Samuel Guerra, 17
Died Jan. 15, 2012
Samuel Guerra, a 17-year-old male, died Sunday, Jan. 15, after being shot.
More in: 17, Male, Gunshot, Sunday, LAPD Foothill
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Posted: Jan. 17, 2012 at 1:58 p.m.
Updated: Jan. 17, 2012 at 2:02 p.m.
Alcides Gonzalez Ramirez, 22
Died Jan. 15, 2012
Alcides Gonzalez Ramirez, a 22-year-old male, died Sunday, Jan. 15, after being shot.
More in: 22, Male, Gunshot, Sunday, Pomona PD
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Posted: Jan. 17, 2012 at 1:58 p.m.
Updated: Jan. 17, 2012 at 2:06 p.m.
Ernie Salgado, 41
Died Jan. 15, 2012
Ernie Salgado, a 41-year-old male, died Sunday, Jan. 15, after being shot.
More in: 41, Male, Gunshot, Sunday, LASD Homicide
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Posted: Jan. 17, 2012 at 1:57 p.m.
Updated: Jan. 17, 2012 at 2:04 p.m.
Lashown Fils, 26
Died Jan. 11, 2012
Lashown Fils, a 26-year-old male, died Wednesday, Jan. 11, after being shot.
More in: 26, Male, Gunshot, Wednesday, Long Beach PD
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Posted: Jan. 17, 2012 at 1:57 p.m.
Updated: Jan. 17, 2012 at 2:05 p.m.
Jostin Sosa Ordonez, 17
Died Jan. 9, 2012
Jostin Sosa Ordonez, a 17-year-old male, died Monday, Jan. 9, after being shot.
More in: 17, Male, Gunshot, Monday, LAPD Criminal Gang Homicide
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Posted: Jan. 17, 2012 at 1:57 p.m.
Updated: Jan. 17, 2012 at 2:06 p.m.
Danilo Morales, 24
Died Jan. 9, 2012
Danilo Morales, a 24-year-old male, died Monday, Jan. 9, after being shot.
More in: 24, Male, Gunshot, Monday, LAPD North Hollywood
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Posted: Jan. 17, 2012 at 1:57 p.m.
Updated: Jan. 17, 2012 at 2:03 p.m.
Deonte Venus, 33
Died Jan. 9, 2012
Deonte Venus, a 33-year-old male, died Monday, Jan. 9, after being stabbed.
More in: 33, Male, Stabbing, Monday, LAPD Criminal Gang Homicide
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Posted: Jan. 17, 2012 at 1:46 p.m.
Updated: Jan. 17, 2012 at 2:04 p.m.
Cause of death determinations: July to December 2011
Los Angeles County coroner's officials routinely provide The Times with a weekly list of deaths initially considered to be homicides.
Reporters follow up with the department to obtain additional information about each case and, in some cases, learn that the victim's cause of death has been deferred. This means the final determination on the mode of death is postponed pending additional laboratory tests. The death can later be ruled a homicide, suicide, natural or accident. The results usually are available within six to eight weeks.
The Homicide Report has followed up with the coroner's office on about 30 deferred cases from 2010 and 2011. Here are their findings in cases in the final six months of 2011:
A man identified only as John Doe #86 was found dead Tuesday, July 5, in Lancaster. The skeletal remains were discovered behind a closed business after the Fourth of July weekend. Due to the state of the remains, investigators said they were unable to identify the victim or cause of death. The case was closed as undetermined.
Ralph Jimenez, a 65-year-old man, was found dead Friday, July 29, in Cypress Park. Firefighters responded to a report of a fire in an alley and discovered Jimenez's burning body. According to coroner's officials, they are still investigating the death and the case remains deferred.
Gorky Lopatinsky Sr., an 81-year-old white man, died Tuesday, Aug. 2, a day after he was assaulted in Boyle Heights. Lopatinsky was walking through Hollenbeck Park ...
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Posted: Jan. 11, 2012 at 3:37 p.m.
Updated: Jan. 12, 2012 at 6:58 p.m.
Cause of death determinations: January to June 2011
Los Angeles County coroner's officials routinely provide The Times with a weekly list of deaths initially considered to be homicides.
Reporters follow up with the department to obtain additional information about each case and, in some cases, learn that the victim's cause of death has been deferred. This means the final determination on the mode of death is postponed pending additional laboratory tests. The death can later be ruled a homicide, suicide, natural or accident. The results usually are available within six to eight weeks.
The Homicide Report has followed up with the coroner's office on about 30 deferred cases. Here are the findings in several cases from 2010 and the first six months of 2011::
Marilyn Villatoro, a 1-year-old Latina, died Feb. 10, 2010, two days after she was found unresponsive in Long Beach. The initial coroner’s report listed the child as going into cardiac arrest. However, the coroner's office was unable to conclude the exact cause of death and it was ruled undetermined.
Russell Rathert, a 50-year-old man, was found dead Aug. 31, 2010, in Valley Village. Firefighters found a car engulfed in flames and discovered Rathert's remains in a four-door-sedan. Coroner's officials have since ruled the death as a homicide citing "affects of drugs and other unknown factors."
Alois Nihswohl, an 84-year-old white man, was found dead at his home Sept. 1,2010, in El Sereno. Firefighters arrived at the ransacked residence to find Nihswohl dead. According to preliminary coroner ...
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Posted: Jan. 10, 2012 at 6:48 p.m.
Updated: Jan. 12, 2012 at 6:08 p.m.
Gerardo Fernandez, 20
Died Jan. 8, 2012
Gerardo Fernandez, a 20-year-old Latino, died Sunday, Jan. 8, a day after he was shot in the 12000 block of Old River School Road in Downey, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.
Ed Winter, spokesman for the coroner's office, said Fernandez got into a fight Jan. 7 about 9:30 p.m. and was shot.
Authorities were called and Fernandez was taken to a hospital where he died the next day at 3:23 p.m.
The coroner's office had no other additional information about the case.
Anyone with details about the killing is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.
— Los Angeles Times
More in: Downey, 20, Male, Gunshot, Sunday, Downey PD, Latino, Fight
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Posted: Jan. 9, 2012 at 9:48 a.m.
Updated: Jan. 12, 2012 at 3:03 p.m.
Hector Hernandez, 42
Died Jan. 8, 2012
Hector Hernandez, a 42-year-old Latino male, died Sunday, Jan. 8, in Watts, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.
More in: Watts, 42, Male, Sunday, LAPD Criminal Gang Homicide, Latino
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Posted: Jan. 9, 2012 at 9:48 a.m.
Updated: Jan. 11, 2012 at 3:55 p.m.
Alberto Cruz, 38
Died Jan. 7, 2012
Alberto Cruz, a 38-year-old Latino, was shot and killed Saturday, Jan. 7, near Long Beach Boulevard and 68th Street in Long Beach, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.
Police said Cruz and another man were standing on the sidewalk about 10 p.m. and were apparently about to enter a business when a gray sedan approached. Officials said that at least one male suspect fired shots from the driver's side of the car, hitting both men in the torso.
The two victims were taken to a local hospital where Cruz, of Los Angeles, died. The other man, 21, also of Los Angeles, had non-life-threatening injuries. Police said it appeared that the men did not know each other.
Police said the alleged shooter fled down 68th Street in the sedan, which they later found abandoned.
Authorities ask that anyone with information about the shooting to contact Long Beach homicide Dets. Malcolm Evans or Todd Johnson at (562) 570-7244. Tipsters who would like to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (800) 222-8477.
— Rick Rojas
More in: Long Beach, 38, Male, Gunshot, Saturday, Long Beach PD, Latino, Drive-by, Public place
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Posted: Jan. 9, 2012 at 9:48 a.m.
Updated: Jan. 10, 2012 at 5:19 p.m.
Juan Nunez, 34
Died Jan. 7, 2012
Juan Nunez, a 34-year-old Latino, was fatally shot by police Saturday, Jan. 7, in the 4800 block of Axtell Street in El Sereno, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.
Officers responded to a call regarding an armed man about 12:48 p.m., according to an LAPD news release. When authorities arrived, they found Nunez standing near a parked Nissan.
According to police, they ordered Nunez to show his hands, but he did not comply. He then drew a gun and officers fired.
Paramedics were called and Nunez was pronounced dead at the scene. Coroner’s records show he died from several gunshot wounds. No officers were injured during the shooting.
Police said a black semi-automatic pistol was recovered at the scene near Nunez.
The LAPD Force Investigation Division is investigating the officer-involved shooting.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call (213) 486-5230. Tipsters who would like to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (800) 222-8477.
— Los Angeles Times
More in: El Sereno, 34, Male, Gunshot, Saturday, LAPD Force Investigation, Latino, Officer-involved
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Posted: Jan. 9, 2012 at 9:47 a.m.
Updated: Jan. 10, 2012 at 5:23 p.m.
Mark Miles, 48
Died Jan. 6, 2012
Mark Miles, a 48-year-old white man, died Friday, Jan. 6, two days after he was shot by police in the 5200 block of Colfax Avenue in Valley Village, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.
Officers were searching for an assault suspect at an apartment Jan. 4 about 1:45 p.m. when they were informed by a resident to speak to Miles, who was inside a unit, according to an LAPD news release.
When officers entered the unit to speak to Miles, he revealed a steak knife and pointed it at the officers, authorities said.
According to police, officers drew their weapons and ordered Miles to drop his knife, but he refused. He then lunged at the officers, at which point an officer-involved shooting occurred.
Miles was taken to a hospital for medical treatment and died two days later. No officers were injured during the incident.
The LAPD Force Investigation Division is investigating the officer-involved shooting.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the LAPD at (877) 527-3247. Tipsters who would like to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (800) 222-8477.
— Los Angeles Times
More in: Valley Village, 48, Male, Gunshot, Friday, LAPD Force Investigation, White, Officer-involved, Residence
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Posted: Jan. 9, 2012 at 9:47 a.m.
Updated: Jan. 10, 2012 at 5:22 p.m.
Richard Hughes, 38
Died Jan. 5, 2012
Richard Hughes, a 38-year-old white man, was shot and killed by police Thursday, Jan. 5, in the 1700 block of Riverside Drive in Elysian Valley, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.
The incident began about 1 p.m. when Hughes' girlfriend called 911, saying that her boyfriend was violent and wanted to commit suicide, according to Sgt. Tom Lorenz of the Glendale Police Department.
Officers responded, and Hughes lunged at them with the knife, Lorenz said. One of the officers fired his handgun at least once, fatally wounding the man.
"It appears, based on the statements at the scene and the evidence, that this was a suicide by cop," Lorenz told The Times.
Anyone with additional information about the officer-involved shooting is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.
— Andrew Blankstein and Robert J. Lopez
More in: Elysian Valley, 38, Male, Gunshot, Thursday, GLENA, White, Officer-involved
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Posted: Jan. 9, 2012 at 9:47 a.m.
Updated: Jan. 10, 2012 at 5:13 p.m.
