Burglar, shot by homeowner when breaking into Valley Village home, sentenced to prison

Two men were sentenced to more than a decade behind bars for a 2024 attempted burglary of a Valley Village home, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office exclusively told NBC4 Investigates Thursday. The homeowner was inside the home on July 8, 2024 when the men broke into the house on Addison Street near Colfax Avenue. The property owner fired his weapon, injuring one of the burglars, Chuks Chukwudi. Chukwudi was sentenced to 12 years in state prison on Jan. 12 after he pleaded no contest to one count of first-degree residential burglary with person present. Chukwudi also formally acknowledged a prior conviction, the DA's office said. Marquinn Peterson, a co-conspirator, was sentenced to 14 years and eight months for two counts of first-degree residential burglary and admitted priors, according to the DA's office. When officers responded to the burglary call in 2024, Chukwudi was conscious and breathing at the home, while Peterson ran away from the scene. 

NBC 4

Narcotics suspect drives into oncoming traffic during Los Angeles police pursuit

The Los Angeles Police Department was in pursuit of a narcotics suspect near Boyle Heights. The driver led police through city streets, then entered the I-10 Freeway for a few minutes before returning to city streets. The suspect drove onto the 10 Freeway off-ramp toward oncoming traffic, prompting LAPD officers to back off the chase. A passenger and driver jumped out of the vehicle under an overpass. Officers arrested the passenger after a police helicopter located the person. Officers set up a perimeter and searched through an adjacent neighborhood for the driver. 

CBS 2

Off-road motorcyclists, ATV riders take to the streets of downtown LA during late-night takeover

A group of riders on offroad motorcycles and ATVs made their way through downtown Los Angeles during a late-night street takeover. At about 10:30 p.m., least a dozen riders were seen weaving in and out of traffic on surface streets, popping wheelies, performing stunts and at times running red lights. At one point, the group of motorcyclists and ATV riders pulled up to a Los Angeles Police Department patrol vehicle that was stopped at an intersection. The takeover riders moved on without police intervening or giving chase. There were no reports of injuries or arrests.

ABC 7

CHP Issues Silver Alert For Missing Senior in the Fairfax District

A Silver Alert is in effect Friday for a missing 77-year-old woman who was last seen near the Fairfax District in Los Angeles. Jean Cross was last seen at approximately 7:30 a.m. Thursday near South Harcourt Avenue and West Washington Boulevard, according to the California Highway Patrol, which activated the alert on behalf of the Los Angeles Police Department. Cross is Black, 5 feet, 2 inches tall, weighs 150 pounds, has gray hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a multi-colored headwrap, a light purple hooded-sweatshirt, multi-colored pants and black sandals. Authorities say she is believed to be traveling on foot. Anyone who has seen Cross or knows of her whereabouts is asked to call 911. The CHP established the Silver Alert program to issue and coordinate searches for missing elderly, developmentally disabled or cognitively impaired individuals.

MyNewsLA

SFV Man Faces Sentencing in $5.9M Ponzi Scheme

A San Fernando Valley man who uses the surname of a dynasty that once ruled Austria is expected to be sentenced Friday for having swindled elderly church parishioners and others in a Ponzi scheme that took in at least $5.9 million and falsely claimed Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan among investors. Sylvein William Maximilian D’Habsburg XVII, 49, of West Hills, pleaded guilty in downtown Los Angeles in February 2025 to one federal count of wire fraud. From at least 2018 to 2023, D’Habsburg hired recruiters to identify potential investors for his two companies, Wild Rabbit Technologies LLC and BAI Intelligence LLC, targeting the local Filipino community, including elderly church parishioners, according to his plea agreement filed in L.A. federal court. D’Habsburg had his name legally changed to resemble that of the famous European family and is not a descendant of nobility, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office told City News Service.

MyNewsLA

Driver arrested after tow truck operator killed on Southern California freeway

A driver suspected of fleeing the scene after striking and killing a tow truck operator who was assisting a disabled motorist on the 110 Freeway in Los Angeles’ Exposition Park area in November has been arrested, authorities said. The deadly hit-and-run occurred just before 3 a.m. on Nov. 2 as the tow truck operator was in the gore point of the Exposition Boulevard off-ramp on the southbound side of the freeway with the truck’s amber lights activated to warn traffic, the California Highway Patrol said in a news release Tuesday. “While the tow truck operator was outside of the tow truck assisting a disabled motorist, he was then struck by a vehicle traveling southbound,” the CHP said. The operator died from injuries sustained in the crash. The suspected driver, identified as Ander Perez of Los Angeles, fled the scene after the crash, authorities said. On Jan. 13, an interagency team that included the CHP and the U.S. Marshals Service arrested Perez in connection with the hit-and-run. He was booked on suspicion of hit-and-run causing great bodily injury and vehicular manslaughter.

KTLA 5

2 Florida officers wounded in ambush, bystander and suspect killed

Two Gainesville police officers were injured in what authorities described as an “ambush-style attack” after responding to a reported shooting at a local lumberyard, FOX 13 reported. The suspect was killed, and a second victim was found dead inside the business, according to police. According to Gainesville Police Chief Nelson Moya, officers responded on Jan. 14 to the area of Waldo Road and East University Avenue, where they located a suspect attempting to flee in a red vehicle. As officers in marked patrol cars approached, the suspect stopped his vehicle and opened fire. The suspect was killed in an exchange of gunfire with police. Two officers were struck, one in the upper body and the other in the lower body, and transported to a hospital. Both were treated and released later that day, according to the report. Moya said the suspect had earlier entered Imeca Lumber & Hardware on East University Avenue before the encounter with police. Officers searching the business discovered the body of Eduardo P. Rodriguez, 23, an employee who had been fatally shot. Investigators believe the suspect parked nearby, entered the business, interacted with and shot Rodriguez, and then returned to his car, where he encountered responding officers.

PoliceOne

Body found days after fire rips through vacant building in North Hills

A body was found inside a vacant North Hills building days after it erupted in flames, displacing residents of a neighboring apartment complex, authorities confirmed. Since the fire broke out earlier this week, crews had been working to clear piles of debris at the burned-out building. On Wednesday, two K-9s at the scene detected human remains among the rubble, but a body was not immediately found. On Thursday, the Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed that a body was located inside the structure. However, that individual was not identified. Clearing the debris during the investigation has proved challenging. LAFD brought in heavy machinery on Wednesday to pull apart the building and allow firefighters access to the area identified by the K-9s. "In some areas, the debris is up to shoulder high, and so, we cannot get access into all parts of that area. Because this has been vacant for some time, there's a concern of homeless people perhaps being inside of there," LAFD Capt. Erik Scott said.

ABC 7

1 person killed in semi-truck collision in Los Angeles parking lot

A man died after a semi-truck collided with him in a San Fernando Valley parking lot Thursday afternoon. The deadly collision happened in the 6700 block of N. Van Nuys Blvd, shortly before 2 p.m., according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Firefighters said the 55-year-old man was declared dead at the scene. The Los Angeles Police Department said officers did not document a crime immediately after the collision. The section of the parking lot where the crash occurred was cordoned off by police. 

CBS 2

Hospital needs help identifying man found unconscious in Los Angeles

A Los Angeles hospital is asking for help identifying a patient who has been hospitalized for weeks. The male patient is around 25-35 years old, according to Dignity Health. He was found near Wilshire Boulevard and Witmer Street in the Westlake neighborhood and has been hospitalized since Dec. 29, 2025. He is described as an Asian or Hispanic man who stands 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs 150 pounds. He has brown eyes and black hair. He does not have any tattoos or distinct scars. He did not have any personal belongings to help staff identify him or contact loved ones. Workers did not disclose the nature of his condition or possible injuries. Anyone who recognizes the man is asked to call Dignity Health at 213-742-5511 or 213-507-5495.

KTLA 5

About the LAPPL: Formed in 1923, the Los Angeles Police Protective League (LAPPL) represents more than 8,700 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.