Suspect in killings of "American Idol" executive Robin Kaye and her husband charged with murder, burglary

The 22-year-old man facing two counts of murder for the shooting deaths of "American Idol" executive Robin Kaye and her husband, Thomas Deluca, in their Encino home made a scheduled court appearance on Thursday, where his arraignment was postponed until August. Raymond Boodarian of Encino has been charged with two counts of murder, along with one count of residential burglary with a person present. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office will decide later whether to seek the death penalty against Boodarian. His Van Nuys Courthouse arraignment scheduled for Thursday was postponed until Aug. 20, and a Los Angeles Superior Court judge ordered that he remain jailed without bail. "In a matter of moments, this couple was senselessly killed in their own home as they returned from the grocery store," District Attorney Nathan Hochman said. "This tragic shooting has shaken a valley community and the notion that home should be our safe sanctuary. Boodarian was arrested on Tuesday for the shooting deaths of the couple. Investigators stated at the time of the arrest that they were working to determine if Boodarian had any connection to Kaye and Deluca, as well as whether Boodarian was involved in any past calls for service at the couple's home.

CBS 2

Police investigate shooting near homeless encampment in Pacoima

Authorities were responding to a shooting in Pacoima Thursday that injured at least one person, LAPD said. The shooting was reported in the 10000 block of San Fernando Road. According to LAPD, the reporting party heard multiple gunshots and someone screaming. The gunshot victim was conscious and breathing, according to LAPD. No arrests have been made.

NBC 4

‘Bank jugging’ suspect escapes with thousands of dollars in Los Angeles theft

Residents are being warned to stay alert after a “bank jugging” suspect was seen stealing thousands of dollars from a car in L.A.’s Pico-Robertson neighborhood. The theft occurred on July 7 as the victim, identified only as Robert, had withdrawn a large sum of cash from a Bank of America on Pico and La Cienega Boulevards. Robert placed the envelope full of cash inside his vehicle and made a quick stop at a local grocery store. Little did he know, he was being watched very carefully by lurking thieves. Surveillance video captured a male suspect smashing Robert’s car window and quickly diving headfirst into the backseat. The man swipes the envelope of cash before fleeing the area. “I had it in an envelope, a few thousand dollars,” Robert told KTLA’s Sandra Mitchell. “It’s a lot of money. I’m not rich. I work hard.” Robert believes the suspects had been following him for some time. 

KTLA 5

LAPD Arrests Man for Impersonating First Responder; Serves Three Search Warrants for Weapons

Authorities served a trio of search warrants and arrested man for alleged firearms violations, government fraud and impersonating a first responder, police said Thursday. Investigators with the Los Angeles Police Department’s Major Crimes Division, assisted by personnel from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) served the warrants on Wednesday, according to an LAPD spokesperson. News reports from the scene showed a fire truck being seized at the residence in the 100 block of Rockingham Avenue, just off Sunset Boulevard. The vehicle reportedly had a license plate registered to a nonexistent fire department. Los Angeles Fire Department Station 19 is located just blocks away, at 12229 Sunset Blvd., also in Brentwood. Overhead video displayed it being hauled away and later shown in an impound lot.

MyNewsLA

Serial bank robber captured after fleeing 5-year sentence

A serial bank robber who was sentenced to five years in prison for robbing banks while on supervised release for the same crimes was captured by federal agents this week. Rickey Lewis, 59, was convicted in September 2022 after pleading guilty to federal charges for robbing several banks in the Los Angeles area while out on supervised release for previous bank robbery convictions. He was told to surrender to the court and begin his prison sentence in January 2024, but he never appeared, leading to an arrest warrant being issued and a wanted bulletin being released by the FBI. In the months that followed, the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service searched for Lewis to bring him into custody. On Wednesday, federal agents from the FBI Fugitive Task Force located Lewis in El Monte, officials said. Lewis will now face new charges related to violating the terms of his previous release, as well as likely charges for failing to surrender to begin his sentence.

KTLA 5

L.A. woman faked immigration ‘kidnapping’ in scheme for donations, feds charge

Federal prosecutors have charged a woman with faking her abduction by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in downtown Los Angeles last month, alleging a “well-orchestrated conspiracy” meant to elicit public sympathy and donations based on her undocumented status. Authorities on Thursday announced that Yuriana Julia Pelaez Calderon, 41, of South L.A. has been charged with conspiracy and making false statements to federal officers, with prison terms of up to five years. She has not yet entered a plea and is expected to make her initial court appearance in the coming weeks. “Dangerous rhetoric that ICE agents are ‘kidnapping’ illegal immigrants is being recklessly peddled by politicians and echoed in the media to inflame the public and discredit our courageous federal agents,” U.S. Atty. Bill Essayli said in a statement. On June 25, friends, family members and activists gathered outside a Jack in the Box in downtown to decry what they said was the kidnapping of a local mother by masked men.

Los Angeles Times

Southern California deputies recover partially assembled improvised explosives

A 38-year-old man was arrested after deputies in Riverside County found him in possession of dozens of illegal firearms, bomb-making materials and ammunition, authorities announced Thursday. In a news release, officials with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said that Brandon Edwards, a resident of Homeland, was spotted by deputies in an alleged stolen vehicle near Glen Oaks and Pratt roads in Temecula on the morning of June 8. After conducting a traffic stop and searching the vehicle, deputies located four firearms – a mix of rifles and handguns – suppressors and a large amount of ammunition. Edwards was then arrested on weapons charges and possession of a stolen vehicle. During a follow-up investigation at his Homeland residence in the 25000 block of Rocky Ridge Road, approximately 20 miles from where deputies took him into custody, authorities recovered dozens of illegal firearms, more ammunition, explosive making materials and homemade improvised explosive devices in the process of being assembled.  

KTLA 5

California parole agent shot, killed inside parole office; suspect arrested

A California state parole agent was shot and killed inside a state corrections office in East Oakland, prompting a large-scale manhunt that ended with the arrest of a suspect. The shooting occurred at approximately 12:48 p.m. at a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) building on July 17, CBS News reported. The victim, later identified as parole agent Joshua Lemont Byrd, 40, was rushed to a hospital, where he died from his injuries. Byrd was shot inside the Division of Adult Parole Operations office (DAPO), according to CDCR officials. The suspect was identified as 48-year-old Bryan Keith Hall, ABC7News.com reported. While the circumstances leading up to the shooting have not been released, authorities confirmed Hall had been released from jail approximately a week and a half prior. Byrd’s death marks the first line-of-duty death for CDCR since 2018. Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in Byrd’s honor. A procession took place Thursday evening as Byrd’s flag-draped casket was escorted from the hospital to the coroner’s van, followed by a caravan of nearly 100 unmarked CDCR vehicles.

PoliceOne

BWC: Man flees Fla. officers, grabs replica gun before fatal OIS

Police have released body-camera footage from a fatal officer-involved shooting of a man who fled from officers before producing a replica firearm, WSVN reported. The Fort Lauderdale Police Department made the video public on July 17, along with an update that the officer involved had returned to full duty. The footage shows the confrontation that ended with the Jan. 19 fatal shooting of a man who was found to be carrying an airsoft replica firearm. According to investigators, the incident began when officers attempted to stop a silver Mercedes driven by the suspect, who reportedly refused to pull over. Officers called for backup as the vehicle continued eastbound. Video shows the suspect pulling into a gas station. As an officer approaches, the suspect exits the vehicle, appears to retrieve a firearm from his waistband, and runs. “Put your hands up! Put your hands up!” an officer is heard shouting before opening fire. The suspect was struck and fell to the ground. Officers recovered the weapon, which was later confirmed to be a replica air-powered gun with no identifying colored markings.

PoliceOne

Dozens of firefighters battle South LA blaze fueled by hand sanitizer

Firefighters in South Los Angeles Thursday battled a stubborn rubbish fire involving pallets of hand sanitizer. The fire was reported around 5 p.m. in the area of Avalon Boulevard and 55th Street, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. The fire was allowed to burn off "in a controlled manner" due to the high alcohol content of the hand sanitizer, an LAFD spokesperson said in a news release. "Water cannot be used safely in these conditions, as alcohol can float on water and spread flames," the release said. "Crews are instead focused on protecting nearby structures and limiting environmental impact from runoff." An update from the fire department posted shortly after 8:30 p.m. said the fire is expected to burn for several more hours. A total of 66 firefighters responded to the blaze. The cause of the fire is unknown and no injuries have been reported.

ABC 7

Firefighters Extinguish Mid-City Apartment Blaze in 32 Minutes

A fire at a two-story apartment building in the Mid-City area was knocked down in 32 minutes, the Los Angeles Fire Department reported Friday. The fire was reported at 11:21 p.m. Thursday at 4903 W. 20th St., between Washington Boulevard and 21st Street, where firefighters responded to a unit on the apartment building’s second floor where they found heavy smoke, said department spokeswoman Lyndsey Lantz. A total of 37 firefighters were able to extinguish the flames. No injuries were reported.

MyNewsLA

Explosion at Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department training facility leaves 3 deputies dead

Three deputies were killed on Friday morning after an explosion at a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department training facility, the department confirmed. The explosion was reported at about 7:27 a.m., according to the L.A. County Fire Department. The cause of the explosion was not revealed as of 8:50 a.m. The believed explosion occurred at the Biscailuz Center Training Academy, which is located adjacent to the 710 Freeway and just south of the 10 Freeway and CSULA campus in East Los Angeles. The facility opened in 2017.

CBS 2

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.