Tyler Pick, 5

Tyler Pick, a 5-year-old, and his grandmother Janell Stern, 62, a white woman, were shot and killed in a murder-suicide at 1921 230th St. about 8:20 p.m Monday, April 28.

According to Torrance police officials, Steven M. Pick, 42, a white man, had returned home eight hours after he was told by police to leave his family's residence. Police said when Pick returned to his home, he fatally shot his 5-year-old son, his mother-in-law, Janell Stern, and his wife. Authorities then said Pick killed himself. See L.A. Times story

Alejandro Diaz, 56

Alejandro Diaz, 56, a Latino man, was fatally shot in the 111 E. Compton Blvd in Compton about 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 28. He was taken to County USC-Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, authorities said.

The shooting occurred at a bus stop near the Compton Metro Blue Line station. There were about 30 people at the bus stop, said Det. Abe Brown of the sheriff's homicide bureau. Brown said the suspect pulled out a handgun and began shooting at a young black man wearing blue "pajama-type" pants, Brown said. Diaz was fatally hit in the back, according to a coroner report. Diaz was a mechanic on his way home from work, Brown said.

The black man was shot in the stomach. Another man was shot in the leg. Both men were taken to hospitals, and their wounds were not considered life-threatening, according to Brown. 

Brown described the gunman as a black man in his early 20s with shoulder-length braids who was 5 feet 10 or 5 feet 11. Anyone with information is asked to call Brown at (323) 890-5500.

Janell Stern, 62

Janell Stern, 62, a white woman, is the second victim of the murder-suicide listed above.

(You have reached the end of the weekly listing of homicide victims in Los Angeles County, April 28 - May 5, 2008.)

South Pasadena murder-suicide

South Pasadena: An Asian man and woman were found dead in their home in the 1600 block of Huntington Drive in South Pasadena about 6:30 p.m. Sunday, April 27. Authorities have not released additional information about the shooting. More soon.

Lancaster stabbing

Lancaster: A black man was stabbed to death in the 44900 block of 5th Street East in Lancaster about 11 p.m. Sunday, April 27. Detectives with the sheriff's homicide bureau are investigating.

We have to stop these guys

Shortly after 3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 23, family members of Hernan Cardona, 60, walked into the conference room of the LAPD's Wilshire Division and sat on hard cushion chairs. They listened to Police Capt. Evangelyn Nathan as she recounted the events of the night their father was killed outside an Auto Zone at 1905 S. Western Ave. in Arlington Heights on Friday, April 18.

"Two men ambushed Mr. Cardona," Nathan said. "They pulled out pistols and fired." Cardona fired back, she said. Cardona, below left, was hit multiple times as he went to the aide of a wounded bystander. According to detectives, the bystander who was wounded fled after the shooting.

"We'd like for him to come forward," said Det. Kurt Wong. "We need to speak with him to see if he has information that will help us identify and convict the suspects." Authorities said there was still no motive for the shooting. Descriptions of the two suspects were also released at the conference. Nathan said the first suspect was a black man, thin and between the ages of 18 and 25. He was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, basketball shorts and blue sneakers.  "We have a composite sketch on that suspect," Nathan said.  The second suspect was a black man, thin and between the ages of 18 and 25. She said he was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and dark pants.

Authorities are also looking for a third suspect, who was believed to be the driver of a dark-colored SUV that was waiting around the corner from the store.

Cardona's wife, Martha Ramirez, 55, and his oldest son, Wilfredo, 34, kept their heads down throughout the conference, occasionally looking at Nathan as she spoke.

City Councilman Herb Wesson announced a $50,000 reward approved by the L.A. City Council for information leading to the identification and capture of the two gunmen. He said St. Moritz Security Services Inc., the firm where Cardona worked, has offered $5,000, bringing the total reward to $55,000.  "We have a moral responsibility to catch these guys," Wesson said. "The city owes this man because he risked his life."

Wilfredo Cardona pleaded with the public. "I just wanted to tell anyone, any witnesses, we have to stop these guys," he said. "If we don't stop them tomorrow, it could be you." At the end of the conference, Wilfredo hugged the councilman. "We're going to catch them," Wesson whispered. Wilfredo then broke down. He was escorted out as investigators showed two short clips of a surveillance video. Wilfredo's 3-year-old daughter ran after her father. "Papi, papi" she yelled. A relative tried holding her back, but she screamed, broke lose and ran to her dad.

Homicide suspect wanted

Los Angeles: Roberry Homicide detectives are asking for assistance in the capture of Frank Shano Siganoff, 24, a white man, for the murder of Rose Marco, 57. Siganoff is pictured at the bottom right.

Police said Siganoff walked into a fortune-telling business at 5324 Sunset Blvd. on Sept. 3 of last year   and allegedly threw a lighted molotov cocktail inside. Marco, who lived and worked inside the building, was burned alive as flames engulfed the business. Investigators said the motive for the killing was related to an ongoing dispute between two families within the Hollywood Gypsy community.

Siganoff is described as having brown hair, blue eyes and stands 6 feet 3 inches tall. His face is heavily scarred with acne, authorities said. According to police, Siganoff had left the state but was last seen walking in the Hollywood area. Authorities said he details cars and works at car washes to earn money.

A warrant has been issued for his arrest. Investigators also remind the public that he is considered armed and extremely dangerous. Should anyone have information about Siganoff's whereabouts they should contact Robbery Homicide Dets. Mike Oppelt or Al Aldaz at (213) 785-2531.

*Update: Authorities said Siganoff has turned himself in at the Maricopa County Sheriff's facility in Phoenix, Ariz., Wednesday, April 30. He remains in custody in Arizona, pending his return to Los Angeles next week, police said.

Victims, April 21-28

The following posts represent the victims of homicide in Los Angeles County for the period of April 21-28, 2008

Alexander Trejo, 43

Alexander Trejo, a 43-year-old Latino man, was shot several times at 726 N. Foxworth Ave. near Valinda about 6 p.m. Monday, April 28. According to L.A. County Sheriff's Department, Trejo was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 6:02 p.m.

Brenda Aguilera, 21

Jonathan Vega-Plascencia, a 20-year-old Latino man and Brenda Aguilera, a 21-year-old Latina woman, pictured left, were shot while sitting in a parked car at the intersection of 48th and Wall streets in South Los Angeles about 11 p.m. Sunday, April 27. According to Los Angeles Police Department spokeswoman Ana Aguirre, a vehicle pulled alongside the parked car and someone inside the vehicle began shooting. Aguilera was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. According to a coroner's report, Aguilera turned 21on Tuesday, April 22. Vega, who turned 20 last month, was taken to a local hospital, where he died, Aguirre said. She said three women sitting on a porch nearby were also wounded by gunfire. They were taken to local hospitals, where they are recovering. The motive for the shooting is unknown, authorities said.

Albert Elvira, 16

Albert Elvira, 16, a Latino youth, was shot and left mortally wounded in the 31000 block of Chaucer Street in Cypress Park about 7:20 p.m. Sunday, April 27. Homicide Det. Jose Carillo of LAPD's Northeast Division said Elvira was approached by gang members and was shot mutliple times. He was taken to County-USC Medical Center and was pronounced dead at 8:10 p.m. that evening, according to a coroner's report. Elvira was a student at Eagle Rock High School, Carillo said,

Jonathan Vega-Plascencia, 20

Jonathan Vega-Plascencia, 20, a young Latino man, is the second victim of the homicide listed above.

Gouram Wallace Jr., 39

Gouram Wallace Jr., 39, a black man, was found dead inside an apartment building in the 7800 block of South Figueroa Street in South-Central Los Angeles about 8:45 a.m. Sunday, April 27.

According to police, a resident found Wallace lying at the bottom of the stairs and called paramedics, police said. Medical personnel with the Los Angeles Fire Department responded and discovered that Wallace had been shot multiple times, authorities said.  Police said several residents said they heard gunshots about 2 a.m., but no one reported it to police. Wallace lived nearby in the area, and there are no records suggesting he had any major criminal involvement.

Jason Marquez, 19

Jason Marquez, a 19-year-old Latino young man was shot and killed at 4968 Axtell Street in El Sereno about 2:50 a.m. Sunday, April 27.

He was standing in a friend's front yard with a young man and a young woman when a white car pulled up, and four people got out, all of them armed, said Det. Jacob Dugger of LAPD's Hollenbeck Division. Without a word, the four began shooting. Marquez was mortally wounded, and pronounced dead later at a local hospital. The young man with him was grazed by a bullet across his mid-section, and was treated at a hospital and released. The young woman was unhurt.

Dugger said investigators believed a gang or drug-related dispute may have prompted the shooting. Marquez, a student at Wilson High, had no criminal record.--Jill Leovy/LAT

Troy Green Jr., 23

Troy Green Jr., 23, a black young man, was shot and killed at the intersection of 75th Street and Parmelee Avenue in an unincorporated area of Florence about 9:50 p.m. Saturday, April 26.

No one reported the shooting when it happened. Later, someone found Green's dead body on the street and called 911. According to L.A. County Sheriff's Det. Robert Harris, a Latino man walked up to Green, who was on foot, shot him, then fled.

Green was homeless and had recently moved from Clearwater, Fla. He was a paranoid schizophrenic whose symptons had surfaced only a few years before, Harris said. He had a partner and child in Florida, pictured at right. But with the onset of his illness, he had begun to wander. His family begged him to come home. Instead, he made his way to Los Angeles with a companion for unknown reasons, arriving here in February.

Green is typical of many mentally-ill murder victims. Living on the streets, or in group homes, they are exceptionally vulnerable to homicide. Exposed to some of society's most dangerous people, they have little means of protecting themselves, and their erratic behavior sometimes provokes violent responses--something which may have occurred in Green's case, said Harris. Harris described Green's family as devastated. Anyone with information is asked to call Sheriff's Homicide: (323)890-5500. --Jill Leovy/LAT

Marvin Sanchez, 30

Marvin Sanchez, 30, a Latino man, was shot to death by a store clerk during an attempted robbery about 2:30 p.m. in Pacoima Saturday, April 26. According to police, Sanchez walked into the Del Gaudio mini market at 10567 San Fernando Road, pulled out a handgun and demanded money. Police said the clerk shot him, and paramedics later found him dead on the sidewalk. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Foothill Dets. Joshua Byers and Jose Martinez (818) 834-3115.

Bobby Williams, 30

Bobby Williams, 30, a black man, was shot and killed in the 1406 East Alondra Boulevard in Compton about 3 p.m. Saturday, April 26.

Williams sold T-shirts and CD's in front of the liquor store at this address. He was standing on the sidewalk when a younger black man walked to him. The younger man was 18 to 20 years old, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt. He and Williams exchanged words, then the younger man pulled out a gun and shot Williams several times, said Lt. Liam Gallagher of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau. Williams was pronounced dead at the scene at 3:16 p.m.

The crime happened in daylight. Several people saw it. But few have come forward as witnesses.--Jill Leovy/LAT

Oscar Antonio Escobar, 21

Oscar Antonio Escobar, 21, a Latino man, was shot and mortally wounded at the intersection of Melrose Avenue and Hobart Boulevard in Hollywood about 11:20 p.m. Friday, April 25. Escobar was taken to County-USC Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 12:25 a.m. the next day, according to authorities. Police said Escobar was on his way home, carrying take-out food for his family, when he was shot by two Latino men. The men were seen fleeing in a '90s black Honda Accord, said Police Spokeswoman Kate Lopez. According to Det. Wendi Bernt of LAPD's Hollywood homicide unit, Escobar was killed by gang members who were driving around Hollywood looking for a random victim.

Family said Escobar was talking to his cousin on the cell phone before the shooting happened. Escobar said he was being followed by a group of men in a car and that they had said something, drove ahead him, parked and waited, his cousin, William Laso, 30, recalled. When the phone call cut out, Laso called Escobar's girlfriend, Erika Lino, 21, saying he feared something bad had happened to her partner. She ran outside and saw yellow police tape a block away. By the time Lino reached the corner, paramedics already had taken Escobar away. He died a few minutes at the hospital after midnight on Saturday, April 26, according to a coroner's report.

Lino said now, she stays away from the apartment they shared. "I constantly keep thinking that he's going to show up," said Lino, who is living mostly at her mother's apartment home.

Family members described Escobar as an honest man and a hard worker. He migrated from El Salvador three years ago, Lino said, and worked in construction in California and Houston.

He loved soccer; the last time Escobar's uncle Jose Mario Escobar, 36, saw him was at the international soccer game between El Salvador and China at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Escobar's uncle said he recorded parts of the game on his cell phone.  "Had I known that was going to be the last time...to see him, I would have instead recorded him all night," the uncle said.

Family members said Escobar planned on staying in the U.S. for two more years, then wanted to build a home in El Salvador with his father and brother. Lino said she would like to go back to El Salvador, because that is what Escobar wanted, but, she said, her daughters have a better future here.

"They cut my nephew's life short," said the uncle. "You come to this country in search of a better life only to lose it." 

Anyone with information can call Hollywood Homicide Detectives Rolando Rodriguez at (213) 972-2910 or Larry Cameron at (213) 972-2913

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Richard Vera, 21

Richard Vera, 21, was shot and killed in an alley in the 1300 block of Parade Street in Long Beach about 4:15 p.m. Thursday, April 24. According to Long Beach Beach Police, officers responded to a call of a deceased male adult in an alley. Vera had been shot in the upper torso. He was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. Anyone with information about the shooting can call Homicide Detectives Russ Moss or Teri Hubert at (562) 570-7244.

Rendell Woods, 24

Rendell Woods, a 24-year-old black man, was shot and killed at 1471 E. 109th St. The coroner listed his time of death as 12:22 p.m. Thursday, April 24.

Charles Corley, 31

Charles Corley, 31, was shot and mortally wounded outside his apartment in the 3200 block of West 60th Street in South-Central L.A. about 4:15 a.m. Saturday, April 19. According to police, a tan Toyota Corolla drove by and someone inside fired multiple gunshots at Corley. He was hit several times and collapsed on the street, police said. Corley was taken to a local hospital by ambulance. He remained on life-support systems until 12:53 p.m Wednesday, April 23.  Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call South Bureau Homicide Detectives Bill Ritch or Betha Durazo at (213) 485-1383.

Riginald Wilson, 44

Reginald Wilson, 44, a black man was stabbed to death during a domestic dispute in the 5200 block of Van Ness Avenue in South Los Angeles about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 23. According to authorities, Wilson was arguing with his girlfriend, Elizabeth Shields, 52, a black woman, at home when she picked up a steak knife and stabbed Wilson in the chest.  Wilson was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said. Shields was later arrested and charged with murder, authorities said.

Roberto Rodriguez, 39

Roberto Rodriguez, 39, a Latino man, was shot and killed near 1056 N. Cummings St. in Boyle Heights Tuesday, April 22. The coroner listed the time of death as 11:52 p.m. Homicide detectives from LAPD's Hollenbeck Division are investigating.

Marco Corona, 31

Marco Corona, a 31-year-old Latino man, was shot and killed in the 3800 block of Hammel Street in East Los Angeles about 10:56 p.m. Tuesday. According to Deputy Denise Fuchs of the L.A. County Sheriff's Department, Corona was walking westbound on Hammel Street when a person believed to be a Latino gang member shot him. Corona was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics at 11:04 p.m.

Elaine Garza, 41

Elaine Garza, 41, a Latina woman, was shot and killed in the 12000 block of Valley Boulevard in El Monte about 2:26 p.m. Tuesday, April 22. According Deputy Luis Castro, officers from the El Monte Police Department responded to a call of a gunshot victim at the Five Points Plaza parking lot and found Garza with multiple wounds. She was taken to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead 3:04 p.m. Witnesses told officers that the suspected shooter ran into the nearby motel. He was later detained as a "person of interest" by police officers. Authorities said he possessed a gun of the same caliber as the bullet casings found at the crime scene. The L.A. County Coroner Department also identified Elaine Garza as Elaine Flores.

Marco Antonio Parra, 36

Marco Antonio Parra, 36, a Latino man, was killed in a drive-by shooting at 6824 Albany St. in Huntington Park on Tuesday, April 22. Detectives from the sheriff's homicide bureau are investigating. More soon.

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Jorge Vazquez Baez, 41

Jorge Vazquez Baez, 41, a Latino man, was stabbed in the 10000 block of Garvey Avenue in El Monte about 12:20 a.m. Tuesday, April 22. According to Denise Fuchs of the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, officers from the El Monte Police Department responded to a call of a man down. Upon arrival, officers found the man suffering from stab wounds. He was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Victor Cruz, 22

Victor Cruz, a 22-year-old Latino man, was shot and killed in front of his home in the 45000 block of 185th Street East in Lake Los Angeles about 6:25 p.m. Monday, April 21. Authorities said Cruz was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 8:57 p.m.

(You have reached the end of the weekly listing of homicide victims in Los Angeles County, April 21-28, 2008.)

Homicide map [Updated]

For an up-to-date map of homicide locations, click here.

Updated August 13 at 11:30 a.m.: Technical difficulties due to The Times' changeover to a new web design have made the homicide map temporarily unavailable. We will keep you posted on when it is working again.

Victims, April 14-20

The following posts represent the victims of homicide in Los Angeles County for the period of April 14-20, 2008