77th Division

How an LAPD Homicide Detective Became One of Hollywood's Top Screenwriters

Patrick Caruthers, Special-Needs Teen and Summer Night Lights Volunteer, Murdered on South L.A. Park Bench

A 19-year-old city volunteer with a learning disability was shot dead yesterday afternoon in broad daylight as kids played on the grass nearby. Patrick Caruthers, also called Patrick Sears online by his friends, reportedly was sitting on a bench at Jackie Tatum/Harvard Recreation Center, where he ... More >>

Jay Cincinelli, LAPD Cop Taken Off Duty After Injury, One of Fullerton Officers in Deadly Confrontation With Kelly Thomas

fullertonsfuture.orgJay Cicinelli.​One of six Fullerton cops placed on paid leave following a confrontation that left a 37-year-old homeless man dead in the street is a former LAPD officer who lost use of one eye in a 1990s shooting that put him on that department's permanent disabled list. T ... More >>

Raivonn Warren, L.A. Homicide No. 190: 32-Year-Old Man Fatally Shot In Watts

Google Maps​ A man fatally shot Thursday has been identified as 32-year-old Raivonn Warren. The shooting occurred near the corner of 115th and Croesus Avenue around 4:00 p.m, according to Detective Sal Labarbera of LAPDs 77th Division. An unknown suspect approached Warren, who was standing in ... More >>

Ronzell Lane, L.A. Homicide No. 186: 20-Year-Old Man Fatally Shot in South L.A.

​ A 20-year-old man fatally shot September 9 has been identified as Ronzell Lane, according to records from the Los Angeles County Coroner's office. The shooting occurred on the 9100 block of Western Avenue in South Los Angeles. Detectives are searching for the gunman involved in the shooting. ... More >>

Terence Butler, L.A. Homicide No. 179: Man Fatally Shot in South Los Angeles

​A man who was gunned down early this morning as he walked in an alley in South Los Angeles has been identified as Terence Butler. Butler, 48, died at the scene. The shooting occurred around 2:20 a.m. in the 1800 block of West 67th Street. No suspects have been arrested.

Rudolfo Melendez, L.A. Homicide No. 177: Man Fatally Shot in Car in South Los Angeles

​A man was found shot to death as he sat in his 1994 Chevy Camaro in South Los Angeles August 14. Rudolfo Melendez, 27, was at a party earlier in the evening with friends before he was shot about 11 p.m. Saturday near Main and 84th streets. Police suspect Melendez was on route to a girl friend ... More >>

Rene Gurdado, L.A. Homicide No. 178: Man Killed in Gang-Related Shooting in South Los Angeles

​A man who was killed in a gang-related shooting in South Los Angeles August 14 has been identified as 22-year-old Rene Gurdado. Gurdado was shot as he was standing with friends in front of a house located at 3321 west 66th Street near Crenshaw Boulevard around 2:45 a.m. Saturday. According to ... More >>

Jason Pervis Randle, L.A. Homicide No. 172: Man Ambushed Behind Apartment Building in South L.A.

​A man who was ambushed behind an apartment building in South Los Angeles August 7 has been identified as 21-year-old Jason Pervis Randle. Randle was confronted and fatally shot by multiple suspects around 10:45 p.m. Saturday near the intersection of 70th and Hoover Streets. He was taken to Ca ... More >>

Grim Sleeper Search Warrant Released by LA County District Attorney

​[First posted at 4:22 p.m.] The Los Angeles County District Attorney released the search warrant in the case of the Grim Sleeper. The 23-page search warrant detailed the 11 alleged murders dating back to 1985 committed by 57-year-old Lonnie David Franklin Jr. The warrant also portrayed Fra ... More >>

Steven Kelly, L.A. Homicide No. 150: 42-year-old Man Fatally Shot in Westmont

Google Maps​Steven Kelly, 42, was shot to death in the Westmont area. The shooting occurred in the 1700 block of East 109th Place around 9:00 p.m., according to officer Sara Faden of LAPD Media Relations. (See map after the jump)

L.A. Homicide No. 151: 17-year-old Boy Fatally Shot in South L.A.

Google Maps​An unidentified 17-year-old boy was fatally shot in South Los Angeles. The shooting occurred in the 300 block of West 75th Street on July 11, according to Officer Sara Faden of LAPD Media Relations. (See map after the jump)

Grim Sleeper Suspect Lonnie Franklin Jr. Had Criminal Record, But Not Enough Of One To Require DNA Test

CBS2/KCAL9Lonnie Franklin, Jr.​Grim Sleeper serial murder suspect Lonnie Franklin Jr. was no stranger to authorities, even as neighbors said he once worked as a mechanic at the Los Angeles Police Department's 77th Division. CBS2/KCAL9's David Goldstein found out this week that Franklin was co ... More >>

L.A. Homicide No. 143: 19-year-old Man Shot Dead in South L.A.

Google Maps​A 19-year-old man was fatally shot by an unidentified suspect. The shooting occurred at 2100 West Florence Avenue on the corner of Cimarron Street on July 3 around 7:30 p.m. (See map after the jump)

Chad Andrew, L.A. Homicide No. 145: 22-year-old Man Fatally Shot at Gas Station in South L.A.

Google Maps​Chad Andrew, 22, was shot dead on July 5 around 3:50 a.m. The shooting occurred on the corner of Vernon and Western Avenues. (See map after the jump)

Samuel James, L.A. Homicide No. 146: 28-Year-Old Man Fatally Shot in Vermont Harbor

Google Maps​Samuel James, 28, was fatally shot earlier today around 1:20 a.m. on the 4700 block of Vermont Avenue. (See map after the jump)

Betty McClellan, LA Homicide No. 137: 62-year-old Woman Fatally Shot by Husband Who Then Shoots Himself

Google Maps​ Betty Ann McClellan, 62, was fatally shot in the 4000 block of W. 59th Place by her husband, 63-year-old Hersey McClellan on Sunday, June 20, who then fatally shot himself. Both victims were found with gun shot wounds to the head. The victim's son found his parents around 9:15 a. ... More >>

Francisco Garcia Ortega, L.A. Homicide No. 131: 31-year-old Man Killed in Gang-Related Attack in South Los Angeles

​The Los Angeles Police Department detectives arrested three suspects who allegedly killed South Los Angeles resident Francisco Garcia Ortega. According to detectives, Ortega, 31, was fatally attacked on June 8 at 5:55 p.m. in the front yard of a residence in the 1100 block of West 54th Street ... More >>

Clint Smith, L.A. Homicide No. 103: Man Fatally Shot, Woman Wounded in Gang-Related Attack in South Los Angeles

A 28-year-old man was fatally shot and a woman was wounded in a gang-related shooting in South Los Angeles May 13. View Larger Map Clint Smith and a female friend were standing in a courtyard at 6:15 p.m. Thursday in the 6300 block of Brynhurst Avenue, when they were shot.

Marques McNeil, L.A. Homicide No. 100: Man Killed in Gang-Related Shooting in South Los Angeles

A man who was killed in a gang-related shooting in South Los Angeles May 9 has been identified as 28-year-old Marques McNeil. View Larger Map McNeil was shot around 12:30 a.m. Sunday in the 7700 block of Avalon Boulevard.

Tina Sanchez, L.A. Homicide No. 85: Woman Found Dead in South LA Alley Identified

A woman who was shot to death and found wrapped in a blanket in a Hyde Park alley April 15 has been identified as 40-year-old Tina Sanchez. View Larger Map Sanchez was found in an alley near Crenshaw Boulevard and 73rd Street about 3:30 a.m. Thursday.

Brian De Loach, L.A. Homicide No. 81: Man Killed, Another Wounded in After-Hours Club Shooting in South Los Angeles

Google Maps​A man was gunned down and his friend was injured as they were entering an after-hours club in South Los Angeles April 10. Brian De Loach, 37, died from a gunshot wound to the right flank.

Emanuel Dorsey, L.A. Homicide No. 64: South Los Angeles Man Fatally Shot on Sidewalk

Google Maps​A 30-year-old man was shot as he was walking down the street in South Los Angeles March 29. Emanuel Dorsey was confronted by the gunmen in the 1400 block of West 83rd Street at 5:05 p.m. Monday.

Kevin Bautista, L.A. Homicide No. 62: Gunman Shoots South Los Angeles Man Sitting in his Car

Google Maps​A man who was shot while he was seated in the passenger seat of his car March 27 has been identified as 21-year-old Kevin Bautista. Bautista was sitting in the passenger seat of his car at 6:15 p.m. Saturday in the 1600 block of West 84th Street when a man and woman drove up in a ... More >>

Kendall Williams, L.A. Homicide No. 63: 18-Year-old South Los Angeles Girl Shot and Killed While Talking with a Group of Friends

Google Maps​Los Angeles Police Department detectives are looking for the suspects responsible for killing a teenage girl and shooting her friend March 27. Kendall Williams,18, and a group of her friends, including a 22-year-old man, were talking on the sidewalk in the 900 block of West 68th ... More >>

Daniel Smith, L.A. Homicide No. 56: Man shot while walking with friends

Los Angeles Police Department detectives are looking for the gunman who ran up to a group of people and shot at them March 24. View Larger Map According to police reports, at around 9 p.m., 20-year-old Daniel Smith and friends were walking northbound in the 7000 block of Raymond Avenue near West 7 ... More >>

Dontae Cotton, L.A. Homicide No. 15: Man Killed in Gang-Related Shooting in South LA

A 28-year-old man was killed in an apparent gang-related shooting in South Los Angeles January 24. The fatal shooting occurred shortly after midnight on Sunday, in the 1600 block of West 60th Place. According to police reports, Dontae Cotton had just returned home and was walking from his parked v ... More >>

Julio Olivares, L.A. Homicide No. 8: Man Dies Six Months After Gang Dispute in South Los Angeles

Julio Olivares died from gunshot wounds January 4. Olivares, an alleged Florencia 13 gang member, was shot in the chest and hand by gang rivals on his front porch in the 900 block of East 85th Street. View Larger Map According to police reports, two male Hispanics were spotted in Olivares' front y ... More >>

Murder was the Case: LA Homicide No. 310, Suspect Arrested and Victim Identified in Dec 30 Stabbing

A man fatally stabbed on Dec 30 around 2 a.m. was identified as 26-year-old Juan Ventura Ola. The incident occurred near 59th Street and Vermont Avenue. The suspect was identified as 52-year-old Auriello Ramirez. View Larger Map The two men were having an argument outside a South Los Angeles res ... More >>

Murder was the Case: LA Homicide No. 308, Man Shot to Death Near Western/Vermont Avenues

A man was shot to death in South Los Angeles December 21. Loren Arterberry, 36, was shot multiple times in the back, right leg and neck near Western and Vernon Avenues. View Larger Map Anyone with information about the shooting should contact 77th Division detectives at 213-485-4175.

Murder was the Case: LA Homicide No. 269, Victim Identified in Fatal Street Attack in South LA

A man who was shot while walking down the street with a friend in South LA November 10 has been identified as 24-year-old Mulindwa Traylor. Traylor was walking with a female companion when they were approached by another couple near 55th Street and Denker Avenue. The male shooter fired several roun ... More >>

Murder was the Case: LA Homicide No. 271, Man Gunned Down outside Market in South Los Angeles

A man was leaving a grocery market when he was gunned down. Jermaine Tillman, 30, was shot in the neck at 7 p.m. outside Young's Junior Market at 701 East Manchester Avenue near Stanford Avenue November 7. According to police reports, Tillman was walking in the parking lot of the market when a ligh ... More >>

Murder Was the Case: L.A. Homicide No. 264, Man Kills Girlfriend Then Shoots Himself

A 20-year-old man gunned down his 16-year-old girlfriend in Lincoln Heights, and then killed himself November 6. Juan Carlos Mendez shot his girlfriend Maria Valderrama in the back of the head about 8:35 p.m. after an argument in the 2400 block of Daly Street. View Larger Map He then ran off, but ... More >>

Murder was the Case: LA Homicide No. 265, Man Fatally Shot in Drive-by Shooting in South L.A.

A 25-year-old man was killed in a drive-by shooting while working on a parked car in South Los Angeles November 6. Wilhelm Adolphus Ramclam was gunned down around 3:45 p.m. Friday as he worked on his car, which was parked curbside in the 700 block of 73rd Street at McKinley Avenue. View Larger Map ... More >>

Video Exclusive: Surveillance Tape of Murdered Casita Victim Rosa Garcia

One of the most eerie things to emerge from the LA Weekly Investigation into "Chaos in the Casitas" is this grainy security surveillance tape made at a popular taco truck near Florence and Normandie showing B-Girl Rosa Garcia just a few hours before she was murdered. In the tape you can clearly se ... More >>

Murder Was the Case: L.A. Homicide No. 246, Man Killed in Robbery Gone Bad

A man was killed in a robbery gone bad in South L.A. today. According to police, a man was attempting a robbery when he was chased by the man he intended to rob. The robbery suspect and his intended victim got into a scuffle and the latter was shot. The shooting occurred at 9 a.m. around 74th and M ... More >>

Murder Was the Case: L.A. Homicide No. 226, College Student Shot in Chesterfield Square

A black male was fatally shot in the upper torso in an apparent driveby shooting on September 10. College student Kadeem Forman was walking home from a nearby store with a group of friends at about 9:10 p.m. Thursday, when three black males in a dark-colored vehicle drove past them in the 6800 bloc ... More >>

Murder Was the Case: L.A. Homicide No. 224, Man Shot in Central-Alameda

Keith Dwayne Moore, 20, was shot and killed in the 1600 block of 55th Street, near Denker Avenue in South Los Angeles, September 5. View Larger Map Moore was riding his bicycle on the street around 2:40 p.m. when he was confronted by two men described only as black males in their 20s wearing white ... More >>

Murder Was the Case: L.A. Homicide No. 219, Man Shot in South Los Angeles

An Hispanic male was shot multiple times while hanging out with friends in South Los Angeles August 31. Antonio Vargas, 30, managed to walk a short distance before he collapsed in the 4400 block of South Harvard Boulevard, near West Vernon Avenue. View Larger Map He was transported to a local hosp ... More >>

Murder Was the Case: L.A. Homicide No. 206, Teenager Gunned Down in South Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Police Department is looking for a suspect who fatally shot 17-year-old Brandon Jamal Perry on August 22. View Larger Map Perry was gunned down around 11:45 p.m. as he was standing with a group of people in front of a residence in the 6400 block of South Seventh Avenue. According to ... More >>

Murder Was the Case: L.A. Homicide No. 211, Teenager Killed, Two Wounded in Hyde Park Shooting

A teenager was killed and a man and woman were wounded in a shooting in Hyde Park  August 23. View Larger Map All three victims were shot in front of a home in the 6400 block of Seventh Avenue about 12:15 a.m. The 17-year-old boy was shot in the face and declared dead at a local hospital. On ... More >>

Murder Was the Case: L.A. Homicide No. 210, Man Shot Outside Liquor Store in South Los Angeles

A 22-year-old man was gunned down as he was getting into his car in South Los Angeles on August 22. View Larger Map Samuel Leonard was confronted by a African American male who shot him several times outside a liquor store in the 1700 block of West Century Boulevard about 8:10 p.m. Saturday. Accor ... More >>

Murder Was the Case: L.A. Homicide No. 204, Gunmen Kill Man in South L.A.

A man was fatally shot in South Los Angeles today. View Larger MapThe incident happened near the 100 block of East 82nd Street at about 2 a.m. The victim was identified as Thaddeus Risher, 49, who was shot multiple times inside his vehicle. Police are looking for three suspects and believe the case ... More >>

Murder Was the Case: L.A. Homicide No. 179, Victim Identified in Fatal Stabbing in South Los Angeles

A Hispanic male who was stabbed to death July 31 after an altercation with a group of men has been identified as 23-year-old Santiago Morales. View Larger Map According to police, Morales and a friend got into a fight with the four or five suspects at 6:45 p.m. in the 150 block of West 76th Street ... More >>

Murder Was the Case: L.A. Homicide No. 184, Teenager Gunned Down

A teenager was gunned down August 3 while walking down a street. Jeremy Burrell, 17, was walking in the 3400 block of West 63rd Street when he was confronted by a group of African American males who drew handguns and began firing at him, according to police.  View Larger Map Burrell was struck ... More >>

Murder Was the Case: L.A. Homicide No. 141: Teen Gunned Down Walking to Bus Stop

An 18-year-old male was gunned down while walking to meet a friend at a bus stop located on 54th Street and Western Avenue, on June 25.  View Larger Map According to police reports, two male suspects were sitting in a small mid-size vehicle when they shot Jessie Jackson as he was walking westb ... More >>

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For 1,000 murder victims, a new LAPD cold-case unit finally seeks justice

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Chief Bratton takes aim at gang violence

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