Hollywood: Keith Falin, 43

Keith Falin, a 43-year-old white man, was stabbed several times and died Thursday, August 6 in the 6100 block of Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, officials said.

Falin was one of four victims of a Hollywood stabbing rampage that left Roger Cota, 52 dead, and left two others critically injured. 

Police responded to a radio call about a man stabbed at 1:57 p.m., about half an hour after responding to the Cota scene a few blocks away. When they arrived in the 6100 block of Hollywood Boulevard, they found Falin wounded. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 2:47 p.m.

Domingo Linares Rodas, a 53-year-old Latino,  has been charged in connection with killing Falin, as well as in the attempted murder of Ronald Vaughn, who was stabbed as he walked along Argyle Avenue near Yucca Street, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney's office.

Police said they have linked Rodas to the two other attacks that occurred nearby that day, including the stabbing death of Cota. District attorney officials said both cases remain under investigation.

Hollywood: Roger Cota, 51

Roger Cota, a 51-year-old white man, was stabbed in the 5500 block of Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood and died Thursday, August 6, officials said.

Cota was the first victim in a stabbing rampage that took place that day in Hollywood, also killing Keith Falin, a 43-year-old white man. Two others were injured.

Police responded to a radio call about a man shot at 1:22 p.m. and found Cota with stab wounds to his left side. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead about an hour later.

Police arrested Domingo Linares Rodas, a 53-year-old Latino, at 5:10 p.m. on the day of Cota's killing. LAPD said they have linked him to all four of the stabbings. Los Angeles County district attorney's officials have charged him in connection with two, Falin's death and another assault, but not the stabbing death of Cota. Officials said the other stabbings are still being investigated.

Police allege that Rodas preyed on his victims -- described by police as transients -- over a period of several hours as motorists and pedestrians filled the streets.

Dispatch: 'If that can happen to us it can happen to any other person'

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Gerson Rodriguez was shot to death in the parking lot of a Burger King in the 1000 block of North Western Avenue in East Hollywood about 1 a.m. Sunday, July 12. It was his 33rd birthday, and his family had planned a small celebration for him later that day.

Rodriguez, a Latino, was born in Guatemala, and when he was a child he moved to the United States with his brother, sister and mother.

His father had died and his mother — who had previously lived in the U.S. —  hoped to start a new life in California, said Evelyn Medina, 38, Rodriguez’ sister.

Rodriguez was raised by his mother and sister in their home in Sylmar. He attended Kennedy High School but left before graduating. He later earned a GED.

Medina said her brother then did odd jobs and took classes off and on at Mission College until enlisting in the Navy in his late twenties.

“He was having trouble finding himself, so he tried a bunch of things,” Media said. “He didn’t know what to do, so he joined the Navy."

Since his childhood Rodriguez had dreamed of joining the military. In Guatemala, Medina said, it is common for children to dream about becoming U.S. Marines, but she and her mother never imagined he would enlist. In fact, he kept his decision to join the Navy a secret from his family.

“We only found out about it on the day he left,” Medina said. “If [his mother and I] knew we would have protested day and night.… Then I changed my mind. He became more like an adult rather than the child we used to pamper a lot.”

Hollywood: Frederick Lombardo, 45

Frederick Lombardo, a 45-year-old white man, died from a laceration to his left chest July 18 in the 6100 block of Santa Monica Boulevard in Hollywood, according to the Los Angeles County coroner's office.

A passerby called police about 10:50 p.m. Saturday to report that Lombardo was lying unconscious outside a building at El Centro Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard. Police said he appeared to be homeless.

"When officers arrived, they saw that the man had a wound to his upper torso," Los Angeles Police Department officer Rosario Herrera said. She said it was unknown whether the man had been shot or stabbed.

Paramedics pronounced the man dead at the scene. The cause of death will be determined by the Los Angeles County coroner’s office, authorities said.

-- Ruben Vives

Hollywood: Craig Wright, 50

Craig Wright, a 50-year-old black man, was stabbed several times and died July 1 in the 1700 block of Vista Del Mar Avenue in Hollywood, according to the Los Angeles County coroner's office.

Wright was in line at a food distribution center for the homeless when he got into an argument with Rodrigo Sosa, a 43-year old Latino, coroner's officials said. Sosa allegedly stabbed Wright several times about 9 a.m., officials said.

Wright was taken to the hospital after the attack, where he died about 10:15 a.m., said Ed Winter, a spokesman for the coroner's office.

Sosa was arrested by LAPD officers from the Hollywood Division at 9:15 p.m. the same day, according to sheriff's jail records. He is being held in lieu of $1,020,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court July 16. Records also indicate that federal immigration officials have placed a hold on Sosa.

-- Anthony Pesce

Hollywood: Gerson Rodriguez, 33

Gerson Rodriguez, a 33-year-old Latino, was shot in the face and left hand and died on July 12 in the 1000 block of North Western Avenue in Hollywood, the Los Angeles County coroner's office said.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, Rodriguez was in a parking lot when three people went up to him and shot him. Police believe the killing is gang-related.

Police described all three of the male suspects as Latinos with shaved heads; they were wearing white T-shirts.

Anyone with information is asked to call the LAPD Hollywood Division homicide detectives at 213-972-2915.

-- Anthony Pesce