Suspected gang member pleads no contest in 2019 killing of USC music student

An alleged gang member pleaded no contest Monday to first-degree murder charges in the killing of a 21-year-old USC student and jazz drummer during an attempted robbery. Prosecutors accuse Ivan Hernandez, 29, of fatally shooting Victor McElhaney while walking into a robbery with a group of friends at a liquor store near the USC campus. McElhaney, the son of former Oakland City Councilwoman Lynette McElhaney, was a student at USC's Thornton School of Music. He was part of the USC jazz studies program with an interest in the relationship between music and social and political movements. Prosecutors say they’re seeking a sentence of 35 years to life in prison for Hernandez. “This no contest plea ensures that the individual responsible for the senseless and tragic murder of Victor McElhaney will face the consequence of his actions,” District Attorney Nathan Hochman said. “Victor was a promising young 21-year old university student, a talented drummer and active member of USC’s Center for Black Cultural and Student Affairs, whose life was cut short by an act of pure violence.” 

NBC 4

Fatal Stabbing at DTLA Party

A woman died Sunday when she was stabbed multiple times at a downtown Los Angeles party. The attack was reported at 12:49 a.m. at 213 E. 12th St. at Los Angeles Street, according to a Los Angeles Police Department spokesman. The 20-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene, he said. No suspect information was available.

MyNewsLA

Man killed during shooting in University Park

A man was shot and killed in University Park on Sunday evening. It happened at around 6:45 p.m. near the intersection of W. 23rd Street and Hoover Street, south of the 10 Freeway, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Investigators only described the victim as a man in his 30s. It's unclear if he died at the scene or after being taken to a hospital. The suspect is described as a man between 5-foot-8 and 5-foot-10 who weighs about 170 pounds. He was last seen wearing a black jacket and blue pants, police said. He was seen fleeing the area in what officers say was an Audi SUV with the California license plate 9MRB489. They have not yet provided a motive for the shooting. 

CBS 2

Police identify 87-year-old victim of deadly Echo Park hit-and-run crash

Authorities have identified the 87-year-old victim of a deadly hit-and-run crash that happened in Echo Park in early January. It happened on Jan. 13 at around 6:50 p.m. near the intersection of Berkeley Avenue and Allesandro Street, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Investigators say that the victim, Lai Har Chu of Monterey Park, was walking westbound across the road in a crosswalk when she was hit by the driver of a dark-colored Ford Transit van that was driving southbound down Allesandro Street. Instead of stopping to help Chu, the suspect fled, leaving her to die in the street. "In the event of a traffic collision, motorists are required to stop, check on all parties involved, and request paramedics if medical attention is needed," said a statement from LAPD. "Providing contact information is essential to ensure accountability and avoid turning a traffic incident into a criminal offense." As with all deadly hit-and-run crashes, the city of Los Angeles has a standing reward of up to $50,000 available for anyone who has information that leads to the identification, arrest and conviction of the suspect. 

CBS 2

Man Wounded in South LA Shooting

A man was wounded Sunday when he was shot during an argument in the Florence-Firestone area of South Los Angeles. The shooting was reported at 12:17 a.m. Sunday at Fortuna Street and East Slauson Avenue, according to a Los Angeles Police Department spokesman. The location is near the Augustus F. Hawkins Nature Park. The victim was in the area when he was approached by a suspect in a vehicle, the spokesman said. There was a verbal argument and the suspect fired several shots at the victim before fleeing. The victim was taken by ambulance to a hospital in unknown condition, he said. The shooting was believed gang related.

MyNewsLA

ASAP Rocky lawyer says gun used in alleged Hollywood shooting was music video prop

On the night he allegedly shot a founding member of the New York rap crew that helped launch his career, ASAP Rocky was carrying only a “prop gun” from a music video shoot that couldn’t fire real bullets, his defense attorney said Friday. During opening arguments in the rap star’s Los Angeles assault trial, defense attorney Joe Tacopina painted Rocky — whose real name is Rakim Mayers — as the victim rather than the aggressor in an assault case that could end with him facing up to 20 years in prison. Prosecutors have accused Mayers of shooting Terrell Ephron, a.k.a. ASAP Relli, on a Hollywood street corner after a heated argument on Nov. 6, 2021. The two were longtime friends and members of the Harlem rap crew ASAP — which stands for “Always Strive and Prosper” — but had grown apart in recent years. While much of the prosecution’s case was aired last year during a preliminary hearing, this week was the first time the public got a look at Tacopina’s defense strategy. For an hour Friday afternoon, Tacopina hammered Ephron’s credibility, arguing he only reported Mayers to the police to boost a civil suit and insisting he knew Mayers was carrying a fake weapon.

Los Angeles Times

California burglary ring zeroed in on Asian Americans, police say; 3 suspects held

They found wedding rings, luxury watches, jewelry and family heirlooms — 700 pieces of stolen property estimated to be worth about $1 million. Authorities made the haul after executing search warrants throughout Northern and Central California, recovering items police say were stolen by a sophisticated ring of burglars who targeted Bay Area Asian American households. At a news conference Wednesday, San José officials announced the arrests of three people suspected of being members of that ring. Authorities linked the suspects to nearly 80 burglaries since June in West San José, Cupertino, Saratoga, Campbell and Mountain View. “This is a good day after many months of bad news, of fear, frustration and anger,” San José Mayor Matt Mahan said. “For roughly six months, our AAPI community in the West San José region has lived in fear as home after home has been broken into and residents have wondered if they were next.” Alberto Ibarra Vallejo, 25; Gonzalo Valencia Ramos, 28; and Jaime Martinez Arroyo, 46, were arrested Jan. 16 by San José police detectives and special operations team members, who were assisted by Stockton police SWAT officers, according to San José Police Chief Paul Joseph.

Los Angeles Times

Prosecutors say woman charged in killing of Border Patrol agent was in contact with homicide suspect

A Washington state woman charged in connection with the fatal shooting of a U.S. border patrol agent in Vermont had been in frequent contact with someone whom authorities have linked to homicides in Pennsylvania and California, a federal prosecutor said in court documents Monday. Teresa Youngblut, 21, faces two weapons charges in connection with the death of Border Patrol Agent David Maland, 44, who died Jan. 20 during the shootout in Coventry, a small town about 20 miles (32 kilometers) from the Canadian border. She had been traveling with Felix Bauckholt, a German citizen who also was killed, and the pair had been under surveillance for several days. In a motion filed Monday, U.S. Attorney Michael Drescher said Youngblut should be detained as the case proceeds due to the nature of the crime, the weight of evidence against her, her lack of ties to Vermont, and the danger she poses to the community. According to the motion, the gun used by Youngblut and one that Bauckholt was carrying were purchased by a third person in Vermont last February. The buyer is a person of interest on a double homicide investigation in Pennsylvania, Drescher said. 

Associated Press

BWC: Man says he will ‘murder you idiots’ while charging Fla. deputies with knife before fatal OIS

The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office has released body-worn camera footage of a fatal shooting involving a man who threatened officers with a knife after being stopped for speeding, WCTV reported. The footage shows Sergeant James Peacock initiating the Nov. 17 stop after clocking the suspect driving 88 mph, nearly 30 mph over the speed limit, according to the report. Peacock first instructs the suspect to put his car in park. After some debate, the suspect appears to do so. Peacock then told the suspect to put both hands out the window of the van. The suspect repeatedly refused to do so, at which point peacock can be seen raising his duty weapon and pointing it at the suspect. “Stick your…hand out the window!” Peacock can be heard saying. “What did I do wrong?” the suspect responds. “I got you at 88 miles an hour,” Peacock replies. “Ok, write me a speeding ticket then,” the suspect says without complying with the command. After the suspect continually refused to show both hands to Peacock, Peacock began instructing him to get out of the vehicle. In all, Peacock issued approximately 20 commands to exit the van, according to the report. When the suspect refused, Peacock called for backup, and K-9 Deputy Darren Whiddon arrived within minutes.

PoliceOne

Free mental healthcare offered to firefighters in aftermath of L.A. wildfires

After spending weeks battling the devastating wildfires across Southern California, support programs are working to address the fatigue and mental health issues that many firefighters and first responders are facing. In addition to traditional talk therapy, local fire and police departments are working to reduce the stigma around mental healthcare for first responders through alternative methods with positive results. “These firefighters were in a firefight nonstop, going from house to house without a break at all for 48 hours,” said Santa Monica Fire Department Chief Matthew Hallock. “The magnitude of this incident — it was a career’s worth of fires in 48-72 hours.” Hallock was one of the thousands of firefighters who battled the Palisades Fire. As many return home from deployment, they may be dealing with feelings of helplessness, exhaustion and mental health struggles. “First responders face unique mental health challenges,” explained Dr. Gina Gallivan, a police and public safety psychologist. “They have exposure to trauma, threats to their life and long shifts without much physical recovery.”

KTLA 5

Jayden Daniels auctioning off custom jacket; proceeds to benefit LAFD 

Jayden Daniels may be focusing on Sunday’s NFC Championship matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, but he doesn’t forget about where he came from. In the wake of the devastating Los Angeles area wildfires, Daniels, a San Bernardino native, is auctioning off a personalized jacket. The front of the jacket is emblazoned with the No. 5 (Daniels’ jersey number) and the Washington Commanders wordmark. The back of the coat is a replication of a real football jersey with his name and number on the back; on the bottom reads the phrase “Welcome to the team.” Additionally, the inside of the coat features the phrase “L.A. Strong.” The proceeds of the auction will benefit the Los Angeles Fire Department.

KTLA 5

About the LAPPL: Formed in 1923, the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) represents more than 8,900 dedicated and professional sworn members of the Los Angeles Police Department. The LAPPL serves to advance the interests of LAPD officers through legislative and legal advocacy, political action and education.