LAPD Blog

51-Year-Old Murdered

Los Angeles: Homicide detectives are asking for the public’s help in locating a murder suspect who’s responsible for killing a man in South Los Angeles.

On Tuesday, November 17, 2008, just before 2 p.m., victim Robert Marshall was standing on the sidewalk at the southwest corner of Flower Street and 41st Place.  He was approached by the suspect with a butcher knife.  The suspect and Marshall engaged in an argument during which the suspect slashed Marshall's throat with the knife.  Marshall ran away from the suspect, but collapsed on the sidewalk in front of 454 West 41st Place.

Paramedics transported Marshall to a local hospital where he died from his injuries.

A blood stained butcher knife was found at the crime scene.  The suspect has been identified as 48-year old Frederick Taylor.  The motive for the murder remains unclear.

South Bureau Homicide Detectives Rick Gordon and Brian Calicchia are conducting the investigation.  Anyone with information may contact the detectives at 213-485-1383.  After hours or on weekends, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 or by texting CRIMES (274637) and beginning the message with the letters LAPD.  Tipsters may also submit information on the LAPD website www.lapdonline.org. All tips may remain anonymous.

Notes for the November 18, 2024 Police Commission Weekly Meeting

The Police Commission held a special meeting in the Parker Center Auditorium which focused on the Skid Row area and the Safer City Initiative.  Police Commission President Anthony Pacheco welcomed the larger than usual gathering and set some of the ground rules for the meeting. 

Councilwoman Jan Perry, whose council district includes the Skid Row area, spoke on the impact the Safer City Initiative has had.  She said things have improved dramatically in the area and there continues to be new development in the Downtown and South Los Angeles area. However, she adds there needs to be better coordination between federal, state and local governments. 

Deputy Mayor Arif Alikhan then spoke on the affects the program has had in the area to date.  He said there has been a 40% reduction in violent crime and that there are 1,200 less people sleeping on Skid Row since the Safer City Initiative went into effect.  He also called on federal, state and county governments to provide additional resources and to collaborate with the city.

Chief Assistant City Attorney Jeff Isaacs offered an update as to the new challenges the initiative faced.  He said there was an increase in the amount of dumping of homeless and psychiatric patients on the streets of Skid Row.  To remedy this, the City partnered with local community organizations and installed video cameras to look for patient dumping.  As a result, the City brought cases against Kaiser Permanente, Hollywood Prespetirian, and Methodist Hospital in Arcadia for illegal patient dumping and received settlements from them.

A number of local community organizations were invited by the Police Commission to speak at the meeting as well.  These included the American Civil Liberties Union, the Central City Association, the Central City East Association, the Downtown Women’s Center, the Historic Downtown BID, LA CAN, LAMP Community, the Law Office of Carol Sobel, the Midnight Mission, Para Los Ninos, Project 50, the Public Law Council, the Skid Row Housing Trust, the UCLA School of Law, the Union Rescue Mission and the Weingart Center Association.  The opinions of the organizations varied in support of and against the Safer City Initiative. 

After the organizations presented, the floor was opened to public comment.  Members of the community, as well as local business owners, took the opportunity to give their opinions on the Safer City Initiative to the Police Commission.  The opinions varied in support of and against the initiative.  It was clear this is one issue that people are very passionate about.

Officer Involved Shooting

Los Angeles: On November 11, 2008, Police Officer I Oliver Malabuya, 7 months with the Department, and his partner responded to a radio call of a disturbance involving a man with a gun at the Rite Aid Pharmacy located in the 300 block of South Vermont Avenue.  The Los Angeles Police Department’s helicopter unit, Air Support Division were first on scene and directed the patrol officers to the suspect (later identified as Dontaze Storey) inside the parking lot.  The officers attempted to detain Storey who ran from the officers.

Police Officer II Daniel Bunch, 5-years and 3 months with the Department and his partner, Officer Malabuyo responded to the location.  The officers followed Storey in their vehicles to the area of 3rd Street and New Hampshire Avenue.  The officers exited their vehicles and chased Storey on foot.

At the northwest corner of 3rd Street and New Hampshire Avenue, Officers Bunch and Malabuyo saw Storey turn in their direction with an unknown object in his hand believed to be a handgun.  The officers fired at Storey and wounded him.   

Suspect Storey was transported to a local hospital where he later died.  

Force Investigation Division will handle the shooting investigation.

COMPSTAT Citywide Profile

Crime Statistics November 15, 2024

VIOLENT CRIMES                2008**             2007**          % Chg

Homicide                             331*               353              -6.2%
Rape                                    704                816             -13.7%
Robbery                             11533            11810              -2.3%
Agg Assaults **                  10633             11473              -7.3%
Total Violent Crimes       23,201          24,452             -5.1%

PROPERTY CRIMES

Burglary                            16689              17260           -3.3%
BTFV                                 25899              26606           -2.7%
Personal/Other Theft         23632              24062          -1.8%
Auto Theft                        19406              20511           -5.4%
Total Property Crimes    85,626           88,439           -3.2%
Total Part I Crimes       108,827         112,891           -3.6%

* Numbers reflects a change in reclassification for Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) guidelines and numbers are adjusted accordingly.

** Prior to 2005, Aggravated Assaults included Child/Spousal Simple Assaults

Detectives Seek Help in Identifying a Suspect in Century City Murder Case

UPDATE

Los Angeles:  Detectives are asking for the public’s help in identifying an individual depicted in a surveillance video and composite drawing.  

On July 28, 2024, at 6:30 p.m., Pamela Fayed, a resident of Ventura County, was murdered in a parking structure at 1875 Century Park East.  On September 15, 2008, Robbery Homicide Division detectives obtained a warrant and criminal filing for James Fayed for the murder of Pamela Fayed.  James Fayed appeared in court on a Federal matter where he was arrested.

The detectives believe that the person depicted on the surveillance tape may be an additional suspect involved in the murder.  It is believed the individual may frequent the Cities of Oxnard and Ventura in Ventura County.

Anyone who has information is urged to contact Robbery-Homicide Detectives Salaam Abdul or Louis Zorrilla at 213-485-2135.  After hours or on weekends, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 or by texting CRIMES (274637) and beginning the message with the letters LAPD.  Tipsters may also submit information on the LAPD website www.lapdonline.org. Tipsters may remain anonymous.

Councilmember Jack Weiss Donates $250,000 Towards DNA Testing of Backlogged Rape Kits

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Los Angeles:  At a press conference held yesterday outside the Los Angeles Regional Crime Lab, longtime LAPD supporter Councilmember Jack Weiss presented the Department with a $250,000 check to assist in the clearing of backlogged rape kits.  “Fighting violent crime must be top priority and DNA lets us target some of the most dangerous repeat offenders lurking in our neighborhoods,” said Councilmember Weiss.  “With this $250,000 LAPD can test 250 more rape kits, solve these crimes, and prevent more rapes.”

Detective Bureau Deputy Chief Charlie Beck thanked Councilmember Weiss on behalf of the Department, noting “Our politicians, especially here in Los Angeles, are behind us 100% on these issues but, I think what the Councilmember has done here really shows his commitment.  It shows his passion and his sense of justice, and that’s what this money is about.  This money is about bringing justice to victims.”

Los Angeles Police Foundation President Karen Wagener was also on hand to request the public’s assistance with private donations to help further clear the Department’s untested rape kits.  With a goal of $4 million, to date, the Foundation has raised $1.4 million thus far towards the Department’s DNA backlog.  Ms. Wagener asked, “For anyone who would like to make a donation that is fully tax deductible, please visit our website at www.ladnahelp.org.  The Foundation guarantees that every donation, 100% of it, goes to the DNA backlog.”  To contact the Los Angeles Police Foundation, please call 213-489-4636.    

Murder Suspect Arrested at the Border

Los Angeles: A murder suspect who has been on the run for over a year was nabbed at the border.

On Sunday, November 16, 2008, at around 12:30 p.m., Guadalupe Torres Rangel, aka "Barrios," age 41, was taken into custody after being caught re-entering the United States at the Mexico Border, in the eastern San Diego County town of Dulzura by United States Customs and Border Protection personnel.

Rangel had been charged with murder, attempted murder, and extortion by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for his role in the September 15, 2024 shooting death of a 23 day old baby and the critical wounding of a street vendor in the area of MacArthur Park.  The shooting was part of ongoing extortions of local street vendors by the 18th Street gang.

Robbery- Homicide Division, Gang Homicide Detectives follow-up investigation, coupled with information provided by members of the community, led to the identification of the suspects involved in this crime. Seven of the eight defendants charged with this murder have been arrested and remain in custody. 

The lone outstanding fugitive is Juvenal Cardenas Mejia, aka "Atlas."   The investigators are currently continuing their efforts to locate this individual, as well as additional potential witnesses and/or suspects involved in this case.

Anyone with any information regarding the incident is asked to call Robbery-Homicide Division, Detectives David Holmes or Laura Evens, at 213-485-2531.  After hours or on weekends, calls may be directed to a 24-hour toll-free number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 or by texting CRIMES (274637) and beginning the message with the letters LAPD.  Tipsters may also submit information on the LAPD website www.lapdonline.org.  All tips will remain anonymous.

Oakridge Modular Home – Sayre Fire

Media Plan

***************2nd UPDATE*************

Media must be stagged by 7a.m. inside the Oakridge mobile park complex.  After 7 a.m. no media will be allowed in.

Immediately following the News Conference on November 17, 2008, the restriction will be lifted, permitting media access to the Oakridge Modular Home Neighborhood.  Media access is being permitted by the property manager within certain parameters.  

Properly credentialed media personnel will be permitted to enter the complex immediately following the press conference on November 17, 2024 and until 7:00 a.m. on November 18, 2008.  No media will be permitted to enter after 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 18, 2008.  

Residents will not be permitted to enter until 9:00 a.m.  However, residents will begin lining up outside the complex at 7:00 a.m. at the entrance located on Glenoaks Street north of Foothill Boulevard.  Because there will be potentially hundreds of residents attempting to access the park, it is anticipated that traffic congestion will occur in the area of Glenoaks Street and Foothill Boulevard.  Therefore, it is vitally important that media personnel and vehicles be staged in the complex by 7:00 a.m..

Permission to be on the private Oakridge property, including the streets, is entirely at the discretion of the property manager.  The property manager has requested that media vehicles stage only in the parking spaces immediately surrounding the tennis and basketball courts.  This area encompasses an entire block of the complex and had been a club house area.  Media personnel and equipment may stage on the grassy areas within the outer perimeter of parking.

While the fire danger has been substantially eliminated, extreme caution should be used in the area for remaining hazards, such as unstable structures,  sharp objects, and inhalation hazards.  The residents are being restricted until after daylight due to the hazards.  Based on permission granted by the property manager, the news media must enter at their own risk.   

For more information please contact Media Relations Section at 213-485-3586.

The Public’s Help Requested in Locating Evacuees

Los Angeles:  Numerous evacuees from the Oakridge Modular Home Neighborhood have yet to check in with any public service agency.

On November 17, 2008, it was announced that there is now a high degree of confidence that all residence of the Oakridge Neighborhood escaped or were otherwise safely evacuated from the path of the devastating fire.  While this was abundantly good news and a testament to the bravery of a number of good neighbors and members of the Police and Fire Departments, it does not fully relieve the Police Department of the responsibility for a proper accounting of all evacuees. 

Approximately 360 adult’s persons representing 360 individual residences in the complex contacted the American Red Cross or the Police Department and provided verifiable information which was used to determine their safety and whereabouts.  In many cases those individuals verified the safety for themselves and their immediate household members. 

There remain at least 166 individual property lessees, who have not called in or otherwise provided information to verify their well being.  As a result, the Los Angeles Police Department must exercise due diligence in conducting an investigation to ensure that these evacuees are safe.

It is requested that the media assist the Police Department by publishing the space numbers of the persons who have not yet verified their safety and whereabouts.  Oakridge residences or anyone with information regarding the location and safety of the listed Oakridge residents, are urged to call 818-838-9827.

The list is attached and can be viewed on the Los Angeles Police Department website at www.lapdonline.org and the Los Angeles Fire Department blog at www.lafdblog.org/lafd/blog.  The updated list will also be posted at the Sylmar High School Shelter.

Los Angeles Police Department
COMMUNITY ALERT
OAKRIDGE PARK FIRE

The following spaces/residents within the Oakridge Park Community have not been accounted for by the Los Angeles Police Department.  Residents from the below listed spaces are urged to contact the Mission Detective Division immediately at 818-838-9827

64	271	456
73	314	502
103	390	570
128	416	575
196	434	597

Man Sitting on Porch is Killed in Drive by Shooting

Los Angeles: Rampart Homicide Detectives are investigating a shooting that killed a 19-year-old man sitting on his front porch.

On November 16, 2008, at around 4:20 p.m., Edward Ruacho was sitting with friends on the front porch of their apartment complex in the 120 Block of Westmoreland Avenue.  Two suspects in a black Ford Explorer with tinted windows drove up to the front of the building and stopped momentarily.  The front seat passenger, described as a Hispanic man, 25-30 years of age with spiked hair, fired several rounds from a handgun, striking Ruacho multiple times.  The male driver, described as Hispanic, 25-30 years, shaved head, wearing a baseball cap, drove away northbound after the shooting.

Ruacho was transported to a local hospital where he died from his injuries.

Anyone who may have witnessed this incident, or may have information regarding it, is asked to contact Rampart Homicide Detectives, J. Pere or G. Lee at 213-484-3650.  After hours or on weekends, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 or by texting CRIMES (274637) and beginning the message with the letters LAPD.  Tipsters may also submit information on the LAPD website www.lapdonline.org.  Tipsters may remain anonymous.