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February 21, 2009 | 3:56
pm
The map of homicides in Los Angeles County now contains all deaths reported by the coroner's office as homicides through Feb. 16.
We had a lull this week in updating the blog as the data team launched Mapping L.A., an interactive project which will be used, among other things, in presenting the Homicide Report in the near future. Right now, we have asked for help from our readers in setting boundaries for neighborhoods within the city of Los Angeles. The interactive map will ultimately include the entire county.
On the current homicide map, many of the slayings still do not yet have corresponding posts in the blog. We continue to work on filling in the gaps.
If you do not see a post on a particular homicide, please check back. We appreciate your patience.
For the most recent news on homicides in Los Angeles County while we work to complete the report, please visit L.A. Now's Homicide Report posts.
Coming soon: A new database format that will allow users to search by name, location, age, cause of death and more.
February 21, 2009 | 3:49
pm
Michael Ortiz, a 17-year-old Latino, was killed along with his mother and seven other family members during a rampage at his grandparent's annual Christmas Eve party on the 1100 block of Knollcrest Drive in Covina late on Dec. 24, 2008.
The attack began when his aunt's ex-husband, Bruce Jeffery Pardo, 45, went to the party uninvited and dressed in a Santa Claus suit about 11:30 p.m.
When an 8-year-old girl opened the door after he knocked, Bruce Pardo shot her in the face, wounding her. Inside the home he shot 10 others, killing nine and injuring a 16-year-old girl whom he shot in the back.
Amid the chaos, Pardo doused the home in fuel and set it on fire. He left the scene and drove to his brother's home in Sylmar with severe burns. His brother found him dead from a self-inflicted gunshot and called police about 3:30 a.m. Christmas Day.
Police said Pardo launched the attack armed with four semi-automatic weapons and a canister of fuel. He appeared to have made multiple escape plans.
-- Joel Rubin, Ari B. Bloomekatz and Tami Abdollah
February 21, 2009 | 3:47
pm
Joseph Ortega, an 80-year-old Latino, was killed during killed along with his wife and seven other family members during a rampage at his annual Christmas Eve party on the 1100 block of Knollcrest Drive in Covina late on Dec. 24, 2008.
The attack began when Ortega's former son-in-law, Bruce Jeffery Pardo, 45, went to the party uninvited and dressed in a Santa Claus suit about 11:30 p.m.
When an 8-year-old girl opened the door after he knocked, Bruce Pardo shot her in the face, wounding her. Inside the home he shot 10 others, killing nine and injuring a 16-year-old girl whom he shot in the back.
Amid the chaos, Pardo doused the home in fuel and set it on fire. He left the scene and drove to his brother's home in Sylmar with severe burns. His brother found him dead from a self-inflicted gunshot and called police about 3:30 a.m. Christmas Day.
Police said Pardo launched the attack armed with four semi-automatic weapons and a canister of fuel. He appeared to have made multiple escape plans.
-- Joel Rubin, Ari B. Bloomekatz and Tami Abdollah
February 21, 2009 | 3:45
pm
Charles Ortega, a 50-year-old Latino, was killed along with his wife and seven other family members during a rampage at his parent's annual Christmas Eve party at their home in the 1100 block of Knollcrest Drive in Covina late in the evening of Dec. 24, 2008.
The attack began when Ortega's former brother-in-law, Bruce Jeffery Pardo, 45, went to the party uninvited and dressed in a Santa Claus suit about 11:30 p.m.
When an 8-year-old girl opened the door after he knocked, Bruce Pardo shot her in the face, wounding her. Inside the home he shot 10 others, killing nine and injuring a 16-year-old girl whom he shot in the back.
Amid the chaos, Pardo doused the home in fuel and set it on fire. He left the scene and drove to his brother's home in Sylmar with severe burns. His brother found him dead from a self-inflicted gunshot and called police about 3:30 a.m. Christmas Day.
Police said Pardo launched the attack armed with four semi-automatic weapons and a canister of fuel. He appeared to have made multiple escape plans.
-- Joel Rubin, Ari B. Bloomekatz and Tami Abdollah
February 21, 2009 | 3:43
pm
James Ortega, a 52-year-old Latino, was killed along with his wife and seven other family members during a rampage at his parent's annual Christmas Eve party at their home in the 1100 block of Knollcrest Drive in Covina late in the evening of Dec. 24, 2008.
The attack began when Ortega's former brother-in-law, Bruce Jeffery Pardo, 45, went to the party uninvited and dressed in a Santa Claus suit about 11:30 p.m.
When an 8-year-old girl opened the door after he knocked, Bruce Pardo shot her in the face, wounding her. Inside the home he shot 10 others, killing nine and injuring a 16-year-old girl whom he shot in the back.
Amid the chaos, Pardo doused the home in fuel and set it on fire. He left the scene and drove to his brother's home in Sylmar with severe burns. His brother found him dead from a self-inflicted gunshot and called police about 3:30 a.m. Christmas Day.
Police said Pardo launched the attack armed with four semi-automatic weapons and a canister of fuel. He appeared to have made multiple escape plans.
-- Joel Rubin, Ari B. Bloomekatz and Tami Abdollah
February 21, 2009 | 3:41
pm
Teresa Ortega, a 51-year-old Latina, was killed along with her husband and seven other family members during a rampage at the family's annual Christmas Eve party on the 1100 block of Knollcrest Drive in Covina late in the evening of Dec. 24, 2008.
Ortega, of Upland, was the sister-in-law of Sylvia Pardo, 43, whose ex-husband, Bruce Jeffery Pardo, 45, went to the home armed with four semi-automatic weapons and a canister of fuel.
The attack began when Pardo, dressed in a Santa Claus suit, knocked in the door about 11:30 p.m.
When an 8-year-old girl opened the door after he knocked, Bruce Pardo shot her in the face, wounding her. Inside the home he shot 10 others, killing nine and injuring a 16-year-old girl whom he shot in the back.
Amid the chaos, Pardo doused the home in fuel and set it on fire. He left the scene and drove to his brother's home in Sylmar with severe burns. His brother found him dead from a self-inflicted gunshot and called police about 3:30 a.m. Christmas Day.
Police said Pardo appeared to have made multiple escape plans.
-- Joel Rubin, Ari B. Bloomekatz and Tami Abdollah
February 21, 2009 | 3:38
pm
Alicia Sotomayor Ortega, a 70-year-old Latina, was killed along with her husband and seven other family members during a rampage at her annual Christmas Eve party on the 1100 block of Knollcrest Drive in Covina late on Dec. 24, 2008.
The attack began when Ortega's former son-in-law, Bruce Jeffery Pardo, 45, went to the party uninvited and dressed in a Santa Claus suit about 11:30 p.m.
When an 8-year-old girl opened the door after he knocked, Bruce Pardo shot her in the face, wounding her. Inside the home he shot 10 others, killing nine and injuring a 16-year-old girl whom he shot in the back.
Amid the chaos, Pardo doused the home in fuel and set it on fire. He left the scene and drove to his brother's home in Sylmar with severe burns. His brother found him dead from a self-inflicted gunshot and called police about 3:30 a.m. Christmas Day.
Police said Pardo launched the attack armed with four semi-automatic weapons and a canister of fuel. He appeared to have made multiple escape plans.
-- Joel Rubin, Ari B. Bloomekatz and Tami Abdollah
February 21, 2009 | 3:35
pm
Sylvia Pardo, a 43-year-old Latina, was killed by her ex-husband during a rampage at her parent's annual Christmas Eve party on the 1100 block of Knollcrest Drive in Covina late Dec. 24, 2008. The incident also claimed the lives of eight other family members.
The attack began when her ex-husband, Bruce Jeffery Pardo, 45, went to the party uninvited and dressed in a Santa Claus suit about 11:30 p.m. The two had split after she discovered he had abandoned a brain-damaged son years earlier but continued to claim him as a tax write-off.
Sylvia had three children from a previous marriage, none of whom was at the party at the time of the assault.
When an 8-year-old girl opened the door after he knocked, Bruce Pardo shot her in the face, wounding her. Inside the home he shot 10 others, killing nine and injuring a 16-year-old girl whom he shot in the back.
Amid the chaos, Pardo doused the home in fuel and set it on fire. He left the scene and drove to his brother's home in Sylmar with severe burns. His brother found him dead from a self-inflicted gunshot and called police about 3:30 a.m. Christmas Day.
Police said Pardo launched the attack armed with four semi-automatic weapons and a canister of fuel. He appeared to have made multiple escape plans.
-- Joel Rubin, Ari B. Bloomekatz and Tami Abdollah
February 21, 2009 | 3:32
pm
Cheri Ortega, a 45-year-old woman, was killed along with her husband and seven other family members during a rampage at their annual Christmas Eve party on the 1100 block of Knollcrest Drive in Covina late Dec. 24, 2008.
Ortega was the sister-in-law of Sylvia Pardo, 43, whose ex-husband, Bruce Jeffery Pardo, 45, went to the party uninvited and dressed in a Santa Claus suit about 11:30 p.m.
When an 8-year-old girl opened the door after he knocked, Pardo shot her in the face, wounding her. Inside the home he shot 10 others, killing nine and injuring a 16-year-old girl whom he shot in the back. His ex-wife and her parents were among those killed.
Amid the chaos, Pardo doused the home in fuel and set it on fire. He left the scene and drove to his brother's home in Sylmar with severe burns. His brother found him dead from a self-inflicted gunshot and called police about 3:30 a.m. Christmas Day.
Police said Pardo launched the attack armed with four semi-automatic weapons and a canister of fuel. He appeared to have made multiple escape plans.
-- Joel Rubin, Ari B. Bloomekatz and Tami Abdollah
February 21, 2009 | 3:29
pm
Alicia Ortiz, a 46-year-old Latina, was killed along with her son and seven other family members during a rampage at their annual Christmas Eve party on the 1100 block of Knollcrest Drive in Covina late on Dec. 24, 2008.
Ortiz was the sister of Sylvia Pardo, 43, whose ex-husband, Bruce Jeffery Pardo, 45, went to the party uninvited and dressed in a Santa Claus suit about 11:30 p.m.
An 8-year-old girl opened the door when Pardo knocked and he shot her in the face, wounding her. Inside the home he shot 10 others, killing nine and injuring a 16-year-old girl whom he shot in the back. His ex-wife and her parents were among those killed.
Amid the chaos, Pardo doused the home in fuel and set it on fire. He left the scene and drove to his brother's home in Sylmar with severe burns. His brother found him dead from a self-inflicted gunshot and called police about 3:30 a.m. Christmas Day.
Police said Pardo launched the attack armed with four semi-automatic weapons and a canister of fuel. He appeared to have made multiple escape plans.
-- Joel Rubin, Ari B. Bloomekatz and Tami Abdollah
February 21, 2009 | 3:26
pm
Angela Willis, a 21-year-old black woman, was shot multiple times and died Friday, Dec. 26, 2008, after an incident in the 25400 block of Senator Avenue in Wilmington, according to coroner's records.
-- Anthony Pesce
February 21, 2009 | 3:06
pm
Travion Collins, a 21-year-old black man, was shot multiple times while standing in front of a business in the 2700 block of South Western Avenue in San Pedro about 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2008.
A man standing with Collins was shot in the leg and wounded. Police said the two were approached on foot by a black male in his late teens or early 20s who pulled a handgun and began shooting after walking around the corner of a nearby strip mall. The shooter, police said, was about 5 feet, 9 inches tall.
Collins and the man he was with were both taken to a hospital where Collins, who was shot in the chest, later died. The other man was treated for his leg wound and released, police said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detectives Sean Hansen and Chuck Geiger at 213-485-1383. After hours or on weekends, calls may be made to a 24-hour toll-free number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (527-3247).
-- Anthony Pesce
February 21, 2009 | 3:04
pm
Jonathan Miranda, a 27-year-old Latino, was shot multiple times while driving his car just south of the Los Angeles River in Chinatown about 11 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 26, 2008.
After getting a report of shots fired in the area, Los Angeles police found Miranda, of Lincoln Heights, alone in a 1985 white Crown Victoria that had crashed into a street sign in the 100 block of West Wilhardt Street.
Witnesses had directed them to what they thought was a car accident, but police discovered that Miranda had been shot. Paramedics called to the scene pronounced him dead, according to a police news release.
Anyone with information is asked to call Central Area detectives at 213-842-0727 during normal business hours. After hours and on weekends, calls may be made to the 24-hour toll-free number, 1-877-LAPD 24-7 (527-3247).
February 21, 2009 | 3:00
pm
Juan Correa, a 24-year-old Latino, was shot multiple times and collapsed Friday, Dec. 26, 2008, in 3000 block of West Silver Lake Boulevard in Atwater Village, according to authorities.
Los Angeles police found Correa on the ground and wounded about 5:45 p.m. He was taken to County-USC Medical Center, where he died from his injuries.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Northeast Homicide Detectives J. Carrillo or L. Burcher at (213) 847-4261. After hours and on weekends, call the 24-hour toll-free number, 1-877-LAW-FULL (1-877-529-3855).
--Anthony Pesce
Atwater Village News blog post on homicide
February 13, 2009 | 12:18
am
The map of homicides in Los Angeles County now contains all deaths reported by the coroner's office as homicides through Feb. 8. Many of the slayings on the map do not yet have corresponding posts in the blog. We're working to fill in the gaps.
If you do not see a post on a particular homicide, please check back. We appreciate your patience.
For the most recent news on homicides in Los Angeles County while we work to complete the report, please visit L.A. Now's Homicide Report posts.
Coming soon: A new database format that will allow users to search by name, location, age, cause of death and more.
February 12, 2009 | 4:04
pm
Sebastian Camberos, a 37-year-old Latino man, died of multiple stab wounds Monday, Dec. 22, 2008, in the 7200 block of Geyser Avenue in Reseda, according to authorities.
The coroner's records indicate Camberos might have died from a massive blood loss.
-- Anthony Pesce
February 12, 2009 | 3:57
pm
James Shamp, a 48-year-old black man, was shot in the chest and killed Monday Dec. 22, 2008, as he was taking out the trash at Canoga Bowl, where he worked. Authorities say the killing was racially motivated.
Los Angeles police said gang members pulled up in a car behind the bowling alley, in the 6800 block of Winnetka Avenue. One of the men pulled out a gun and fatally shot Shamp, pictured at left, in the chest, said LAPD homicide Det. David Peteque. Shamp was pronounced dead at the scene.
"Most shootings we have can be related to narcotics and gang-related," Peteque said. "But this was a family man -- he was a father of two, a good husband. He was at work doing his job, and he was basically gunned down."
In January 2009, Richard Bordelon, 21, and Martin Sotelo, 23, whom authorities identified as members of the Canoga Park Alabama Gang, were each charged with one count of murder and conspiracy to commit a crime because of race. Each man was also charged with one count of attempted second-degree robbery arising from a separate incident.
Additionally, Sotelo was charged with one count of unlawful driving or taking a vehicle and one count of evading an officer, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney's office.
A third suspect, 15, was charged in Juvenile Court with intentionally committing murder because of race, street gang killing and discharging a weapon, district attorney's spokeswoman Jane Robison said.
All three suspects have pleaded not guilty.
Police have not provided details about how they determined that the killing was racially motivated.
"We're 100 % sure of it, but we cannot disclose how we know that right now," Peteque said.
-- Ruben Vives
West Valley bowlers mourn slaying of kind friend
February 12, 2009 | 3:53
pm
Michael Simmons, a 27-year-old white man, was shot in the head on Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2008, at Burnett Street and Pine Avenue in Long Beach, authorities said.
Long Beach police found Simmons with multiple wounds when they responded to a call of shots fired about 1:40 a.m. Witnesses told police that they heard a car leaving the scene after the gunfire.
Simmons was taken to a hospital, where he died later that day, police said.
-- Anthony Pesce
February 12, 2009 | 3:47
pm
Samuel Zambrano, a 19-year-old Latino man, died, apparently of multiple stab wounds, Monday, Dec. 22, 2008, in the 1900 block of East 110th Street in South Los Angeles, according to coroner's records.
-- Anthony Pesce
February 12, 2009 | 3:45
pm
Manuel Benitez, a 39-year-old Latino man, was shot by police officers while holding his son hostage in the bathroom of a Chinese restaurant in the 3500 block of Santa Anita Avenue in El Monte on the evening of Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2008.
Benitez, who as a child actor was also known as Mark Everett, was wanted in connection with the June 2004 slaying of his girlfriend, Stephanie Spears.
Both Benitez and his mother, Elizabeth Velasco, went missing after Spears' death. Benitez had taken his then 3-year-old son with him and had not been seen in several years.
Benitez was spotted with his son and reported as a suspicious person. When police officers approached him about 2:30 p.m., he held a gun to his son's head and locked himself in the bathroom of a Chinese restaurant, holding his son as a hostage.
After about two hours of hostage negotiations with Benitez, he opened the door and officers threw in a flash bang grenade and shot him – killing him.
His son, 8, was wounded in the leg. Police said they recovered two guns from Benitez.
-- Ari B. Bloomekatz and Ruben Vives
Slain El Monte Gunman identified as hostage's father
February 12, 2009 | 3:32
pm
Alfonso Cardenas-Antillo, a 36-year-old Latino man, died of a gunshot wound to the head on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2008, in the 6300 block of Monterey Road in Montecito Heights, according to coroner's records.
-- Anthony Pesce
February 12, 2009 | 3:30
pm
Ronald Milligan, a 59-year-old black man, died of a gunshot wound to the chest on Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2008, in the 1000 block of East 84th Place in South Los Angeles, according to coroner's records.
-- Anthony Pesce
February 11, 2009 | 7:46
pm
Jose Macias, a 25-year-old Latino man, was shot several times early Friday, Dec. 12, 2008, while driving a silver Bentley south on the 101 Freeway in downtown Los Angeles, authorities said.
He was discovered after passersby reported hearing shots fired about 3:20 a.m.
California Highway Patrol officers arriving at the scene near Mission Road found the two-door 2005 Bentley Continental GT crashed into a highway median and Macias unresponsive in the car. The vehicle was riddled with 10 bullet holes from one or more gunmen, police said.
Macias was taken to a hospital where he died two days later.
"This is a real whodunit," Lt. Paul Vernon, commanding officer of the Los Angeles Police Department's Central Area Detective Division, said in a news release. "We’ll have to look into a number of things like the owner of the car and who the driver was to better understand what happened. What we really need is for someone to come forward with information."
Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call Central Area detectives at (213) 972-1203 or (877) 527-3247 after normal business hours.
—Anthony Pesce
Update: The Times' Paul Pringle and Richard Winton reported July 3 that court records indicated police are investigating whether Macias' predawn shooting was tied to the Mexican dope trade. Michael Angel Aleman, a 34-year old Latino, was arrested June 30 and has been charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder and shooting into an occupied vehicle. His arrest affidavit describes him as a former gang member.
Read more: Bentley driver's slaying in L.A. might have cartel link
February 11, 2009 | 7:38
pm
George Glass, a 40-year-old black man, was shot in the torso about 4:30 p.m. Dec. 14, 2008, in the 900 block of West Magnolia Street near Compton Boulevard in Compton, authorities said.
Glass was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
—Anthony Pesce
February 11, 2009 | 7:36
pm
Tommy Edwards, a 22-year-old black man, was shot several times on Dec. 14, 2008, in the 15500 block of Gibson Avenue in Compton, according to coroner's records.
Edwards was in the street at the time of the shooting, which occurred about 5:45 a.m., Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department records indicate.
—Anthony Pesce
February 11, 2009 | 7:32
pm
Ysidro Martinez, a 17-year-old Latino male, was stabbed in the back several times on Friday, Dec. 12, 2008, in the Mid-City area of Los Angeles, police said.
Investigating officers said Martinez was confronted by a group of people about 10:30 p.m. at Venice Boulevard and Manhattan Place. He was stabbed during a struggle, and the people who confronted him fled the scene on foot, police said.
Martinez was taken to a nearby hospital, where he died. Authorities initially withheld his name, pending notification of his family.
Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call homicide Det. John Shafia of the Los Angeles Police Department's Wilshire Division at (213) 473-0446.
—Anthony Pesce
February 9, 2009 | 11:13
pm
Francisco Gomez, a 54-year-old Latino man, was shot multiple times in an alley behind the 1600 block of Lincoln Boulevard on Monday, Dec. 8, 2008, according to authorities.
Los Angeles police said Gomez, who was homeless, was shot by a man who approached him with a large-caliber handgun and then fled north on a bicycle toward Lincoln Boulevard and Palms Avenue.
Four days after the shooting, police obtained an arrest warrant for Noe Rodriguez, a 21-year old Latino man. Authorities said Rodriguez had numerous aliases and had previously been deported.
Gomez's identity was initially withheld by authorities until they could contact his family.
Anyone with information is asked to call LAPD Pacific Division homicide detectives at (310) 482-6316.
--Anthony Pesce and Megan Garvey
February 9, 2009 | 11:08
pm
Scott Ruffalo, a 39-year-old white man, died Monday Dec. 8, 2008, a week after he was shot once in the head in his apartment in the 400 block of North Palm Avenue in Beverly Hills, authorities said.
Ruffalo, a hairdresser, was the brother of actor Mark Ruffalo.
Beverly Hills police questioned Shaha Mishaal Adham, 26, and her boyfriend, Brian Scofield, about the incident after the couple turned themselves in a week after the shooting. Adham was booked on suspicion of attempted murder and initially held without bail.
She was released late the next day after her attorney, Ronald Richards, said he was able to convince police Adham was present but not responsible for the shooting.
"There's still an ongoing, active criminal investigation, so we do not have a statement at this time," said Beverly Hills Police Lt. Tony Lee shortly after Adham's release.
Richards said his client and another man in the apartment found the hairdresser on the couch bleeding from the left side of his head, the gun in his left hand, and left the apartment.
Beverly Hills paramedics arrived and took a critically injured Ruffalo to the hospital. Police arrived 20 minutes after the shooting to find no one at the crime scene, Richards said.
According to Adham's account, she was at Ruffalo's apartment to pick up the keys to her Range Rover when Ruffalo mentioned something about "Russian roulette." Then she heard a gunshot.
--Andrew Blankstein
February 9, 2009 | 11:04
pm
Tutunoa Tunupopo, a 28-year-old man of Samoan descent, was found dead of an apparent stab wound to his neck along a bike path south of Pacific Coast Highway in Long Beach on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008, authorities said.
Long Beach police arrived at the scene about 8:40 p.m. after someone called 911 to report a wounded man, according to a police news release. They found Tunopopo dead on the east side of a flood control channel.
Anyone with information is asked to call Long Beach Police Department Homicide Dets. Dennis Robbins or Daniel Mendoza at (562) 570-7244
--Anthony Pesce
Long Beach Press-Telegram article on Tunupopo's death
February 9, 2009 | 10:56
pm
Heriberto Mecina, an 18-year-old Latino man, was shot in the chest while playing soccer in the 2800 block of 3rd Avenue in South Los Angeles on Monday Dec. 8, 2008, authorities said.
Los Angeles police said Mecina was playing soccer in the street with a friend about 6:45 p.m. when he was approached by two male and three female Latinos, who began arguing with him. One of them pulled out a handgun and began firing at Mecina, according to a police news release.
He was taken to a hospital, where he died.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Dets. Vince Carreon and Tyler Lee at (213) 485-1383.
-- Megan Garvey
