A SOCIOLOGICAL QUIZ….ON MURDER IN LOS ANGELES
WHAT WE NEED TO DO WITH THE FOLLOWING IS TO REACH SOME CONCLUSIONS ON WHY THE MURDERS LISTED BELOW HAPPEN THE WAY THEY DO. A COUPLE OF GROUND RULES: THINK OF CONTEXT, AND PLEASE, PLEASE, DO NOT BLAME THE VICTIMS. OR, FOR THAT MATTER, THE PERPETRATORS. READERS, TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK LIES BEHIND ALL OF THIS……
The list represents an effort to provide comprehensive coverage of all homicides that occur in Los Angeles County.
Overwhelmed by the sheer volume, the Los Angeles Times, like other major media organizations, covers only a fraction of the more than 1,000 murders in Los Angeles County each year. Many violent deaths become, in essence, private homicides — catastrophic on a small scale, invisible on a broader one.
Starting with this week’s homicide report, however, the Times will list all homicides reported to the Los Angeles County coroner, plus additional information gleaned from street and law enforcement sources. This week’s list is larger than usual because of a January crime wave, but otherwise fairly typical in terms of the ages and ethnicities of those killed and the manner of their deaths.
Their number includes a young woman found on a Playa del Rey roadside, a young couple mysteriously shot, then set on fire, and a Valley man who placed himself between his landlord and an attacker and died for his courage.
Victims, Recent Days
Daniel Contreras, 18
Daniel Contreras, an 18-yer-old Latino man, was stabbed to death near the 16000 block of Estrella Avenue close to the Harbor Freeway north of the Artesia Freeway just before 11 p.m. Feb. 3. Police said he had left a party to go to a liquor store with a companion when he was attacked. The circumstances remain under investigation. Detectives Jason De La Cova and Mark Castillo seek more information. Call (213)972-7850.
Daniel Martinez, 16
Daniel Martinez, a 16-year-old Latino male, was shot in a drive-by on his way home from school in the 15500 block of Nordoff Street in the San Fernando Valley at 12:45 p.m. Jan. 31. The Einstein continuation student was in the company of classmates and Monroe High School students. Police are looking for suspects in a black, two-door car with faded paint. Call Det. Gene Parshall with information at (818)838-9954.
Victims, Jan. 20-27, 2007:
Rodolfo Cruz, 24
Rodolfo Cruz, a 24-year-old Latino man, was shot at 14032 Oxnard St. in Van Nuys, and died at 1:31 a.m. on Jan. 27.
Alex Thomas, 25
Alex Thomas, a 25-year-old Latino man, was shot repeatedly at 11812 Marbel Ave. in Downey and died at 12:42 a.m. Jan. 27.
Nicole Harvey, 21
Nicole Harvey, a 21-year-old black woman, was found burned with possible gunshot injuries on a roadside in the 8100 block of Tuscany Avenue in the Playa del Rey area. Her time of death was listed as 2:15 p.m. Jan. 26. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Dets. Brian Carr or Orlando Martinez at (213) 485-2129 during normal business hours. LAPD statement, Los Angeles Times story
Jose Macias, 26
Jose Macias, a 26-year-old Latino man, died of multiple gunshot wounds at an undisclosed address in Long Beach at 11:33 p.m. Jan. 24.
Marvin Tobar, 21, and Renee Spata, 18
Marvin Tobar, a 21-year-old Latino male, and Renee Spata, an 18-year-old Latina, were found dead in a burning house, their bodies charred, at 10441 N. Danube Ave. in the northeast San Fernando Valley. The time of death was 6:30 a.m. Jan. 23.
Police described this as an unusual and perplexing case. They said the couple were ordinary, decent young people with no ties to crime or gangs — he was an office worker for Time/Warner, she was an acquaintance he had been dating recently. They saw a movie in the Valley before heading back to his rental house, where they were discovered dead the next morning by police officers responding to smoke and flames. Investigators are seeking anyone who might have seen the couple the previous evening, perhaps at a theater in the Valley. Call Det. Efren Gutierrez or Det. Terrence Keyser at (818)838-9948.
Emanuel Valenciano, 22
Emanuel Valenciano, a 22-year-old man of Filipino descent, was stabbed repeatedly at 1322 S. 5th Ave. in Los Angeles’ Midtown area. His body was found in an alley and his time of death was listed as 9:57 p.m. Jan. 23. LAPD statement.
Britney MacIntosh, 20
Britney MacIntosh, a 20-year-old black woman, was struck by gunfire at 3001 Palm Grove Ave. and died at 10:42 p.m. Jan. 23. She was sitting on the porch when someone ran up and shot her. Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at 213-485-2418. LAPD statement.
Mathew Powell, 24
Mathew Powell, a 24-year-old black man, was shot in the head at 671 S. Coronado Place in Los Angeles and died at 6:42 a.m. Jan. 22.
Francisco Zarate, 57
Francisco Zarate, a 57-year-old Latino man, was stabbed during an argument at 7530 S. LaSalle Ave. and died at 10:32 p.m. Jan. 22.
Zarate was killed for being a good Samaritan, police say. According to them, Zarate had stepped between his landlord and a hostile tenant, trying to stop an argument. The tenant, Tam Phoune Le, 48, allegedly stabbed them both and was later arrested, still wearing his bloodstained shirt. The landlord survived. LAPD statement
Elijah Lee, 35
Elijah Lee, a 35-year-old black man, was shot in the head at 16306 S. Caress Ave. in Compton and died at 2:30 p.m. Jan. 22.
Jacob Walker, 15
Jacob Walker, a 15-year-old black male, was shot at 8572 Park St. in Bellflower and died at 7:25 Jan. 21.
Police allege that his 24-year-old brother brought him along on a burglary, breaking into a house to steal marijuana plants purportedy used for medical reasons. The burglary victim came across them in the backyard and fired shots as they fled, killing the boy. Prosecutors are weighing whether the shooting was self-defense.
Los Angeles Times stories, 1, 2, and 3.
Sovannak Pov, 21, and Satiyason Sokun, 24
Sovannak Pov, 21, and Satiyason Sokun, 24, both men of Cambodian descent, were killed by gunfire at 6439 Downey Ave. in Long Beach Jan. 21 just before 1 a.m.
The victims were outside at a party when the suspects drove by and fired at them. The two men died shortly after. Less than a week later, Long Beach police arrested a suspect — Ratanak David Kim —an acquaintance of the victims. Ratanak is suspected of killing them after an argument, possibly over women or money. Dets. Daniel Mendoza and Robert Gonzalez are seeking help from the public for further investigation. (572)-570-7244.
Reginald Burson Jr., 21
Reginald Burson Jr., a 21-year-old black man, was shot at 241 E. Albertoni St. in Carson and died at 2:44 a.m. Jan. 21.
Armando Vera, 22
Armando Vera, a 22-year-old Latino man, was shot at 9510 Van Nuys Blvd. in the north San Fernando Valley and died at 4:33 p.m. Jan. 20.
Police officers found him wounded on the sidewalk. Prior to his death, Vera was reportedly arguing with his girlfriend over a child custody issue. Police believe the girlfriend’s brother, 24-year-old Rudy Angel Magana, shot Vera, then fled in a red Ford Explorer. Dets. G. Parshall and J. Weiler are asking for the public’s help. (818)-838-9810. LAPD statement.
Flor Alvarez, 46
Flor Alvarez, a 46-year-old Latina, was shot at 906 S. 54th St. in South-Central Los Angeles and died at 11:06 p.m. Jan. 20. Police are investigating this killing as a possible domestic violence incident. They say Alvarez was trying to wrest a gun from one of her family members when she was shot.
Cold Case of the Week
Sofia Gomez, 92, a Latina great-grandmother killed a year ago in Panorama City.
Read more »
PRIOR WEEKS
Victims, Jan. 1-19
Victims, Jan. 1-19
Stella Pena, a 41-year-old Latina, was shot at the corner of Marine Ave. and D Street in the Harbor Area and died at noon Jan. 18.
Kevin Rodgers, a 46-year-old black man, was shot behind a property at 350 N. Garey Ave. in Pomona and died at 12:07 p.m. Jan. 18.
Antonio Torres, a 32-year-old Latino man, was shot at 2544 S. Dunsmuir Ave. in Southwest Los Angeles and died at 7:12 a.m. Jan. 18.
Luis Ortiz, a 52-year-old Latino man, was stabbed over and over in a unit of a building at 555 E. Adams St. in Long Beach and died at 10:07 a.m. Jan. 16.
Tyrone Davis, a 23-year-old black man, was shot multiple times at 10323 S. Normandie Ave. in Athens and died at 3 a.m. Jan. 15.
Benjamin Abella, a 55-year-old man of Filipino descent, was shot in the head on the westbound 60 Freeway near Indiana Street in City Terrace and died at 6:34 p.m. Jan. 15.
Jimmy Galo, a 21-year-old Latino man, was shot in the head at the corner of 104th Street and Denker Avenue in Athens and died at 8:23 p.m. Jan. 14.
Lastenia Ciru, a 46-year-old Latina, was shot multiple times at 1471 W. 36th St. in Southwest Los Angeles and died at 2:52 a.m. Jan. 14.
Roberto Trujillo, a 32-year-old Latino man, was shot at 14639 Dumont Ave. in Norwalk and died at 4:20 p.m. Jan. 13.
Danny Nelson, a 48-year-old black man, was shot at 1944 N. Santa Fe Ave. in Compton and died at 9:27 p.m. Jan. 13.
Yomaira Sanchez, an 18-year-old Latina, was shot in the neck at 3168 Carlin Ave. in Lynwood and died at 6:14 p.m. Jan. 13.
Michael Avalos, a 26-year-old Latino man, was shot multiple times at the intersection of Marcelle Street and Garfield Avenue and died at 1:35 p.m. Jan. 12.
Ana Burgos, a 32-year-old Latina, was shot many times at 6208 Denny Ave. in North Hollywood and died at 12:24 a.m. on Jan. 12.
Ramon Avila, a 19-year-old Latino man, was shot in the head in the 4000 block of East Verona Street in East Los Angeles and died at 1:21 p.m. Jan. 11.
Gregory Chon, a 33-year-old Korean man, was shot once at 2233 Moon View Dr. in Hacienda Heights and died at 6:55 a.m. Jan. 11.
Carlos Ramirez, a 24-year-old Latino man, was shot at 16627 Pioneer Blvd. in Artesia and died at 2:20 p.m. Jan. 11.
Philip Miller, a 43-year-old black man, was shot by police officers at 9714 S. Avalon Blvd. in Watts and died at 2 a.m. on Jan. 10.
Margarita Burd, a 60-year-old white woman, was stabbed in the chest in an apartment at 1341 N. Poinsettia Place in Hollywood and died at 5:50 a.m. Jan. 9.
Pedro Lugo, a 19-year-old Latino man, was shot multiple times in the 9300 block of Telegraph Road in Downey and died at 9:59 p.m. Jan. 9.
Miguel Hernandez, a 20-year-old Latino man, was shot at 2530 Cudahy Street in South Gate and died at 9:27 p.m. Jan. 9.
Terrence Pruitt, a 17-year-old black youth, was shot multiple times at 709 W. 66th St. in South Central Los Angeles and died at 9:51 a.m. Jan. 9.
Terry Rachwitz, a 49-year-old white man, was wounded three times at 4802 W. 141st St. in Hawthorne and died at 10:35 p.m. Jan. 7.
Christopher Rios, a 31-year-old Latino man, was struck by gunfire near the intersection of Angell Street and McRae Avenue in Norwalk and died at 9:17 p.m. Jan. 7.
Robert Shann, an 18-year-old black man, was hit by bullets at 10805 Western Ave. in South Los Angeles and died at 2:30 p.m. Jan. 7.
Marcel Leal, a 25-year-old Latino man, was shot at 230 Santa Mariana Ave. in City of Industry and died at 12:54 a.m. Jan. 7.
David Galindo, a 22-year-old Latino man, was stabbed to death at 1220 Durfee Ave. in South El Monte and died at 12:46 a.m. on Jan. 7.
Christopher Johnson Jr., a 19-year-old black man, suffered multiple gunshot wounds at 1244 E. 88th Place in Florence and died at 8:03 p.m. Jan. 6.
Johnny Cano, a 15-year-old Latino boy, was shot at 14480 Sherman Way in Van Nuys and died at 12:20 p.m. Jan. 6.
Michael Ornelas, a 21-year-old Latino man, was shot and killed at 372 W. Holt Blvd. in the Ontario area at 12:22 a.m. Jan. 6.
Alex Rivera, a 27-year-old Latino man, was shot in the head in the alley of 4173 S. Woodlawn Ave. in Pomona and died at 9:45 p.m. Jan. 5.
Edvin Hernandez, a 22-year-old Latino man, was shot multiple times in the 7400 block of Compton Ave. in Florence and died at 9:24 p.m. Jan. 5.
Pamela Lark, a 49-year-old black woman, was shot multiple times 2233 Marvin Ave. just north of the 10 Freeway in the Mid-City area, and died at 10:25 a.m. Jan. 4.
Felton Kiles, Jr., a 47-year-old black man, was shot many times at 88th Place and Central Avenue in Watts and died at 9:52 p.m. Jan. 3.
Tasha Brown, a 39-year-old black woman, was shot multiple times at 1883 Pine Ave. in Long Beach and died 11:16 p.m. Jan. 3.
Tanya Settles, a 44-year-old black woman, was shot once at the same location as Tasha Brown, and died at the same time.
Roberta Shuey, a 39-year-old white woman, was shot in the head at 325 N. Washington Ave. in Glendora and died at 12:20 a.m. Jan. 3.
Fermin Pagaling, a 56-year-old man of Filipino descent, was stabbed to death at 503 W. 209th St. and died at 10:28 .m. Jan. 3.
Jeronimo Amaya, a 30-year-old Latino man, was shot at 9701 Evers Ave. in Watts and died at 10:23 p.m. Jan. 3.
Jamal Alexander, a 28-year-old black man, was shot in the back in the 10300 block of Grape Street in Watts and died at 9:40 p.m. Jan. 2.
Vladimir Garcia, a 44-year-old Latino man, was stabbed at 9023 Baring Cross Ave. in South-Central Los Angeles, and died at 4:37 a.m. Jan. 2.
Michael Cross, a 44-year-old black man, was shot at 1408 E. Alondra Blvd. in Compton and died at 3:28 a.m. Jan. 2.
Pete Chavez, a 27-year-old Latino man, was shot at 2700 S. Azusa Road in West Covina and died at 4:18 p.m. Jan. 1.
Janecia Peters, a 25-year-old black woman, was found dead in a trash bag in a Dumpster in South-Central Los Angeles with a possible stab wound. Her time of death was listed as 2:25 p.m. Jan. 1.
Jasir Ayuso, a 23-year-old Latino man, was stabbed and clubbed to death at 39103 164th St. East and died at 8:37 a.m. Jan. 1.
Jill Leovy is a crime reporter for the Los Angeles Times. She can be reached at jill.leovy@latimes.com.
This list is compiled using information from the Los Angeles County Coroner, local law enforcement agencies, and the Los Angeles Times.