Man charged with murder in pursuit crash that killed California police officer

The driver of an allegedly stolen SUV was charged with two counts of murder and other felonies following a collision with a police cruiser on Thursday that resulted in the deaths of one of his passengers and a 28-year-old Alhambra police officer. Steven Ara Zapata, 27, of El Monte, was charged Monday with two counts of murder, one count of reckless driving, and two counts of fleeing a peace officer's motor vehicle causing death. The charges are related to the crash that occurred around 3 a.m. Thursday at the intersection of Edgewood Street and Valley Boulevard. The incident began after officers responded to the area of Valley Boulevard and Fremont Avenue regarding a pursuit involving the allegedly stolen silver Hyundai SUV driven by Zapata. Officer Alec Sanders, 28, of the Alhambra Police Department (APD), was taken to the hospital where he died from his injuries. One of Zapata's passengers, Gabriela Moreno, 42, was ejected from the Hyundai and died at the scene. A 52-year-old male passenger in the SUV sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Zapata sustained moderate injuries and was arrested at a hospital.

FOX 11

Dead girl was found in D4vd’s Tesla. Now, LAPD describes probe as ‘investigation into murder’

For the first time since Los Angeles police began investigating the gruesome discovery of a dead girl’s body in the trunk of singer D4vd’s Tesla, a detective has characterized the probe as an “investigation into murder,” according to court documents. Seeking to prevent the release of autopsy findings, a Los Angeles Police detective told a court recently that the publication of details surrounding the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez could jeopardize the investigation, according to court documents. LAPD Det. Joshua Byers, a veteran of the elite Robbery Homicide Division, filed a declaration on Friday that described their probe as a murder investigation, according to court documents reviewed by The Times. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Craig Richman granted the LAPD’s request and ordered that the medical examiner’s findings be sealed. Up until recently, investigators have repeatedly declined to say whether they are calling the girl’s death a homicide, and have said they were awaiting the conclusion of the County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner. Detectives discovered the girl’s badly decomposed remains at a Hollywood tow yard on Sept. 8. The performer’s Tesla had been towed from a street in the Hollywood Hills after having been abandoned there for weeks.

Los Angeles Times

Woman killed in L.A. ambush shooting identified as young Latin singer: reports 

A young woman who was shot dead in an ambush-style killing in the San Fernando Valley has been identified as a young Latin musician, according to multiple reports. The shooting occurred just before 1:30 a.m. Saturday on Bryant Street east of Tampa Avenue in the Northridge neighborhood, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. “Witnesses described seeing two male suspects approach a vehicle that was parked on Bryant Street,” LAPD officials said in a statement issued Monday morning. “Multiple rounds were fired at several victims who were parked in the area in their vehicle.” Three people were inside the car when gunfire erupted and all of them were struck, LAPD confirmed. One of the victims, a woman, was taken to a nearby hospital by a private party where she later died; the two other victims were said to be in critical condition Saturday morning. During the initial stage of the investigation, police identified the victim as “a 20-year-old woman” before Monday’s statement named her as 22-year-old Maria De La Rosa. The two other victims remain unidentified.

KTLA 5

8-year-old shot by stray bullet coming from next door in Del Rey

An 8-year-old girl was recovering after she was hit by a stray bullet while playing on the floor of her apartment in the Del Rey neighborhood of West Los Angeles, police said Monday. The Los Angeles Police Department said the bullet came from through the apartment next door on Slauson Avenue near Heliotrope Avenue at around 2:40 p.m. Sunday and grazed her head. The girl's parents told NBC Los Angeles that the child was playing with her brother and sister when she was struck. At the moment she was shot, her father said, the girl screamed while holding her head. Her mother said she's thankful that her daughter is alive, but she wants justice as her neighbors know children live next door. The parents said they no longer wish to live at the same place out of fear for their safety. The LAPD said some people were detained, but no one was arrested as of Monday afternoon. The parents told NBCLA that four men live next door to them. "Somebody discharging their weapon inside an apartment house where there are a lot of children is irresponsible," said Devora Rogers of the Del Rey Neighborhood Council. " All of us in Los Angeles are responsible for providing a safer environment for families that just want to have their kids to be safe. " The girl was treated for gunshot wounds and discharged from the hospital Monday afternoon.

NBC 4

Actor linked to deaths of LA model, her friend gets probation and community service

An actor charged in connection with the 2021 deaths of a model and her friend in Los Angeles was sentenced Monday to community service and probation. Brandt Osborn was charged with being an accessory after the fact. He pleaded no contest in court and was sentenced to two years of formal probation and 480 hours of community service. Co-defendant David Pearce, a Hollywood producer, was sentenced in October to 146 years to life in state prison for seven sexual assaults and the fentanyl-induced murders of model Christy Giles and Hilda Marcela Cabrales-Arzola, according to the L.A. County District Attorney's Office. Prosecutors argued Pearce gave Giles and Cabrales-Arzola fentanyl and then dumped their bodies outside two hospitals. Osborn was allegedly with Pearce when he did this. Earlier this year, a jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict against Osborn for two counts of accessory to murder after the fact.

ABC 7

Kia driver flees scene after striking pedestrian in Los Angeles

Police are searching for the driver of a white or gray Kia that struck a pedestrian early Monday in the Pico-Union neighborhood of Los Angeles before fleeing the scene. The collision was reported around 3:30 a.m. on West Pico Boulevard near Bonnie Brae Street. The victim was found at the scene and transported to a local hospital in unknown condition, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Investigators believe the Kia driver fled westbound on Pico Boulevard, but police have not released a description of the suspect. Pico Boulevard was closed between Bonnie Brae Street and South Westlake Avenue during the investigation. Motorists were urged to avoid the area.

KTLA 5

CHP Issues Silver Alert for 84-Year-Old Man Last Seen in Hollywood

A Silver Alert was issued Monday by the California Highway Patrol in hopes of locating an 84-year-old at-risk man who was last seen in Hollywood. Devlet Tabolov was last seen at about 4:30 p.m. Sunday at Fernwood and Fountain avenues, according to the CHP. He was believed to have been on foot. He is 5 feet 4 inches tall, 120 pounds, with gray hair and brown eyes and the photo on the CHP bulletin shows him with a gray beard. He was wearing a dark blue sweater, black vest, gray pants and black shoes. Anyone who sees Tabolov or knows where he is was asked to call 911. Law enforcement agencies issue Silver Alerts to aid in the swift recovery of a missing elderly, developmentally or cognitively impaired person by providing immediate information to the public.

MyNewsLA

BWC video shows shootout with suspect that left Arizona officer fatally wounded

The Apache Junction Police Department released body camera video from a standoff with an armed suspect, which led to the death of Officer Gabriel Facio. The June 2 incident began when a 911 caller reported a man in a car brandishing a gun. Video shows officers responding to the scene. One officer began to speak with the suspect, who abruptly pulled a gun out of his glovebox. The officer drew his gun and ordered the suspect to drop the weapon as he backed away. The suspect got out of the vehicle and began yelling at officers. “You’re going to have to shoot me,” the man can be heard saying as he walks away. The officer followed the man, still carrying the gun, and continued to issue commands to drop the weapon. Another officer followed in a cruiser as additional officers arrived. More officers joined in following the suspect, taking cover behind the cruiser. They shot pepper balls at the man in order to get him to drop the gun. Less lethal methods were unsuccessful. Body camera footage then shows an officer at the back of the cruiser recoiling as the man fired shots at them. He briefly dropped to one knee before standing up to message on the radio that shots had been fired.

PoliceOne

Missouri officer struck by cruiser, another run over after car prowling response

Two Kansas City police officers suffered non-life-threatening injuries as they investigated a car prowling call in the Northland early Monday morning. Police were first called to the 6300 block of North London Avenue around 2:15 a.m. Monday on a disturbance call involving armed car prowlers, said Officer Alayna Gonzalez, a spokesperson for the Kansas City Police Department. Police searched the area and found a group of suspects at a nearby apartment complex in the 6000 block of Northwest Prairie View Road, she said. One suspect rammed a vehicle into a police vehicle, which hit one of the officers, and suspects ran from the area, Gonzalez said. A juvenile was taken into custody. Then, another vehicle ran over one of the arresting officers as it left the scene, she said. Injuries to the two officers were not described as serious. Officers found the fleeing vehicle at one point and pursued it but lost sight of it and ended their chase, Gonzalez said. An investigation into the incident is ongoing, police said.

Kansas City Star

Fire Crew Quickly Extinguishes Winnetka Townhouse Fire

Crews made quick work of a non-injury fire in a San Fernando Valley townhouse Monday. Crews arrived just after 11 a.m. to a two-story townhouse in the 20000 block of West Sherman Way in the Winnetka area to find light smoke coming from the structure. They put out the fire in 11 minutes, according to a Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman, who said all of the occupants got out of the building safely.

MyNewsLA

About the LAPPL: Formed in 1923, the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) represents more than 8,700 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.