'How much do we have to endure?'

                           

Family, friends and community activists held a vigil for Bryan Moore at Campanella Park in Compton Sunday evening, June 29. Above, Criminal Investigator Paul Parker III speaks to the media at a news conference. A poster behind him reads "How much of this do we have to endure?"

Moore, listed below, was killed in a deputy-involved shooting Thursday, June 26. Milton Grimes, an attorney for Moore's family, said information from witnesses suggest that the use of force by the deputy was unjustified. Grimes said Moore was shot three or four times in the back.   

Moore's girlfriend, Chanta Deeminter, 27, said she and Moore were returning to her home when she saw a sheriff's patrol car. Deeminter told Moore that she believed the patrol car was following her. Moore panicked. "He was breathing hard," Deeminter said. Moore then jumped out of the car and ran.  A deputy chased him on foot, then shots were fired. Deeminter said she heard three shots.  The L.A. County Sheriff's Department said in a statement that Moore was asked to show his hands. Instead, Moore looked, then turned toward the deputy. Fearing for his life, the deputy shot him, the statement said.

"This is an ongoing thing," said James Connor, a resident of Compton. "There's going to be more shootings like this now that summer is here," he said.

A dispute between family members interrupted the vigil. News cameras recorded the argument, which turned into a fight. "This is not news," a bystander said after he was asked about the fight.

At the end of the vigil everyone gathered in a prayer circle, while a sheriff's helicopter circled around the park.

'I want justice for my brother'

                           

It has been almost three months since Mohammad Usman Chaudhry, 21, was killed in an officer-involved shooting in Hollywood. 

On Saturday, June 21, family, friends and community activists gathered at 1435 N. Curson Ave. to remember Chaudhry and others shot by police, as well as to empower local communities. Above, Chaudhry's family speaks out. "I am Usman's sister and I want justice for my brother," Chaudhry's sister wrote on a poster.

Chaudhry was fatally shot by a Hollywood Police officer early Tuesday, March 25.

Altadena homicide

A Latino man was shot to death in the 100 block of Figueroa Drive in Altadena about 1 a.m. Saturday, June 28. The man was taken by ambulance to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead. More soon.

Norwalk homicide

A Latino man was shot and killed in the 12300 block of Norwalk Boulevard in Norwalk about 11:55 p.m. Monday, June 23. The man was taken by ambulance to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead. L.A. County Sheriff's Department is investigating the shooting.

Victims, June 23 - 30

The following posts represent the victims of homicide in Los Angeles County for the period of June 23-30, 2008

Kevin Johnson, 40

Kevin Johnson, 40, a black man, was shot to death in the 4100 block of Sutro Avenue near Leimert Park about 3:35 a.m. Monday, June 30.

Police said Johnson was standing alongside his car when a suspect or suspects approached and shot him multiple times. Family members and neighbors went outside and found Johnson lying on the sidewalk, police said. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene, authorities said.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call South Bureau Homicide Dets. Carreon and Tylee at (213) 485-1383

Jessica Corona, 30

Jessica Corona, 30, a Latina woman, was shot and killed outside a bar at 4253 Main St. in South-Central Los Angeles about 2 a.m. Sunday, June 29. She was pronounced dead at the scene, according to authorities.

Gian Lobatto, 21

Gian Lobatto, 21, a young Latino, was shot to death in the 7800 block of Lou Dillon Avenue in an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County, near Walnut Park, about 7 p.m. Saturday, June 28.  L.A. County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau detectives are investigating.

Edgar Garcia, 20

Edgar Garcia, 20, a Latino, was shot in the 1400 block of Linden Avenue in Long Beach about 2 a.m. Saturday, June 28.

According to the Long Beach Police Department, Garcia and another Latino man were standing on the street talking when a vehicle approached them. Someone in the vehicle opened fire at Garcia and the man. Garcia was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, where he died.

The other man was taken by car to an area hospital, where he was treated and released.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Long Beach Homicide Dets. Dennis Robbing or Daniel Mendoza at (562) 570-7244.

Michael Anthony De La Torre, 19

Michael Anthony De La Torre, 19, a Latino man, was shot in the 100 block of Figueroa Drive in Altadena about 1 a.m. Saturday, June 28.

De La Torre was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. L.A. County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau Dets. Harris and Martinez are investigating the incident.

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Manuel Barrios, 31

Manuel Barrios, 31, a Latino man, was shot in the 1500 block of Downey Road in an unincorporated area of East Los Angeles about 11 p.m. Saturday, June 28. Paramedics pronounced Barrios dead at the scene.

According to the L.A. County Sheriff's Department, Barrios was talking to another Latino man outside a home where they had attended a party. A white vehicle with three Latino men inside drove up, and someone in the vehicle began shooting at them. Barrios was hit several times and was later pronounced dead by paramedics. The other man was taken to a local hospital, where he is recovering.

Bryon Ramon Lopez, 28

Bryon Ramon Lopez, 28, a Latino man, was shot in the 2000 block of 19th Court in Santa Monica about 10 p.m. Saturday, June 28.

According to the Santa Monica Police Department, officers responding to a shots-fired call were unable to locate any victims. As officers searched the area, the Police Department received a call from a hospital about a gunshot victim.  Police learned that Bryon Lopez had been shot at the 19th Court location and had been taken by car to the hospital. Authorities said Lopez died before officers arrived.

Police said two black men shot Lopez. The motive for the shooting is unknown.

Anyone with information is asked to call Santa Monica Police detectives at (310) 458-8451

Update: An offical coroner weekly listing of L.A. County homicides listed Bryon's first name as Byron. But according to the Department of Motor and Vehicle, his first name was listed as Bryon. "He went by many names," a DMV representative said over the phone. Before a photo could be released, HR had to guess the spelling of Bryon's first name. 

Charles Whitefield III, 22

Charles Whitefield III, 22, a black man, was shot during a dispute in the 13500 block of Kismet Avenue in Sylmar about 12 a.m. Friday, June 27.  Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.

According to Homicide Det. Parshall of the Los Angeles Police Department's Mission Division,  Whitefield was involved in an ongoing dispute with Jarl Lee Turner, 27, a black man. Turner is accused of pulling out a gun during an argument and fatally shooting Whitefield. According to the L.A. County coroner's office, Whitefield was shot in the chest. Parshall said Turner fled to Dallas, and authorities there arrested him a few days after the shooting.  Parshall said Turner had family in Dallas.

Bryan Romo, 14

Bryan Romo, 14, a Latino youth, was fatally shot in the 1400 block of East Puente Avenue in West Covina about 11:25 p.m. Friday, June 27.

According to the West Covina Police Department, officers responding to a shots-fired call found Romo lying on the front lawn of a home with multiple gunshot wounds. Paramedics pronounced Romo dead at the scene. Police said Romo had left a house party after a fight broke out. He was only a few houses away when he was shot.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call West Covina detectives at (626) 939-8510

Bryan Moore, 26

Bryan Moore, 26, a black man, was shot and killed by sheriff's deputies in the 1000 block of East 150th Street in Compton on Thursday, June 26.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department gave the following account in a statement:

Deputies from the Compton Station were attempting to speak with Moore. As deputies approached, Moore turned around and ran. He then jumped over a chain-link fence while holding onto his waistband. Deputies instructed Moore to show his hands. Moore then looked at one of the deputies and was about to turn in his direction. Fearing for his safety, the deputy fired his gun. Moore was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

A vigil for Moore will be held at Roy Campanella Park, at 14812 S. Stanford Ave. in Compton at 6:30 p.m. today, June 29.

Gamaliel Jaramillo, 14

Gamaliel Jaramillo, 14, a Latino youth, was shot in the 5300 block of Live Oak Street in Cudahy about 1:40 p.m. Thursday, June 26. Jaramillo was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Danny Martinez, 26

Danny Martinez, 26, a Latino man, was shot in the 2000 block of East 73rd Street in Florence about 8:50 p.m. Wednesday, June 25. Martinez was taken to a local hospital, where he died.

According to the L.A. County Sheriff Department, Martinez was talking to a woman in a car port of an apartment complex when a hooded suspect approached and shot him.

Frank Bazua, 27

Frank Bazua, 27, a Latino man, was shot in the 100 block of South Tamarind Avenue in Compton about 2:50 p.m. Wednesday, June 25.  The man was taken by ambulance to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

According to L.A. County Sheriffs, Bazua was sitting inside his car in his driveway, talking to a 17-year-old Latino youth who was leaning against the driver side door. A green compact car pulled up, and a man exited the vehicle, approached Bazua and the youth and began shooting, authorities said. Bazua was hit several times in the upper torso. The youth was hit numerous times in his legs. He was hospitalized and listed in critical condition.

Anyone with information can call Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500

Joseph Ciganek, 60

Joseph Paul Ciganek, 60, a white man, was found dead along with a woman and two children in a burning home in the 43200 block of 45th Street West in Quartz Hill about 5 p.m. Monday, June 23.

The bodies of Jenny Park, an Asian woman, and her two children, Jaime, 13 and Justin, 8 or 9, were also found. Neighbors identified Park and two children.  According to L.A. County Sheriff's Lt. David Coleman, Ciganek and his wife, Jocelyn Ciganek, shared their home with Park and her two children.  "The slain woman and children are relatives of Jocelyn Ciganek..." Coleman said.

Ciganek's wife was not home at the time of the incident. Authorities said she was on her way home from her job at a nearby mall when the blaze began.

According to L.A. County coroner's spokesman Ed Winter, Ciganek, a NASA employee, and the boy died from blunt-force trauma. Park and her daughter died from multiple stab wounds. "The burns they suffered happened after they were killed and did not contribute to the death,"  Winter told the L.A. Times.

Sheriff 's officials said Friday that they were looking for two men in connection with the slayings:

Si Young Yoon, 34, of Lancaster, an Asian man (pictured at right) drives a silver 2005 Acura MDX, with California license plate number 5PKL680, authorities said.

Jae Hwan Shim, 39, of Palmdale, who is also Asian, drives a 1998 Mercedes E320, with California license plate number 4ANZ159. 

Shim is believed to be Park's ex-husband, according to court documents. Shim filed for divorce in June 2004. Authorities said the motive for the killings is unknown.

Anyone with information about the incident or location of the two men can  call sheriff's Homicide Bureau detectives at (323) 890-5500.

Update: Authorities have arrested Shim and his alleged accomplice in the deaths of his ex-wife, two children and Joseph Ciganek.

Jae Hwan Shim, 39, former husband of Park, and Steve Kwon, 27, are accused of the killings and setting the home at 43250 N. 45th St. in Quartz Hill to cover up the scene. The two men are also suspects in the disappearance of Si Young Yoon, 34, Park's boyfriend.

Jaime Park, 13

Jaime Park is the fourth victim in the multiple homicides in Quartz Hill listed above.

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Justin Park

Justin Park, 8 or 9, is the third victim in the multiple homicides in Quartz Hill listed above.  Justin's age has yet to be determined.

Jenny Park, 34

Jenny Park, 34, is the second victim in the multiple homicides in Quartz Hill listed above.

(You have reached the end of the weekly listing of homicide victims in Los Angeles County, June 23-30, 2008.)

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'He could have made a difference'

                           

A funeral service for Christopher Taylor, listed below, was held at Angelus Funeral Home in Jefferson Park Saturday afternoon, June 21. Taylor, 19, was fatally shot outside his home almost a week ago.  After the service family and friends gathered at Taylor's home. His closest friends stood in his bedroom recalling their memories of Taylor. "He looked like a good kid and was a good kid," said Raven Holmes, 26. In honor of Taylor, twenty-year-old Tyrone Miller, above, had a barber shave the words "RIP Chris" on the back of his head. "He wanted you to live your life like it was your last  [day] and do right," Miller told everyone in the room.

Christopher Taylor was raised in Lorain, Ohio. He attended Elyria High School, where he ran cross country and won several awards. "He could run, we seen him," said Jonathan Brown, 18. "We had water balloon fights and he could run. You couldn't catch him," Brown said. Friends described Taylor as a caring, honest and responsible young man.  "He could have made a difference," Holmes said. "He was the type of guy that could."

 

Francisco Barrera, 46

Francisco Barrera, 46, a Latino man, was hit in the head with a baseball bat and died in Hollywood. His time of death was listed as 12:46 p.m. Friday, June 20.

(You have reached the end of the weekly listing of homicide victims in Los Angeles County, June 23 - 30, 2008.)

Victims, June 16 - 22

The following posts represent the victims of homicide in Los Angeles County for the period of June 16-22, 2008

Willie Flores Jr., 22

Willie Flores Jr., 22, a young Latino, was fatally shot in the chest at 5614 N. Fenimore Ave. in Azusa at about 3:00 a.m. Sunday, June 22. Flores was taken by ambulance to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead. L.A. County Sheriff's Department is investigating.

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Juan Garcia, 44

Juan Garcia, 44, and his son, Albert Garcia, 12, both Latinos, were fatally shot in the 100 block of East Madison Avenue in Montebello about 11:45 p.m. Saturday, June 21.

According to a Montebello police statement, Garcia and his son were attending a graduation party, when two to three young Latino gang members got into a confrontation with another group of men, who were rival gang members, according to Sgt. Luis Lopez.  During the confrontation, one of the men pulled out a gun and began shooting. Garcia and his son were both hit in their upper torsos, police said. Family members took Garcia and his son by car to Beverly Hospital, a block from the house.

Garcia was pronounced dead at 12:13 p.m. the next day. Garcia's son was pronounced dead 22 minutes later. Both father and son were from Riverside County.

Police described the shooters as three Latino men dressed in light-colored shirts and dark-colored pants, and are between 15 to 20 years of age. The statement said the men were last seen running south on Poplar Avenue.

Two other guests were also injured by gunfire. A man was treated for a gunshot wound to his lower torso. A woman was taken to Monterey Park Hospital with a gunshot wound to her arm. She was later released.

Albert Garcia, 12

Albert Garcia, 12, a Latino youth, is the second victim of the homicide listed above.

Harrison Smith II

Harrison Smith II, 33, a black man, was shot in the chest in the 1400 block of Val Carlos Avenue in Rowland Heights at about 9:11 p.m. Saturday, June 21. Paramedics pronounced Smith dead at the scene, according to the L.A. County Sheriff's Department.

Carolina Urrutia, 29

Carolina Urrutia, 29, a Latina woman, was found dead inside her sport-utility vehicle from an apparent murder-suicide in Santa Fe Springs about 2:15 p.m. Saturday, June 21.

According to spokesman Jason Zhulke of the Whittier Police Department, a passerby saw a woman slumped over the steering wheel of an SUV on the Telegraph Road exit ramp of the northbound 605 Freeway.  California Highway Patrol officers received the call and informed Whitier police about the incident. Officers found Urrutia with a gunshot wound to the head on the driver's side. Paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene.  Urrutia's boyfriend, a Latino man, was also shot in the head, he was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Zhulke said it appeared that the man shot Urrutia during a domestic dispute. A handgun was recovered at the scene, Zhulke said.  The man's name was not available, pending notifying next of kin. Anyone with information about incident is asked to call Whittier Police homicide detectives at (562) 945-8250.