The L.A. 53

Aaron Ratinoff

TIME: 4:30 p.m. LOCATION: 11,690 W. Gateway Blvd., West L.A.

In what has to rank as the most bizarre death of the riot, someone at Bob's Market in West L.A. strangled the 68-year-old Bel Air Estates resident in the produce section. A white male, Ratinoff was shopping at the store because it was the nearest market open. Ratinoff was buying vegetables, when he knocked some cornhusks to the ground. He began arguing with someone, and the situation escalated. Police made an arrest; no charges filed.

Charles William Orebo

TIME: 6 p.m. LOCATION: Florence Avenue, near Harbor Freeway overpass, South-Central L.A.

Heading down the Harbor Freeway, Orebo, a 22-year-old African-American, allegedly threatened a motorist, who turned out to be an off-duty LAPD officer. An off-duty L.A. Sheriff's deputy followed in the next car. It's unclear who started shooting, but people in all three vehicles exchanged fire. Orebo was thrown out of the car as it headed down the Florence Avenue off ramp. He had been shot in the head, back and left forearm. The shooting was ruled justifiable.

Betty Jackson

TIME: 7:30 p.m. LOCATION: Intersection of 51st and Main streets, Central City

Jackson, a 59-year-old African-American, was riding in a small Datsun, moving eastbound on 51st Street, when her car slammed into the back of a Ford van. Her death was ruled accidental.

Alfred Miller

TIME: 7:30 p.m. LOCATION: 5400 block of South Van Ness Avenue, South-Central L.A.

Alfred Miller, a 32-year-old African-American, was shot in the neck in a drive-by shooting. The bullet broke two of his vertebrae, hit his spine and lodged in his shoulder. It appears an arrest was made, but the D.A. declined to prosecute.

Kevin Andrew Evanshen

TIME: Midnight LOCATION: 11,849 Braddock Dr., Venice STATUS: Open case, LAPD's Criminal Conspiracy Division: (213) 473-7474

Homicide investigators nicknamed Evanshen the Good Samaritan. His mistake was trying to put out a fire started by looters at a check-cashing store. The 24-year-old white man slipped through a weakened portion of the office roof and died from burns and smoke inhalation.

Wilson Alvarez

TIME: Unknown LOCATION: 3100 Rosecrans Ave., Hawthorne STATUS: Open case, Gardena Police: (310) 217-9622

Authorities believe looters fatally beat Alvarez with sticks after the 40-year-old transient started throwing rocks at them to break up a stealing spree. Alvarez died on May 23. Gardena homicide investigator Mark Wilson believes someone saw the beating.

SATURDAY, May 2

Carol Ann Benson

TIME: Unknown LOCATION: Found on Harbor Freeway STATUS: Case open, LAPD's South Bureau Traffic: (323) 290-6063

The body of Benson, a 43-year-old African-American, was found on the freeway near downtown, an apparent hit-and-run victim.

Juana Espinosa

TIME: 12:20 p.m. LOCATION: 7,600 block of Compton Avenue, Watts

A Sheriff's deputy believes the gunfire that killed Espinosa, 65, of South-Central was likely meant for police cars. Espinosa was shot in the chest as she walked down the street. She left behind a husband, Socorro. A Latino juvenile was convicted of murder and an assault with a gun on another person and given a two-year sentence at a juvenile camp. "I know it's hard to imagine, a two-year sentence for murder, but it happened," says Sheriff's Homicide Lieutenant Joseph Hartshorne.

Fredrick Ward

TIME: 10:45 p.m. LOCATION: 11,900 block of Cometa Street, Pacoima

Ward, a 20-year-old African-American, was shot several times as he stood in front of a house. He left behind a young child. The case was closed by the LAPD.

Juan Veron Roberto Salgado

TIME: Unknown LOCATION: 3115 S. Main St., South-Central L.A. STATUS: Open case, LAPD's Criminal Conspiracy Section: (213) 473-7474

A worker from a neighboring business found the body of Salgado, 20, inside a burned-out clothing store, Collective Merchandise Inc., on May 20. Authorities believe his body had been there since a May 2 fire. The death was ruled a homicide.

SUNDAY, May 3

Howard Eugene Martin

TIME: 12:40 a.m. LOCATION: 1279 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena

Pasadena police shot Martin, a 22-year-old African-American, at a party that turned violent. Police cars sought help from a police helicopter, which was forced down by gunfire. As officers exchanged fire with party guests, Martin opened the apartment door and was shot in the head. He left behind a young daughter. The shooting was ruled accidental.

Victor Rodrigo Rivas

TIME: 7:40 p.m. LOCATION: Intersection of Pico Boulevard and New Hampshire Avenue, Pico-Union

It was after curfew and Rivas, 31, was driving his 1974 Datsun 280Z in the Rampart area, near a National Guardsmen post. Authorities said Rivas was driving fast, and Guardsmen responded by pointing their rifles at his car. Rivas stopped, made a U-turn, and went around the block. As he approached the Guardsmen a second time, his car hit one of the soldiers, and others opened fire with their M-16s. In all, 14 rounds were fired, and Rivas was hit five times. LAPD's Rampart homicide detectives cleared the Guardsmen.