities, officers from the Downey Police Department responded to a radio call of domestic violence at the address. Upon arrival, officers discovered Seesura inside her bedroom, bleeding from multiple stab wounds. Paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene at about 3:45 a.m. Her 3-year-old child, who walked out of the apartment, was later found inside a neighbors apartment home, police said.

As police investigated the incident, the California Highway Patrol responded to a radio call of an accident at the Rose Hill exit off the 605 Freeway. Among the involved drivers was Kris Young Lee, 35, who lived at the same address. Police claimed that Lee confessed to a CHP officer of murdering his wife with a kitchen knife during an argument. He was hospitalized at County-USC hospital and was later arrested on suspicion of murder.

(You have reached the end of the weekly listing of homicide victims in Los Angeles County, Feb. 25 to March 3, 2008.)

Victims, Feb. 18-25

The following posts represent the victims of homicide in Los Angeles County for the period  of Feb. 18-25, 2008.

Jeffrey Martinez, 29

Jeffrey Martinez, 29, a Latino man was fatally shot at 12309 E. Carson St. in Hawaiian Gardens at about 5:45 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24. Authorities said the man was transported by ambulance to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 6:40 p.m. Detectives with the Sheriff's homicide bureau are investigating.

Benny Jr. Ferguson, 19

Benny Jr. Ferguson, 19, a young black man, was fatally stabbed in the chest at about 4:10 p.m. at 14528 S. Harris Ave. in Compton Sunday, Feb. 24, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Ferguson was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4:53 p.m.

Isabella Cortes, 2

Isabella Cortes, a 2-year-old Latina toddler, died from an unknown injury. She was transported from Lompoc Health Center in Ventura county to Los Angeles hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 2:17 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24. Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department is investigating.   

Victor Baltazar, 27

Victor Baltazar, 27, a Latino man, was shot in the chest at about 3 a.m. at the 5600 block of Cleon Avenue in North Hollywood Saturday, Feb. 23. According to police, Baltazar was talking with relatives outside of a home when he was allegedly confronted by Victor Santiago Sencion, 22., who challenged him to a fight. Sencion then pulled out a handgun and shot Baltazar. He was taken by ambulance to St. Joseph's Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 3:44 a.m. that same day. According to initial reports, Sencion was stabbed by several people at the home as they struggled to subdue him, but police could not confirm. Sencion was hospitalized and was under police custody.

Marcos Salas, 36

Marcos Salas, 36, a Latino man, was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting near Aragon and Roseview avenues in Cypress Park at about noon Thursday, Feb. 21. Salas was holding the hand of his 2-year-old granddaughter when he was shot mulitple times by persons in a passing car, police said. The girl was not hit nor did she suffer any major injuries, authorities said.

Police gave this account of what followed: Officers from the Northeast Division pulled over a white Nissan sedan near the intersection of Drew Street and Estara avenues. Three men got out and began shooting; one of those men was Daniel Leon, 22, who was armed with an AK-47 rifle. The officers fired back, killing Leon and injuring another man; he was taken to a local hospital and was being held for allegedly killing Salas. A third suspect fled on foot, but was later found underneath a vehicle. He was arrested on suspicion of murder, authorities said.  The fourth man fled in the white Nissan and is still at large. All three men were members of the Avenues gang, police said.

For more, read the Los Angeles Times story, or the update:

R.C. Jr., Jenkins, 29

R.C. Jr. Jenkins, 29, a black man, was stabbed multiple times at 17818 Lakespring Ave. in the unincorporated Lake Los Angeles area at about 11 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21. According to authorities, Jenkins was accompanying his friend, Willie Nathaniel Cayne, 19, to confront his ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend. At the house the men knocked on the door, then rushed in and attacked the woman's boyfriend. Jenkins was stabbed multiple times during the fight, according to L.A. County Sheriff's Department. He was pronounced dead at 11:33 p.m. by paramedics at the scene. Cayne was arrested at the home by sheriff's deputies from the Palmdale station. The woman's boyfriend was treated at the scene, but his condition was unknown.

Daniel Leon, 22

Daniel Leon, 22, a young latino man, was shot and killed in an officer-involved shooting at the intersection of Drew Street and Estara avenues in Glassell Park at about noon Thursday, Feb. 21. His time of death was listed as 3 p.m., according to a coroner's report. See Marcos Salas post above for further info about the incident.

Reuben Conley, 63

Reuben Conley, a 63-year-old black man, died from blunt force trauma to the head at a nursing home in Los Angeles Wednesday Feb. 20. Cole had been assaulted by another patient from a previous nursing home. He was transferred to another local nursing home, where he died from his head injury, according to investigator Jerry McKibben of the Los Angeles County Coroner's office. His time of death was 2:38 p.m. The name of the nursing homes or location were not available. An autopsy is pending, McKibben said.