Man Convicted In Retrial For 1983 Killing Of LAPD Officer

For the second time in four decades, an alleged armed robber has been convicted in the 1983 killing of Los Angeles Police Officer Paul Verna. Kenneth Gay, 65, was convicted Friday of murder and a weapons offense in connection with the decades-old slaying. Gay was retried this summer after his conviction was thrown out on appeal. Jurors deliberated for about two weeks, though there were some delays in the proceedings after one juror tested positive for COVID-19 and the San Fernando courtroom where the trial was held partly flooded during Tropical Storm Hilary. For weeks, many of Verna's loved ones and several uniformed police officers lined the courtroom observing testimony. Some let out sighs of relief when the jury's verdict was read late Friday afternoon. "It's not exactly happiness. We've been in trial for 11 weeks and to have the jury be out so long, it was agonizing," said Verna's widow, Sandy Jackson. "But the end result was what it should be. [Gay] should not be out among us." Verna's two sons, who were 4 and 9 years old at the time of the shooting, both went on to join the LAPD as well and appeared in court throughout the trial, Jackson said. Under California law, Gay — who has been incarcerated for roughly 40 years already — must spend the rest of his life in prison because he was convicted of murder with special circumstances.

Los Angeles Times

Man Found Shot To Death In Pacoima Home; Gunman On The Loose

Police are searching for a gunman after a man was found shot to death in a Pacoima home Tuesday. Officers responded to the home in the 12500 block of Debell Street around 9 p.m. Neighbors said they had heard as many as six shots earlier in the day but no one had called police. It’s unclear who eventually found the victim, but when officers, arrived they found a 22-year-old Hispanic man with multiple gunshot wounds at the rear of the home, a Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson said. The unidentified man was pronounced dead at the scene. Video showed several people gathered outside the home; many of them were hugging and crying. There was no known motive for the shooting and no suspect description was immediately available.

KTLA 5

Man Shot In Arm In Grocery Store’s Parking Lot In Hollywood

A man was shot in the arm in a grocery store’s parking lot Hollywood Tuesday. Officers responded to the intersection of Melrose Avenue and Vine Street around 4:40 p.m. to a report about shots fired, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Detectives discovered a 35-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound to an arm, police said. He was taken to a hospital still breathing and conscious by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics. KTLA5 reported that bullet holes were visible in the victim’s dark-colored vehicle in the parking lot. It was unclear what may have motivated the shooting. Police described the suspect as a man in his 30s with a ponytail who fled the scene in a possible white four-door Toyota hatchback heading westbound on Melrose.

MyNewsLA

LA County Man Faces Sentencing In Heroin Overdose Case

A Westlake Village man faces sentencing Wednesday for his role in a drug ring that distributed heroin to a 23-year-old man who died of an overdose. Bradford Shepley, 38, pleaded guilty in May to a federal charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin, a felony carrying a possible maximum penalty of 20 years behind bars. However, prosecutors have agreed to recommend no more than 15 1/2 years in federal prison, a sentence which takes into consideration the defendant’s prior conviction for a felony drug offense, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Shepley’s role involved obtaining the heroin that was distributed to customers by two others. On or about Nov. 4, 2017, a co-conspirator and a customer identified as K.S. exchanged text messages in which they used coded language to arrange for a pickup. The next day, Shepley provided heroin to the co-conspirator to sell to K.S., prosecutors said. A third member of the ring drove Shepley and the second conspirator to the parking lot of a Target store in Westlake Village to meet K.S. for the transaction. The buy was captured by the store’s security cameras, court papers show.

MyNewsLA

Authorities Searching For 19-Year-Old Woman Missing In L.A. County

Authorities with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department are asking for the public’s help in locating a 19-year-old woman missing out of the Palmdale area, officials announced Tuesday. Michelle Blanca Ballesteros, who also goes by the name Sam, was last seen in the 39900 block of 10th Street West in Palmdale around 9 a.m. July 4, according to LASD’s missing person bulletin. Ballesteros is described as a Hispanic female standing approximately 4 foot 10 inches tall, weighing around 72 pounds with short brown hair and hazel-colored eyes. She was last seen wearing a yellow shirt and blue jeans. “Her family believes her possible destination is Bakersfield, CA. They are concerned for her well-being and are asking for your help,” the bulletin stated. Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact LASD’s Missing Persons Unit at 323-890-5500. Anonymous tips can be made through Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or online at L.A. Crime Stoppers.  

KTLA 5

Windows smashed at businesses across San Fernando Valley

Los Angeles police are investigating after windows at several businesses in the San Fernando Valley were smashed early Monday morning. Among the businesses to fall victim to the spree include an LA Fitness on the 6100 block of Laurel Canyon Boulevard in North Hollywood, a moving supply store on the 7200 block of Van Nuys Boulevard in Van Nuys and a health food store in Sherman Oaks, also located on Van Nuys Boulevard.

KTLA 5

Convicted New York Con Man Charged With Similar Scam On LA County Victims

A con man who was convicted twice in New York for bilking victims out of millions of dollars through financial fraud schemes has been charged with 18 felony counts for allegedly running a similar scam locally, with Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón calling him “a predator.” David Bloom, 59, is accused of committing crimes in Los Angeles County that netted nearly $250,000 from nine alleged victims, according to the district attorney. “This is an individual who's a predator,” Gascón told reporters. “He's been preying on victims, vulnerable people all of his life, and he came to L.A. to do the same thing here.” The district attorney said that the defendant approaches people in a way that is “very endearing” and that “he's not immediately trying to take your money.” “He first comes to you to become a friend. He tries to become almost part of your family,” Gascón said. One of the alleged victims -- who said she had her heart set on becoming a businesswoman in the food industry -- told reporters that Bloom lived in her building, “pretended to be a business mentor” who wanted to help her and “became like family to me.” “This man has no boundaries that he will not cross to scam you,” she said.

NBC 4

FBI And European Partners Seize Major Malware Network In Blow To Global Cybercrime

U.S. officials said Tuesday that the FBI and its European partners infiltrated and seized control of a major malware network used for more than 15 years to commit a gamut of online crimes including crippling ransomware attacks. They then remotely removed the malicious software agent — known as Qakbot — from thousands of infected computers. Cybersecurity experts said they were impressed by the deft dismantling of the network but cautioned that any setback to cybercrime would likely be temporary. “Nearly ever sector of the economy has been victimized by Qakbot,” Martin Estrada, the U.S. attorney in Los Angeles, said Tuesday in announcing the takedown. He said the criminal network had facilitated about 40 ransomware attacks alone over 18 months that investigators said netted Qakbot administrators about $58 million. Qakbot’s ransomware victims included an Illinois-based engineering firm and financial services organizations in Alabama and Kansas, along with a Maryland defense manufacturer and a Southern California food distribution company, Estrada said.

Los Angeles Times

Fire At Downtown LA Building Sends Flames, Clouds Of Smoke Into Air

A fire broke out in a two-story in downtown Los Angeles' Fashion District, sending flames and clouds of black smoke into the air Wednesday morning. The fire was reported just before 6 a.m. in the 1100 block of South Los Angeles Street. A large plume of smoke could be seen across the downtown LA area. The LA city fire department was trying to enter the building to knock down the flames. The flames quickly spread through other parts of the building, breaking through the roof. The building was said to be Ruby Textile, a textile business that sells items like towels, blankets and rugs. There was a partial collapse of the building, as cracks began to appear on another corner where smoke could be seen. Shortly before 7 a.m., firefighters were able to enter the building. No injuries have been reported so far. Los Angeles Street between 11th and 12th will be shut down as firefighters continue battling the flames. 

NBC 4

Oh Deer! Firefighters Rescue 2 Deer Caught In Fence In Westlake Village

Firefighters in Westlake Village recently had to rescue a pair of deer caught in the act of trespassing. The Los Angeles County Fire Department Instagram account recently shared a video of crews working to free two deer stuck in a fence at what appeared to be the gated community of Westlake Pointe in Westlake Village. The video was shared on Instagram early Monday. In it, the two deer, caught in separate fences, kicked violently trying to get themselves unstuck. "Engine and Patrol 144 in Westlake Village were able to assist two deer stuck in a sticky situation," the post read. "Thankfully, LACoFD firefighters had the necessary resources to assist and make a difference in ensuring the wellbeing and safety of these two deer." In the video, firefighters used pry tools to help wedge the animals out, while they shouted in fear. It showed them freeing one of the deer, which had some trouble regaining its balance before it ran off.

FOX 11

West Nile Virus Is A Growing Threat This Summer In California. What You Need To Know

West Nile virus infections are on the rise this year in California after a particularly wet winter led to more mosquito reproduction, according to health experts. The state had 55 human cases of the virus as of Aug. 25. Five of them were fatal, according to the California Mosquito-Borne Virus Surveillance and Response Program. That’s more than double the 24 cases that had occurred in 2022 by late August of that year. In total in 2022, there were 207 cases and 15 deaths. Among California’s latest infections, a woman in Orange tested positive for the West Nile virus this week, becoming the first human case in Orange County this year, according to the county Health Care Agency. The Orange resident wasn’t experiencing any symptoms. Last year, there were 11 human infections of the virus and two deaths related to the virus in Orange County. In Los Angeles County, two human cases have been reported so far this year. “West Nile Virus ... [recurs] every year during the summer months and continuing into the fall,” Matthew Zahn, deputy health officer for the O.C. Health Care Agency, said in a news release. 

Los Angeles Times

LA Council Approves Motion To Ban Sale Or Rental Of RVs For Housing

The Los Angeles City Council Tuesday approved a motion prohibiting the sale or rental of recreational vehicles for use as housing. The council voted 12-0 to approve a motion seeking to amend city law to add recreational vehicles to the list of vehicles that cannot be used for housing. Council members Paul Krekorian, Marqueece Harris-Dawson and Monica Rodriguez were absent during the vote. The motion also asks the City Attorney's Office to include a requirement for the lessor of an RV to comply with relevant state and federal laws relating to the sale and lease of RVs. In addition, the motion requests the City Attorney's Office, with assistance from the Office of Code Enforcement, Bureau of Street Services and other relevant departments, to propose an escalating fine structure for violations of the law.

ABC 7

As Challenges Loom, L.A. City Council Approves $150 Million In ‘Mansion Tax’ Spending

The Los Angeles City Council passed a $150-million spending plan for funds raised by Measure ULA on Tuesday, marking the first time funds will be specifically allocated since Angelenos passed the tax in November. The expenditure plan will be directed to six programs: short-term emergency rental assistance, eviction defense, tenant outreach and education, direct cash assistance for low-income seniors and people with disabilities, tenant protections, and affordable housing production. “This is the largest source of revenue, that’s going to be consistent, that this city has access to for these uses ever,” said Councilmember Nithya Raman. “It’s really transformative for Los Angeles.” Of the $150 million, $23 million will go toward eviction defense, $23 million will go toward income support for rent-burden seniors, and $18.4 million will go toward rent debt assistance. The first program to be implemented will be an emergency rental assistance program, which will open Sept. 19.

Los Angeles Times

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.