2 killed in 405 Freeway crash, including LAPD sergeant who stopped to help driver

A Los Angeles Police Department sergeant and a driver he stopped to help after a crash on the 405 Freeway were killed Monday morning when they were hit by another vehicle in West Los Angeles. LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said Deng was "deeply respected" by his law enforcement colleagues and left a legacy of exemplary public service. His loss is immeasurable, and the grief we feel is shared not only by the men and women of the LAPD, but by the entire law enforcement family and the residents he served so faithfully.

NBC 4

Search underway after officers waiting for tow truck targeted in drive-by shooting in Van Nuys 

A perimeter has been set up after Los Angeles Police Department officers were shot at while waiting for a tow truck overnight. According to an LAPD spokesperson, the officers were standing outside of their squad cars near Victory Boulevard and Cedros Avenue in the Van Nuys neighborhood around 12:30 a.m. Saturday when they heard gunshots and realized that suspects in a vehicle had fired at them. It is unclear whether the tow truck the officers were waiting for was for them or for another vehicle. While none of the officers were hit, at least one patrol vehicle was struck, the spokesperson confirmed. They did not specify exactly how many officers were in the area at the time of the shooting but did note that they did not fire back. “The officers got in their patrol cars and pursued the vehicle, [which] stopped in the 5800 block of Kester Avenue,” the spokesperson said. “A perimeter has been set up to locate the suspects.” The 5800 block of Kester is about a mile away from where the officers were shot at. 

KTLA 5

2 juveniles arrested for allegedly throwing rocks at CHP officers during DTLA protest

California Highway Patrol says it arrested two juveniles for allegedly throwing rocks and hitting a CHP officer in the head during an anti-ICE protest in downtown Los Angeles on June 8. CHP shared a video that it says shows a rock hitting the CHP officer in the head, dislodging his helmet and gas mask. It happened while officers were attempting to clear protesters from the 101 Freeway. The juvenile suspects allegedly threw the rocks from an overpass. CHP says the two juveniles were arrested on Thursday night for the crime, which happened nearly two weeks ago. One was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder of a peace officer, and the other juvenile was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer. "To those who choose to exploit public demonstrations to incite violence, attack officers, or create chaos -- know this: we are coming for you. Your actions will not go unanswered," said CHP Southern Division Chief Chris Margaris. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.

ABC 7

LAPD detectives searching for hit-and-run driver that killed pedestrian at Sun Valley gas station

Los Angeles police detectives are searching for a hit-and-run driver who ran over and killed a man in the parking lot of a Sun Valley gas station earlier this week. They were dispatched to the gas station, located at the intersection of Lauren Canyon Boulevard and Roscoe Boulevard, at around 6 a.m., according to a press release from the LAPD. Police say that the victim, who has been identified as 43-year-old Erik Florer by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, was lying on the ground when he was run over by the suspect, who was driving a dark-colored Hummer EV SUV. After running over Florer, the driver stopped outside of the gas station's convenience store and picked up a passenger, only described as a male. The driver, also described as a male, then drove away from the station heading northbound on Pendleton Street, police said. As they continue their search for the suspect, police have shared video of the incident on their YouTube page. The video is very graphic. Anyone who knows more is asked to contact detectives at (818) 644-8119.

CBS 2

Hit-and-run driver wanted for killing bicyclist in South Los Angeles

Police are searching for a hit-and-run driver who killed a bicyclist in South Los Angeles. On June 1, a suspect in a silver Chevy Camaro was driving westbound on Century Boulevard in the Broadway-Manchester neighborhood around 11:10 p.m. when he struck the biker at high speeds. Surveillance video from the Los Angeles Police Department showed the victim, Jose Villalobos, 34, was knocked off his bicycle and onto the busy road. The driver continued speeding away and was last seen making a right turn onto San Pedro Street. Officers arrived to find a badly damaged bicycle and Villalobos lying on the street. He was pronounced dead at the scene. On June 18, LAPD released images of the suspect’s face and vehicle that were captured by nearby surveillance cameras. “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. A reward of up to $50,000 is available to anyone who provides information leading to the suspect’s identification, apprehension, and conviction.

KTLA 5

Sentencing Monday for Woman Convicted of Masterminding Husband’s Murder

Sentencing is set Monday for a woman who was convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder for masterminding the killing of her husband — a prominent hairdresser — at the home they shared with their two daughters in Woodland Hills. Monica Sementilli, 53, is facing life in prison without the possibility of parole in connection with the Jan. 23, 2017, stabbing death of her 49-year-old husband, Fabio, in the family’s backyard, shortly before the couple was set to celebrate its 20th wedding anniversary. Sementilli cried as a court clerk read the jury’s verdict finding her guilty April 11 of the two charges. The 10-man, two-woman jury — which deliberated about eight hours and 45 minutes over a three-day period — also found true the special circumstance allegations of murder for financial gain and murder while lying in wait. She is due before Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Ronald S. Coen for sentencing.

MyNewsLA

Man dies after being pinned under car in downtown L.A., driver in custody 

A driver is now in custody after a man was fatally struck by a vehicle in downtown Los Angeles early Saturday morning. Officers with the Los Angeles Police Department responded to the area of Main and 7th streets around 1:50 a.m., a department spokesperson said. The victim, only listed as an adult man, was described as “either laying on the sidewalk or sleeping” when he was struck, the spokesperson added. He was pinned under the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the vehicle involved, a Toyota Prius, was taken into custody for driving under the influence.

KTLA 5

South LA Gang ‘Shot Caller’ Faces Potential Life in Prison

The overall “shot caller” of a South Los Angeles street gang is set to be sentenced Monday on federal charges that could bring a lifetime prison sentence. Eliseo Luna, 50, of South Los Angeles pleaded guilty in March to charges of racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Luna was arrested in August 2022 during a predawn sweep during which 28 members of the gang were taken into custody as part of racketeering, narcotics and firearms cases that named about 40 suspected members and associates of the criminal organization, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Luna, said to have been the gang’s leading member on the street, is accused of overseeing its drug trafficking activities, giving orders to membership and leaders, and authorizing the assault and murder of members in bad standing, according to the indictment. The arrests in 2022 were the culmination of a years-long probe into the gang’s activities involving wiretaps and extensive surveillance dubbed “Operation Rabbit Hole” by the FBI and the multi-agency Los Angeles Metropolitan Task Force on Violent Gangs. The gang is tied to the Mexican Mafia prison gang, prosecutors said.

MyNewsLA

‘American Nightmare’ rapist pleads guilty to additional charges

Matthew Muller, a convicted kidnapper whose crimes were portrayed in the Netflix documentary “American Nightmare,” pleaded guilty to an additional, 32-year-old kidnapping and sexual assault on Wednesday, according to the Sacramento County district attorney’s office. In 1993, a 16-year-old Muller held a couple at gunpoint while they camped at Folsom Lake in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Muller then tied up the male victim and proceeded to carry away and sexually assault the female victim, according to the district attorney’s news release. The district attorney’s Cold Case, Science & Technology Unit was “instrumental” in uncovering additional evidence in the case, the news release added. The latest conviction is part of a string of similar sex crimes committed by Muller, who is currently serving a 40-year prison sentence for a 2015 kidnapping and sexual assault in Vallejo, Calif., and a life sentence for two 2009 kidnappings and assaults in Santa Clara. The 2015 crimes and a subsequent, flawed investigation were the subject of “American Nightmare,” which premiered last year. Muller was sentenced to 11 years to life for the latest conviction. The sentence will be served consecutively with his other sentences.

Los Angeles Times

Video: Man fires shots at Maryland officers from inside home before fatal OIS

A Dundalk man fired several gunshots at a Baltimore County Police officer before he was struck and killed last month by law enforcement, according to body-camera footage released Wednesday afternoon. The May 18 footage, published online by the Maryland Attorney General’s Office’s Independent Investigations Division, shows Glenn Pettie Jr . shoot at Officer Michael Brady shortly after Brady and another officer responded to a reported mental health crisis on the 8200 block of North Boundary Road. After knocking on the front door of the house, a witness told Brady over the phone to try around the back, the video shows. When he goes into the alley behind the home, Brady sees Pettie and another man standing at a door. The second man then steps away, talking in the direction of Pettie before the Dundalk man opens fire, first with one gunshot and then several, according to the footage. Demanding Pettie drop his weapon and surrender outside, Brady returns fire, taking cover behind a trash can and a car as people run away in the background. While the shooting is happening, a woman can be heard screaming “Oh, my God,” over and over. Brady instructs a woman to get out of the car as he fires behind it, but it is not clear whether the woman yelling is the same person.

Baltimore Sun

‘Steak dinner for you tonight’: Louisiana K-9 finds gun suspect used to fire at officers

Thanks to one of their K-9s, police in Slidell recovered a firearm used in a domestic violence incident in which a Mississippi man allegedly fired at officers, 4WWL reported. Slidell Police identified the suspect as a 39-year-old man from Vicksburg, Mississippi. After his arrest, he told investigators they would never locate the gun. The incident began just after midnight on June 16 when officers responded to a 911 hang-up call and found the suspect and a woman arguing in the front yard of a residence. As officers approached, the man fired a round toward them, according to police. No one was injured, and officers did not return fire. The suspect then retreated into the house, where police said an 8-year-old child was found safe and asleep. The suspect fled the home through a backyard and into nearby woods, firing another round during his escape. Officers, using a drone and K-9s, eventually found him hiding in the backseat of an abandoned car and took him into custody. Despite his arrest, the gun remained missing. Hours later, K-9 Max located the gun. “Good stuff, Max!” the K-9 handler can be heard saying in body camera video after the dog alerted to the weapon. The handler told other officers he didn’t initially know what Max was searching for and alerting to, as the suspect was already in custody.

PoliceOne

Driver killed when Audi crashes into tree in Lake Balboa neighborhood

A driver was killed Friday morning when his Audi crashed head-on into a tree, split apart and burned in a Lake Balboa neighborhood. The crash was reported at about 2 a.m. in the 17600 block of Victory Boulevard between White Oak and Encino avenues near the Sepulveda Basin Skate Park in the San Fernando Valley community. The car was traveling at high speed when it slammed into the tree outside a home with a security camera that captured the frightening sound of the crash. The man died at the scene, where parts of the car were scattered in the street. Neighbors rushed to help, including a man who knocked on doors to round up something to put out the flames as emergency vehicle sirens blare in the distance. Residents said drivers frequently exceed the post 45 mph speed limit, but a dip in the road also can surprise drivers. Another driver crashed into a tree across the street from Friday's crash about two years ago, neighbors said. Details about a cause of the crash Friday were not immediately available.

NBC 4

About the LAPPL: Formed in 1923, the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) represents more than 8,800 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.