LAPD asks for help solving 2006 murder of 14-year-old girl in Boyle Heights

Police are asking the public's help in finding leads on a cold case murder investigation in Boyle Heights that has spanned over 19 years. The Los Angeles Police Department held a press conference Tuesday, which would've been Emmery Munoz's 34th birthday. "We truly do believe that there's somebody who knows vital information that could help bring closure and some sense of justice to the family and loved ones of Emmery," said LAPD Lt. Ryan Rabbett. On the morning of Jan. 25, 2006, Emmery Munoz was found dead in the loading dock area of a business in the 1500 block of Mirasol Street in Boyle Heights. She was just 14 at the time. Munoz had last been seen alive on Jan. 20 in the City Terrace neighborhood of East Los Angeles. With no substantial evidence on the motive or suspects, the LAPD and friends and family of Munoz requested the public's assistance in finding any details about the murder. "Instead of celebrating her birthday, we're going to the cemetery to leave her flowers," said Munoz's aunt, Becky Haro, who issued a statement on behalf of the family in Spanish. "Emmery was a young girl full of joy, and we miss her like it was the first day," she said. "If you know something, contact the detectives." Anyone with information is urged to contact LAPD Detectives Torres, Meneses or Sharman at 213-486-8700 or contact 877-527-3247 during non-business hours.

ABC 7

Mother Sentenced 11 Years for Voluntary Manslaughter of Infant Daughter

A Los Angeles woman who pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter for her infant daughter’s death in 2018 was sentenced Wednesday to 11 years in state prison. Ivette Melissa Gonzalez, now 33, was initially charged with murder and assault on a child causing death in the May 5, 2018, death of her nearly 10-month-old daughter Selena. Those charges were dismissed as a result of her Feb. 3 plea to the lesser charge. At a hearing last year in which Gonzalez was ordered to stand trial, Officer Hooman Nafissi of the Los Angeles Police Department and retired LAPD Detective Moses Castillo testified that Gonzalez told each of them in May 2018 to arrest her. “She felt she caused the injuries, the death,” Nafissi testified. “She was remorseful. She wanted to go to jail.” Castillo testified the woman “felt that she was responsible for the baby’s death.” Under cross-examination by defense attorney Raoul Hutchens, the retired detective acknowledged that the mother of four told police that her children were her life. Gonzalez was arrested in February 2019 and has remained behind bars since then.

MyNewsLA

Elderly woman severely injured in North Hollywood hit-and-run crash

Police are searching for a hit-and-run driver who left an elderly woman severely injured in North Hollywood. The crash happened on Feb. 22 as the victim, a woman in her late 70s, was walking near the intersection of Basset Street and Coldwater Canyon Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. At around 7:50 a.m., the suspect, who was in a pickup truck, turned left at the intersection and struck the woman, police said. Surveillance video captured the moment the victim was hit while a dog can be seen frantically running into the street seconds after. The truck driver continued speeding away and did not stop to check on the injured woman. She was transported to the hospital with severe injuries. “Motorists are reminded that if they become involved in a collision, they should pull over and stop as soon as it is safe to do so, notify emergency services, and remain at the scene to identify themselves,” LAPD said. “Motorcyclists are also reminded to obey the rules of the road and ride at a safe speed.” A reward of up to $25,000 is available to anyone who provides information leading to the suspect’s identification, apprehension and conviction. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call LAPD Investigator Reyes at 818-644-8114. 

KTLA 5

Residents zip-tied during home invasion in Woodland Hills

Police say that the residents of a Woodland Hills home were tied up by an armed suspect that broke in early Tuesday morning and ransacked their home. It happened just after 5:50 a.m. at a home in the 22700 block of MacFarlane Drive, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Officers were initially dispatched to the area after learning of a possible assault with a deadly weapon and a kidnapping. Upon arrival, they found that the residents of the home were tied up with zip ties by a single suspect who had gotten inside. They say that the man used wood and nails to keep the door shut as they rifled through the home, taking off with approximately $2,000 in items, police said. The victims were trapped inside of the closet for nearly half a day before they were able to free themselves and call 911. They are not believed to have suffered any injuries in the ordeal. There was no information available on the suspect, only that he was wearing black clothing and a mask. Police say that the department's Robbery-Homicide Division has taken over the investigation. 

CBS 2

At least three arrested after standoff comes to an end in North Hollywood

An armed standoff came to an end in North Hollywood Wednesday morning, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The standoff began at around 5:40 a.m. at the 4900 block of Lankershim Boulevard. Officers had responded to the call of an assault with a deadly weapon. At least two people were armed with a gun inside of a white Chevy Tahoe and had threatened a victim, police said. A total of three people were taken into custody. No injuries were reported.

NBC 4

Prominent Los Angeles tattoo artist pleads guilty to tax crimes

A popular Los Angeles tattoo artist pleaded guilty to tax crimes, federal officials announced Tuesday. Daniel Joseph Winter, 43, better known as Winter Stone to his fans, pleaded guilty to one count of subscription to a false tax return, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Winter operates his tattoo business in Los Angeles, New York and Vancouver, Canada. Specializing in single-needle fine-line tattoos and catering to high-end clients, Stone was once named “Hollywood’s Go-To Tattoo Artist” by The Hollywood Reporter. With a clientele that often included notable actors, singers and celebrities, and over 606,000 followers on Instagram, prosecutors said his tattoos were expensive and he earned a “substantial income from his work as a tattoo artist and related endeavors.” According to his plea agreement, from 2021 to 2023, Winter earned at least $1.7 million from his tattoo business, but he declared no wages, salaries or tip income on the tax returns that he filed with the IRS. 

KTLA 5

Trump calls for mandatory death penalty for those convicted of killing officers

President Donald Trump called for a mandatory death penalty for anyone convicted of killing a law enforcement officer during a speech to Congress on March 4. Trump announced he signed an executive order that would make the death penalty mandatory in such cases. During his speech, he asked lawmakers to make it a permanent law. Trump also pushed for a new crime bill that would increase penalties for repeat offenders and expand protections for law enforcement officers. “So they can do their jobs without fear of their lives being totally destroyed,” Trump said. “They don’t wanna be killed. We’re not going to let them be killed.” His remarks came as he honored Stephanie Diller, the widow of NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller, who was shot and killed during a traffic stop in Far Rockaway in March 2023. Diller, a father to a 1-year-old, was shot in the stomach while approaching a suspicious vehicle. “He was gunned down. I went to his funeral last year. The murderer had 21 prior arrests on different charges. He was a bad one. When I met Diller’s widow, Stephanie, and son, Ryan, it was really inspirational. Thank you very much,” Trump said during his address to Congress. Trump vowed to ensure Ryan grows up knowing his father is a hero.

PoliceOne

Teens Are More Likely to Arm Themselves in Cluttered, Violence-Plagued Neighborhoods, Research Finds

Residents’ perception of disorder in their neighborhoods — litter, abandoned buildings, public drug use, robust police presence — may be leading more young people to carry a gun, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Mississippi. “The literature and the research have shown that adolescents are the most likely to carry a gun out of all the weapons out there,” said Joshua Rosenbaum, a PhD candidate studying juvenile delinquency and lead author of the study, which examined how people perceive social breakdown within a community. The phenomenon, known as perceived neighborhood disorder, is an established concept in criminology, but its connections to firearm violence are not as well understood. The research team was prompted to dive deeper into ties between the two as gun violence has become the leading cause of death for children and teens in the U.S. In the study, researchers analyzed the relationship between perceived neighborhood disorder, exposure to violence, and the likelihood of an adolescent carrying a gun to school.

The Trace

Car slams into front of Jons Marketplace in Van Nuys

Shoppers at Jons Marketplace were startled Wednesday morning when a white car barreled through the front of the store. The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the scene at the 7000 block of North Sepulveda Boulevard at around 11 a.m. Video shared on the Citizen App showed the aftermath of the crash. The car had crashed through two automatic sliding doors, knocking over several items, crushing flowers displays and scattering greeting cards all over the floor before stopping in front of a checkout aisle. Several shopping carts were lined outside the entrance of the store, blocking the way as employees inside assessed the damage. It's unclear if anyone, including the driver, was injured at the scene.

NBC 4

Firefighters who battled LA County fires now fighting for access to a drug to help them

The drug glutathione is an antioxidant produced naturally in the body to detoxify cells. The compounded form of the drug, which as such is not FDA-approved, is in a category currently under review by the Food and Drug Administration. While the FDA has not blocked its use, the California Board of Pharmacy has made it very difficult for sterile compounding pharmacies to make it. And for firefighters, the restrictions are frustrating. Pasadena Fire Cpt. David Marquez battled the Eaton Fire for days. "This wasn't just a single building or a few buildings on fire. This was a massive amount of structures, and all the things that you don't know that are in there burning with the power of the wind behind it," said Marquez. "They’re equating this like another 9/11." said Pasadena Fire Cpt. Robert Ruiz, who felt the effects of the toxins of the Eaton Fire immediately. "Our noses were running, just the black stuff coming out. Our eyes were burning -- red, sore. Dry cough," Ruiz said. "Just non-stop breathing of all those toxic gases." By Jan.16, a group of healthcare practitioners organized by two non-profits in Northern California arrived to help, offering breathing treatments to first responders at the Eaton Fire basecamp.

NBC 4

LA Council Committee OKs Proposal to Add Protections for Fast Food Employees

A five-member City Council committee Tuesday advanced a motion that intends to extend worker protections for fast food employees. In a 4-0 vote, the Economic Development and Jobs Committee approved the motion, which aims to provide fast food workers with more stable scheduling, paid time off, among other benefits. It would also mandate a six-hour paid training period to educate these workers on their rights. Councilman Adrin Nazarian, a member of the committee, was absent during the vote. The motion now heads to the City Council for a vote. If approved, council members would instruct the City Attorney’s Office to draft an ordinance to extend such measures under the Fair Work Week ordinance to cover employees of fast food businesses. Additionally, the city staff would be tasked with providing reports on ways to increase compliance, an estimate of costs, and an analysis of other jurisdictions such as New York, Seattle and Oregon where similar policies are in place.

MyNewsLA

LA Council Seeks Funds to Maintain School Crossing Guards

The Los Angeles City Council approved a motion Wednesday to seek $3.3 million to maintain current staffing levels of crossing guards for the remainder of the 2024-25 school year. In a 14-0 vote, council members directed the city administrative officer to identify funding sources that would ensure crossing guards remain posted around hundreds of Los Angeles Unified School District sites. Councilman Hugo Soto-Martinez was absent during the vote. The Department of Transportation hires and deploys crossing guards to help students and families traveling to and from school. LADOT currently employs 518 of these workers with an average daily deployment of 480 at 432 schools. In the fiscal year 2024-25 adopted budget, Mayor Karen Bass and the City Council approved more than $10 million for this endeavor — a similar amount to past years, according to the motion introduced by council members Heather Hutt and Tim McOsker.

MyNewsLA

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.