Email from Los Angeles Police Protective League Daily News & Updates Law Enforcement News Man Pleads Not Guilty in Metro Bus Shooting, Hijacking A man accused of fatally shooting a passenger aboard a Metro bus last year, then hijacking the vehicle and sparking a chase from South Los Angeles to downtown pleaded not guilty Thursday to murder and other charges. Lamont Campbell, 51, is charged with one count each of murder, carjacking, kidnapping during a carjacking, assault with a handgun, attempted murder, robbery, felony evading and being a felon in possession of a firearm, along with four counts of kidnapping involving the alleged crimes last Sept. 25. The shooting and hijacking occurred about 12:45 a.m. that day near Manchester Avenue and Figueroa Street, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Six alleged victims are identified in the criminal complaint, including the man who died — Anthony Rivera, 48, of Los Angeles — and the bus driver, Dennis Contreras. Campbell allegedly pulled out a gun and shot Rivera multiple times, demanded that the bus driver drive the vehicle and robbed a fellow passenger, according to the District Attorney’s Office. MyNewsLA LAPD investigates unidentified person spotted in west valley near Kenneth Fire Authorities are investigating an unidentified person who was stopped by several residents in the west San Fernando Valley where the Kenneth Fire ignited. It is not immediately clear if the person who was being investigated by LAPD is responsible for the West Hills fire. LAPD reported that the emergency call was received Thursday at 4:32 p.m. in the 21700 block of Ybarra Road about a possible arson suspect. A man was overheard saying a suspect was "trying to light a fire." The suspect is in custody and was transported to the Topanga station, according to the LAPD. The LAPD is still "unable to confirm any connection to any fires started by this suspect at this time.” Investigators are also looking into possible connections with any other fires in the area. The Kenneth Fire broke out in West Hills Thursday afternoon prompting evacuation orders that were later downgraded to warnings in the area. The blaze is one of five active fires in LA County and has burned over 900 acres. NBC 4 Law enforcement officials vow crackdowns after arrests of looters in L.A. wildfire evacuation zones Four major wildfires driven by life-threatening Santa Ana winds have forced the evacuation of more than 70,000 residents across Los Angeles County, FOX 11 Los Angeles reported. The fires, which erupted amid a powerful windstorm, have destroyed over 1,000 structures and claimed at least five lives. Flames, propelled by winds exceeding 80 mph, tore through parched landscapes and moved dangerously close to affluent neighborhoods, including those home to Hollywood celebrities like Jamie Lee Curtis, Mandy Moore and James Woods, who were forced to flee, according to the report. At least 20 people have been arrested on suspicion of looting in evacuation zones, L.A. Supervisor Kathryn Barger said during a press conference on Jan. 9. L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna stated that deputies will maintain roving patrols, oversee road closures and ensure security to deter looting and other criminal activities. “If you are thinking of coming into any of these areas to steal from our residents, you’re going to get caught, you’re going to be arrested, and you’re going to be prosecuted,” Luna said at a press conference on Jan. 8. “Don’t do that! Stay out of these areas. It’s only for emergency workers and people who live there.” PoliceOne How Many People Were Killed by the Pandemic Surge in Shootings? Gun violence has a long tail. Michelle Kerr-Spry knows this well. She is a gun violence survivor and a community activist with Mothers in Charge through which she supports women in Philadelphia who’ve lost someone to a shooting. It didn’t surprise her when one day last December a woman came in seeking solace from a killing that took place three years ago, when the world seemed upside down from the COVID-19 pandemic and the protests around the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, when there was a general sense that society was coming unraveled. Grief deferred is common, Kerr-Spry said. “The circumstance is the homicide,” she said, “but the lifelong work is how do you try to recover and heal from that traumatic event — and that is a forever thing.” Many of the women Kerr-Spry advises are among a group of tens of thousands of people whose lives were altered forever by the surge in gun violence that began during the pandemic. Though gun violence has returned to its normal (unacceptably high) levels in many places, the long tail of it, the shock and grief of it, will be felt for years to come. The Trace Public Safety News L.A. County to use teeth, DNA to identify John and Jane Doe fire victims After the firefighters had moved on from neighborhoods reduced to rubble, officials from a different arm of local government arrived in white vans. Investigators from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner sifted through razed homes in Altadena and Malibu on Thursday to recover the remains of at least five people killed in the Eaton and Palisades fires. It could take anywhere from days to weeks to identify the bodies using dental records or DNA, said Dr. Odey Ukpo, Los Angeles County’s chief medical examiner. Most fire victims are, “for lack of a better word, charred,” Ukpo told the Los Angeles Times. Identifiers such as fingerprints or facial features are lost. Identified tentatively as John or Jane Does, the bodies will be transported to the medical examiner’s offices near downtown Los Angeles to be autopsied, Ukpo said. During the autopsy, which determines the manner and cause of a person’s death, pathologists will also examine the body for identifying features. Los Angeles Times Palisades fire latest: Fire 8% contained; residents can receive assistance finding missing loved ones The Palisades fires have burned through over 20,000 acres in and around the Pacific Palisades and killed at least two people. As of Friday morning, the fire had grown to 20,438 acres with 8% containment. According to Cal Fire, the latest aerial survey of the Palisades Fire estimates that the number of structures destroyed is now 5,316. According to Cal Fire "structures" can include residential and commercial properties, RVs, sheds or other "minor buildings." Fox 11 Palisades and Eaton Fires now among most destructive wildfires recorded in California history Two Los Angeles County wildfires which tore through more than 30,000 acres in three days, killing at least five people and destroying more than 2,000 structures, are now among the 20 most destructive fires recorded in the state of California. On Thursday, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection added the Eaton and Palisades fires — which are both still burning with 0% containment after sparking Tuesday — to the state's list of most destructive wildfires. The list goes back to 1932, when state fire officials first started tracking death and destruction figures for wildfires. No other blazes in Los Angeles County appear on the state's list of 20 most destructive in California history. Homes have been burned to the ground and several buildings completely destroyed. Schools, restaurants, churches, grocery stores and beloved LA landmarks have all been among those reduced to rubble and debris this week. CBS 2 Drone collides with firefighting aircraft over Palisades fire, FAA says A drone collided with a firefighting aircraft flying over the Palisades fire on Thursday, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement. The aircraft landed safely and the incident will be investigated, an FAA official said. “It’s a federal crime, punishable by up to 12 months in prison, to interfere with firefighting efforts on public lands,” the statement said. “Additionally, the FAA can impose a civil penalty of up to $75,000 against any drone pilot who interferes with wildfire suppression, law enforcement or emergency response operations” during a temporary flight restriction. “We hit a drone this afternoon — first one,” said L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone. “Our Super Scooper hit a small drone.” He said the incident occurred over the Palisades fire Thursday. He didn’t have details on who was flying the drone, but said the drone was destroyed and the Super Scooper — a massive fixed-wing plane that can drop large amounts of water — was damaged. “It put a hole in the wing,” he said. “It’s grounded now.” Marrone said the FBI is now planning to come to the area with what he called “aerial armor” to make sure no further drones can fly in the firefighting area. Los Angeles Times Emergency alert issued to LA County residents in error Thousands of Los Angeles County residents already on edge due to the deadly and destructive wildfires burning across the Southland were given an unexpected fright Thursday when a widescale emergency alert was mistakenly sent out to cell phones across the county telling people they were under a wildfire evacuation warning. The alert, however, was in error. Local emergency management officials said the alert was intended only for residents near the Kenneth Fire that erupted Thursday afternoon near West Hills. The alert was issued around 4 p.m. and was received by people in the South Bay, downtown Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley, even as far away as Orange County. Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn quickly posted a statement on X saying the warning "was mistakenly issued countywide due to a technical error" and "a correction will be issued shortly." The message was only intended "for the areas impacted by the Kenneth Fire in Woodland Hills." Westside Current Mandatory Evacuations Lifted in Area of Hurst Fire in Sylmar Mandatory evacuations were lifted Thursday in the area impacted by the wind-driven Hurst Fire burning in the Sylmar area. The Hurst Fire was reported around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday in the 5900 block of Yarnell Street, and within a half-hour had burned more than 100 acres, Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Margaret Stewart said. As of Thursday, it was mapped at 671 acres, with 10% containment, according to Cal Fire. Evacuations were ordered for the area north of the Foothill (210) Freeway from Roxford Street to the Golden State (5) and Antelope Valley (14) Freeway split, but those orders were lifted on Thursday. According to the LAFD, an evacuation warning remained in place for an area west of Interstate 5, Sunshine Canyon Landfill, Oak Tree Gun Club, north of Orcutt Lease Trail Road, south of East Canyon Mountainway, I-5 east of East Canyon Mountainway, Sunshine Canyon Mountainway and west of Ridge Fire Road. MyNewsLA Los Angeles patient’s identity unknown nearly a week after being hit by car Health officials are asking the public for help Thursday in identifying a man who was brought to a hospital in Los Angeles nearly a week ago. The man, believed to be about 71 years old, arrived at Los Angeles General Medical Center on Jan. 3 after being struck by a car. Hospital staff has been unable to locate family or friends who can identify the patient. He was described as being 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing about 180 pounds. The patient has salt and pepper hair and blue eyes, the Los Angeles County of Health Services stated. Anyone who may be able to provide information about the patient was asked to contact clinical social workers Nicole Crayon at 323-409-3877 or Jessica Barahona at 323-409-3758. KTLA 5 These resources are available for SoCal wildfire victims, first responders Companies and organizations in the LA area and elsewhere are taking steps to help Southern California wildfire victims and first responders. If the wildfires have impacted you or a loved one, here are some services you can take advantage of. Planet Fitness is providing people free access to locker rooms, showers, HydroMassage loungers, electrical outlets and Wi-Fi, regardless of membership status. The offer is valid until Jan. 15 at Planet Fitness locations across Los Angeles County that the wildfires haven’t impacted. UFC Gym is offering residents, first responders, and others affected by the wildfires free access to locker rooms, showers, recovery services, electrical outlets, WiFi, and more until the end of January. Shake Shack is offering them free Shackburgers at any location across the county. The deal will be valid until Sunday. Mountain Mike’s Pizza in Pasadena will be offering free meals and a place to rest to first responders. Sizzler locations in Van Nuys, Los Feliz, Palmdale and Fox Hills are offering free meals to first responders and evacuees. KTLA 5 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. 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