Woman Found Dead In Her Downtown LA Apartment, Police Launch Homicide Investigation

The Los Angeles Police Department needs help solving a suspicious death inside a downtown L.A. highrise. Officers discovered the body of 31-year-old Maleesa Mooney just before 4 p.m. on Sept. 12 while conducting a welfare check at her apartment in the 200 block of South Figueroa Street. Without releasing details of the investigation, the LAPD determined Mooney was killed inside of her home. According to her sister Jourdin Pauline, Mooney's birthday was next month. "Never in a million years did I think I'd have to make this post and get justice for my one & only sister," Pauline wrote on Instagram. Pauline continued saying she felt like she was in a "bad dream" and vowed to "get justice" for Mooney. She added that her older sister was "loving and so kind to everyone." Detectives said they have no description of a suspect. They are waiting for a report from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's office to determine the exact cause of death. If you have information regarding Mooney's death, the LAPD implores you to call Detective Pierce or Marcinek at (213) 996-4150. Those wishing to stay anonymous can submit tips to the L.A. Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 222-8477 or through their website.  

CBS 2

Elderly Chinatown Shop Employee Hospitalized After Burglary And Attack

A Chinatown shop employee is in the hospital after getting attacked on Thursday, Sept. 14 when a man grabbed items from the business' shelves. The incident was caught on a security camera. According to police, the robber "cased" Angie's Boutique in downtown Los Angeles earlier this week, before returning to the 800 block on N. Broadway around 12 p.m. on Thursday and attacking the elderly woman seen on camera. "He forced his way and pushed one of our employees down, an elderly woman, and he reached into the window, stole one item and jumped over the counter and stole the other item," said the store's owner. "And on the way out she was kind of tugging on his shirt and she just he just punched her right in the face. I mean, it's so disgusting." The man then trashed the store and ran off with an unknown amount of merchandise and money. Police said that the main suspect could be seen on camera, but that another unknown male was involved in the robbery as well.

FOX 11

Tory Lanez Is Heading To State Prison After Judge Denies Motion For Bail During Appeal

Tory Lanez’s latest attempt to avoid being sent to a California prison has failed. The hip-hop star’s motion for bail was rejected Thursday by a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge, a court spokeswoman confirmed. Lanez is facing a 10-year prison sentence for shooting rapper Megan Thee Stallion. The Canadian hip-hop artist, whose legal name is Daystar Peterson, had asked the judge to release him on bail so he could live with his son and wife while he works on his appeal. However, Judge David Herriford denied the motion, citing Lanez’s conviction for a violent felony, history of violating court orders and foreign citizenship among the reasons. Lanez has been held in Men’s Central Jail since January, according to online records for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. It is unclear when he’ll be transported to state prison. “The Color Violet” and “Hurts Me” emcee grinned at his supporters, including his father and friends from the Unite the People legal-services group — the nonprofit he frequently works with — before being led out of court, tweeted legal affairs reporter Meghann Cuniff, who was in the courtroom Thursday.

Los Angeles Times

Police Seek Help Finding Missing 68-Year-Old Man

Police sought the public’s help Thursday to find a 68-year-old man last seen at the Vermont Square Branch Library in South Los Angeles. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, Gilbert Jones was last seen in the 1200 block of West 48th Street around 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 2, and his family is concerned about his safety. Detectives described Jones as Black, 5-feet, 10-inches tall, 180 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. It was unknown what Jones was last seen wearing. Anyone with information regarding Jones’ whereabouts was urged to call Officer Hendrickson at 213-996-1800. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477. During non-business hours or weekends, calls should be directed to 877-527-3247.

MyNewsLA

FBI Offers Reward In Search For Man Wanted In 2010 Killing After Argument At SoCal Store

A reward of up to $5,000 was offered Wednesday for information leading to the arrest of the man suspected in the shooting death of a man following an argument at a Los Angeles County store. Fresno native Cesar Villarreal, 50, is wanted for allegedly shooting a man moments after the argument on May 21, 2010. Villarreal, who previously lived in Baldwin Park, is believed to currently be living in Mexico, authorities said. He was with two daughters at the Los Angeles County store -- a specific location was not provided by authorities -- when he started arguing with two men. Details about what led to the argument were not immediately available. Villarreal allegedly pulled out a gun and pointed it at the men, who left the store. Driving his pickup without his daughters, Villarreal found the men a short time later near the store and allegedly shot at them, killing one and injuring the other, the FBI said. He was charged with murder and a warrant was issued for his arrest on June 11, 2010. He was later charged in federal with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution on Aug. 27, 2010, and a federal arrest warrant was issued.

NBC 4

Over $267 Million Approved To Combat Smash-and-Grab Thefts In California

California will be spending hundreds of millions of dollars to crack down on smash-and-grab thefts, marking the state’s largest investment to combat such crime. The state will be sending over $267 million to 55 cities and counties in an effort to crack down on arrests and prosecutions for organized retail crime. Funds for the Organized Retail Theft Grant Program were approved by the Board of State and Community Corrections and will be dispersed to 55 local law enforcement agencies across the state. County law enforcement agencies receiving funds include: Orange County, Los Angeles County, Riverside County, Sacramento County, San Mateo County, Santa Clara County, and Ventura County. City law enforcement agencies receiving funds include: Anaheim, Bakersfield, Beverly Hills, Brea, Campbell, Chula Vista, Citrus Heights, Coalinga, Costa Mesa, Daly City, Delano, Fremont, Fresno, Garden Grove, Hemet, Irvine, Los Angeles, Modesto, National City, Newark, Palm Springs, Palo Alto, Roseville, Salinas, San Fernando, San Francisco, San Jose, San Ramon, Santa Monica, Santa Rosa, and Vacaville. 

KTLA 5

BWC Video Shows Man Charging At Reno Police With Knife After Stabbing 16-Year-Old

Body camera video released by the Reno Police Department on Thursday shows the moment a knife-wielding man directed his attention toward officers, leading to a fatal officer-involved shooting, according to KOLO. According to police, officers received a report of a stabbing incident at a residence involving a 16-year-old around 12:30 a.m. on September 4. The information provided to the police also indicated that the suspect had self-inflicted stab wounds and was reportedly under the influence of drugs. The body camera video shows the suspect, identified as Sherman Crutcher, holding a fishing filet knife as he starts to move toward the officers standing outside of a residence. The officers directed Crutcher to drop the knife several times, but the suspect continued moving toward officers, leading to both officers firing their service weapon, according to Deputy Chief Tom Robinson. Crutcher was taken to a hospital, where he later died. The condition of the 16-year-old, who was later identified as Crutcher's relative, is unknown. 

PoliceOne

Video: Tennessee Officer Saves 1-Year-Old's Life After Child Stopped Breathing

A Murfreesboro officer is credited with saving a child’s life after performing CPR on a 1-year-old who stopped breathing, News Channel 5 reports. When the child stopped breathing, the child’s parents called 911 and started driving to a nearby hospital. Officer Robert Baer just happened to be in the area. Body camera footage shows baby Zaire’s father hand him to Officer Robert Baer. Baer began to perform CPR on the child on the hood of his patrol car. "I’m thinking, I have a three-year-old at home, that’s what I’m thinking about. You know, as I’m doing it. Don’t be the one to let this kid die," said Baer in an interview with NewsChannel 5. Baer continued CPR compressions until Zaire started to breathe again. After the rescue, Baer was able to visit with the family, who invited him to stay in touch. "Mom told me don’t be a stranger, making sure I come around and checking on him, so. I’m sure I will continue to do that."

PoliceOne

Airborne Fentanyl, Methamphetamine Residues Found On Washington Public Transit, Study Says

Airborne fentanyl residues were found in a quarter of Seattle and Portland light-rail transit vehicles tested this spring, while methamphetamine appeared in them all, said a University of Washington study. However, the amounts were too low to pose a risk to riders or to trigger acute illness or make a transit operator "high," health officials said. "In most cases, an exposure would be hundreds to thousands of times lower than what we would expect to cause clinical effects," said Dr. Rob Hendrickson, medical director of the Oregon Poison Center, in a Thursday press briefing. The study by the University of Washington Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences department was designed to measure workplace exposure, after scores of transit operators filed safety incident reports about passengers smoking drugs, or even stopped driving because of headaches, dizziness or difficulty breathing. These included a Feb. 5 incident at Angle Lake Station, where a light-rail operator was taken by ambulance for a medical check after being exposed to fentanyl smoke. Last year, King County Metro Transit employees filed 52 workers' compensation claims, of which 16 entailed lost work time, based on drug exposure.

Seattle Times

At Least 1 Injured In Large Apartment Fire In Marina Del Rey

At least one person was rushed to the hospital after a large, aggressive fire broke out at an apartment building in Marina del Rey. The fire was reported Thursday afternoon at the building on S Via Marina near Mariners Village. Authorities said at least one person has been sent to the hospital with burn injuries. AIR7 HD was above the scene as Los Angeles city and county firefighters tackled the fire, which was burning mainly on the first and second floors of the building. The fire was knocked down later in the afternoon. It's unclear what caused the fire. 

ABC 7

When Should I Get Vaccinated For COVID-19? Flu? RSV?

A fresh round of flu and COVID-19 vaccines are rolling out to pharmacies, doctor’s offices and clinics across California and the country. But when’s the best time to get your shots? There are a number of factors that can inform when you roll up your sleeve, officials and experts say. You might consider travel plans, or upcoming holiday gatherings. Maybe you live with someone who has a higher chance of becoming seriously ill from a respiratory infection, or face such risks yourself. Despite those nuances, one thing health officials agree on: You should get your flu shot and stay current on your COVID-19 vaccines. Along with the annual batch of flu shots, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends that everyone age 6 months and up get a newly updated COVID-19 vaccination. Both vaccines are specifically formulated to protect against particular viral strains that officials feel will be prevalent this fall and winter.

Los Angeles Times

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.