Man’s Conviction Upheld For Death Of Girlfriend’s Young Son

A state appeals court panel Tuesday upheld a man’s conviction for assaulting and murdering his live-in girlfriend’s 2 1/2-year-old son at their Los Angeles apartment. Ronald Nathaniel Salmond III, now 33, is serving a 50-years-to-life state prison sentence in connection with the June 12, 2015, death of his girlfriend’s son, Elijah. The boy — who had been left in Salmond’s care by the child’s mother while she was away from the home for an appointment that afternoon — died less than eight hours after the defendant made a 911 call reporting that the boy was choking and not breathing. An autopsy determined that the boy had suffered multiple traumatic injuries, according to records from the Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office. Salmond was arrested by Los Angeles police in March 2017, and was convicted in November 2021 of second-degree murder and assault on a child causing death. Jurors acquitted him of the more serious crime of first-degree murder. He was sentenced in September 2022.

MyNewsLA

$50,000 Reward Offered For Information On Deadly Hit-and-Run From October

A $50,000 reward has been offered for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of a hit-and-run driver who hit and killed a woman in Los Angeles in late-October of last year. The crash happened back on Oct. 29, 2023 at around 1:45 p.m., when the driver of a white SUV that was driving southbound on Long Beach Avenue struck and killed a woman, who has since been identified as Dianna Hernandez, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. "The suspect fled southbound on Long Beach Avenue from 48th Place," said a statement from LAPD investigators. "The suspect failed to stop, identify him/her self, or render aid to Dianna Hernandez who was fatally injured." Two images of the vehicle that detectives believe was involved in the crash were released in hopes that someone with more information would come forward. They believe that the SUV could be a white 2003-2006 Ford Expedition. The city of Los Angeles is offering a $50,000 reward that helps investigators identify, arrest and prosecute the driver, who is "responsible for taking the life of Dianna Hernandez by committing a Felony Hit and Run," police said. Anyone with further details is urged to contact LAPD at (213) 833-3713.

CBS 2

LAPD Interim Chief: Westside Is Plagued With Property Crime

The Los Angeles Police Department arrested two juveniles who are accused of breaking into more than 90 vehicles since mid-January. The burglaries took place in Playa del Rey, Westchester, and Venice throughout the last few months. Within the last couple of weeks in Playa del Rey, more than 30 vehicles have had their windows busted. "There’s glass everywhere," said Lucy Han from Friends of the Jungle. "I mean, it’s just horrible. They’re so brazen. They think they’re above the law.". Han lives in the Playa del Rey community recently targeted by vandals. "My neighbor actually caught them and said, ‘Leave,’" said Han. "The guy looked at my neighbor and continued to bust out 10 more windows." LAPD Interim Chief Dominic Choi Tuesday addressed the recent surge of property crime in the beach communities. "The Westside is plagued with property crime," said Choi. "We’ve addressed that with high-visibility patrols. We’ve assigned our mounted unit there to be visible in these public spaces." Police arrested 2 juveniles Sunday believed to be responsible for at least 92 car break-ins since January. The teens have already been released from jail back to their parents. "We cannot go around in these communities accepting this type of behavior," said Councilwoman Traci Park.

FOX 11

Two Students At L.A.’s Cleveland High School Stabbed During Off-Campus Incident

Two 16-year-old students at Cleveland High School in Reseda were taken to a hospital with stab wounds Tuesday afternoon, Los Angeles police said. At about 3 p.m., police received a call to the 8300 block of Vanalden Avenue, two blocks north of the school, of two male victims suffering from stab wounds, according to LAPD public information officer Tony Im. The teens’ conditions are unknown, but as of 5:39 p.m., police arrested a suspect in the stabbing at a hospital, Im said. The agency and the Los Angeles School Police Department are investigating the incident. A law-enforcement source, speaking not for attribution, said a Cleveland High student had been taken into custody, at least briefly, in connection with the incident. The source also said that one of the stabbing victims has a punctured lung. The other student’s injuries are not thought to be as serious. Cleveland High School Principal Cindy Duong sent a message to the school community notifying it of the stabbing involving two students, saying no other staff or students were affected. The parents of the students injured had been notified, she said. 

Los Angeles Times

1 Hospitalized After Stabbing In Culver City, Suspects Flee

A man was hospitalized Tuesday after being stabbed in Culver City, according to authorities. Around 5 p.m. Tuesday, first responders rushed to the 9000 block of Culver Boulevard after someone reported a stabbing in the area, the Los Angeles Police Department said. The victim, who was only identified as a white man in his 40s or 50s, was rushed to a hospital due to the violent attack, according to the department. Two men and two women, believed to be the four suspects in this incident, fled the scene before police arrived, the LAPD said. The first suspect was identified as a white man with white hair who was wearing a black jacket, blue shirt and blue jeans. The second suspect was only identified as a black woman with orange hair. The third suspect was just identified as a woman, while the fourth suspect was identified as a white man with brown hair who was wearing a blue hat and a blue hoodie. Police say the weapon used, believed to be a knife, was still outstanding.

Westside Current

School Athletic Trainer Gets 36 Years For Sexually Assaulting 12 Female Students

A former high school athletic trainer accused of sexually assaulting a dozen teenage girls was sentenced Monday to 36 years in prison after pleading no contest to felony charges, officials said. Richard Alexander Turner, 65, entered the plea during a preliminary hearing to determine whether there was enough evidence for the case to go to trial, court records show. He pleaded no contest to 13 counts of sexual assault involving 12 girls, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office. “He will now face the stark reality of likely spending the rest of his days in prison,” prosecutors said in a statement. Turner was facing 21 felony charges stemming from interactions with students he worked with from 2017 to 2022 at high schools in the San Fernando Valley, according to court records. On Monday, he pleaded no contest to one count of forcible rape, three felony counts of sexual penetration of an unaware victim due to fraud or misrepresentation, four counts of sexual penetration by foreign object and five counts of sexual battery involving an unconscious person. The plea saves Turner’s victims — who ranged in age from 15 to 17 at the time of the assaults, prosecutors said — from “the traumatic experience of testifying at trial,” the district attorney’s office said.

Los Angeles Times

Loved Ones Search For Woman Who Disappeared In Los Angeles

Authorities are seeking public help to find a missing Southern California woman. The at-risk woman, Mariya Alexandra Ioffe, 35, disappeared on April 21, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. On that day, she was last seen on the 1600 block of East 120th Street in an unincorporated area of Los Angeles at around 10 p.m. Ioffe is described as a white female standing 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing around 200 pounds. She has brown hair and green eyes. Her family said she has a mental health disorder. They have not heard from Ioffe since her disappearance and are concerned for her well-being. Anyone who knows the woman’s whereabouts or has information on the case is asked to call the LASD’s Missing Persons Unit at 323-890-5500. 

KTLA 5

Gang Member Arrested In ‘Ambush’ Shooting Of L.A. County Deputy, Sheriff Says

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said Tuesday that California Highway Patrol officers had arrested a gang member in San Onofre who shot a deputy in the back as he sat on his department motorcycle at a West Covina stoplight. Deputy Samuel Aispuro, 43, was shot once about 2:45 p.m. on Monday in an “ambush” at the intersection of Barranca Street and East Garvey Avenue, authorities said. After the shooting, Aispuro was able to radio for help, triggering a massive manhunt. The deputy was hospitalized in stable condition but is now doing well at home, Luna said. CHP officers apprehended Raymundo Duran, 47, Monday evening on suspicion of driving under the influence and possession of a loaded firearm at a San Onofre inspection point in a silver Toyota Camry. Investigators connected Duran to the West Covina shooting after initially booking him as a suspected drunk driver, Luna said. “There was a lot of good detective work and eventually we connected all the dots,” Luna said. Sheriff’s homicide detectives then interviewed Duran at the San Diego County jail, he said. “Based on statements, security camera video in West Covina, witness statements and the firearm recovered by CHP, detectives strongly believe Raymundo Duran is the suspect in the shooting of our deputy,” Luna said. Duran is being held in the San Diego County jail in lieu of $1 million bail.

Los Angeles Times

LASD Honors K9 For His Bravery After Being Shot By Violent Suspect In Compton

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department honored a K9 for his bravery and courage in apprehending a violent suspect. On April 17, Deputy Steve Williams with his K9 dog Kjeld "Kid" and other deputies responded to assist Compton Sheriff’s Station deputies in searching for an armed suspect who threatened a community member with a handgun. While searching a commercial yard, K9 Kjeld located the suspect hiding underneath a tarp. At that moment, the suspect fired one shot — hitting the K9 in the right shoulder. Luckily, the dog was wearing a bulletproof vest. K9 Kjeld suffered minor injuries and was taken to an animal hospital where he received six stitches for his laceration. After announcements were made for the suspect to surrender, he eventually complied and was taken into custody. During a press conference Monday morning, Sheriff Robert Luna thanked his deputies, K9 handler Williams and K9 Kjeld for their bravery and hard work. 

FOX 11

Man Arrested For Allegedly Killing Roommate In Southern California

A man is dead following an altercation with his roommate in Santa Ana. Authorities say the incident took place around 8:30 a.m. on Sunday morning in the 1500 block of S. Lowell Street. When the Santa Ana Police Department responded to an emergency call, they found 26-year-old William Stephen Nared suffering from a stab wound to his chest. The Orange County Fire Authority also assisted with rendering medical aid to the victim and pronounced Nared deceased. The investigation shifted to the suspect, identified as 25-year-old David James Espinosa, who had fled the scene on a bike following the altercation. Authorities located Espinosa a short distance away and arrested him. According to the Santa Ana PD, Espinosa and Nared lived in the same unit. On Sunday morning, the suspect and the victim got into an argument that turned physical, which is when the stabbing occurred. Espinosa has been booked and charged with murder.

KTLA 5

Chicago Police Release Photos Of Suspect Wanted In Killing Of Officer Luis Huesca

Chicago police on Monday released video footage of a person wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of CPD Officer Luis Huesca in Gage Park last weekend. The footage, apparently from convenience store security cameras, depicts a Black male wearing glasses and carrying a backpack. Police said the suspect “should be considered armed and dangerous.” Just before 3 a.m. Sunday, Chicago police responded to a “gunshot detection alert” in the 5500 block of South Kedzie Avenue and discovered Huesca, a 30-year-old with the CPD for six years, with multiple gunshot wounds in the 3100 block of West 56th Street. He was pronounced dead at University of Chicago Medical Center. His vehicle was stolen at the scene, police said. Huesca was a member of the Calumet District (5th) priority response team. He was off-duty but in uniform when he was shot. Huesca is the third Chicago police officer to be shot — and the first fatally — this year. On Jan. 8, a veteran police officer was shot in the leg during an exchange of gunfire with a burglary suspect in the Gold Coast neighborhood. On March 21, an officer was shot by Dexter Reed, who was killed during a traffic stop” in Humboldt Park.

Chicago Tribune

Public Advised To Stay Out Of 3 Los Angeles County Beaches Due To Poor Water Quality

The Los Angeles County Public Health Department is advising beachgoers to avoid all water contact at three beaches in the region. The three locations are: Santa Monica Canyon Creek at Will Rogers State Beach. (Near Will Rogers Tower 18, 100 yards up and down the creek in both directions); Marie Canyon Storm Drain and Puerco Beach. (The entire swim area); and Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro. (The entire swim area). Officials say the ocean water quality has deteriorated in these three areas due to high levels of bacteria. The Department of Public Health adds that the danger of elevated bacteria levels is especially high around discharging storm drains, creeks, and rivers. The health department tests ocean water bacteria levels regularly and advisories will be lifted once the levels meet standards set by the state of California. For a map and the latest information on beach closures and warnings, check the L.A. County Department of Health’s website or call the county’s hotline at 1-800-525-5662.

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.