LAPD Blog

Domestic Violence Incident Ends With Suspect Being Shot Dead

Los Angeles: A mother and daughter are recovering at a local hospital after the mother's ex-boyfriend stabbed both of them repeatedly before being shot to death by the daughter's boyfriend.

On January 20, 2009, at around 6:30 a.m., in the 4000 block of Stevely Avenue, Rhett Wilkins, 44-years of age, confronted his ex-girlfriend, a 47-year-old woman in the parking lot of the complex where they both lived, though not together.  Wilkins attacked the woman and began stabbing her with a pocket knife.  When the woman's adult daughter, 22-years of age, heard her mother's cries for help she attempted to intervene and was also stabbed.

During the incident Diedree Edwards, 29-years-old, and boyfriend of the daughter, shot Wilkins with a handgun.  The circumstances of the shooting are still under investigation.

After the shooting Edwards ran back inside the apartment where he held police at bay for several hours.  LAPD's Special Weapons and Tactics Unit responded to the location and fired tear gas canisters inside the apartment at which time Edwards came out and was taken into custody.  He was arrested and booked for murder and is being held on $1 million dollars bail.

The two victims were transported to a local hospital where they are being treated for their injuries.  Both women are listed in stable condition.

Wilkins was pronounced dead at scene.

Anyone with information is asked to call Southwest Homicide Detectives Sean Hansen or Mike Applegate 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 LAPDwebsite  www.lapdonline.org.  All tips are anonymous.

Duo Arrested for West Hills Crime Spree

Los Angeles: Topanga Area Detectives have arrested 18-year-old Britni Coy and 19-year-old Garret Talley for a series of thefts and burglaries committed over the past couple of weeks in the West Hills area.

Between December 27, 2024 and January 13, 2009, Coy and Talley were involved in numerous burglaries and thefts.  One case involved the theft of a disabled man's electric wheelchair from his garage.

During their investigation, detectives spotted Talley riding around in the stolen wheelchair and arrested him without incident.  When they searched Talley's residence that he shared with Coy, they discovered additional stolen items belonging to neighbors who had also been victims of the pair. 

Further evidence was uncovered when investigators discovered video surveillance of Coy and Talley using credit cards that were taken during their crime spree, to purchase items from local department stores. 

Both Coy and Talley were arrested and booked for Burglary.  Coy is being held on $50,000 bail and Talley on $90,000 bail.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Topanga Area Burglary Detective Ammon Williams at 818-756-4820.  After-hours or on weekends, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (527-3247).  Callers may also text "CRIMES" with a cell phone or log on to www.lapdonline.org and click on Web Tips.  When using a cell phone, all messages should begin with "LAPD."  All calls and contacts are anonymous

Notes from the January 20, 2025 Weekly Police Commission Meeting

• Police Commissioner Robert Saltzman attended the grand opening of the new Olympic Community Police Station along with Police Commission President Anthony Pacheco.  He thought the whole event was a very positive one for the community and thought very highly of the new facility.  Commissioner Saltzman also attended the very first MLK Day community breakfast and found the experience to be quite enjoyable.

• First Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell attended a religious forum at Trinity Community Church to get input/feedback as to how the Department is servicing the community.  He also attended the grand opening of the new Olympic Community Police Station and the first MLK Day community breakfast.  With regards to crime stats, Chief McDonnell informed the Commission there are some glitches due to the addition of the two new community police station but the stats should be available by the afternoon.

• The Department’s verbal presentation and discussion relative to the Latent Fingerprinting Task Force was given by Deputy Chief Charlie Beck.  Police Commissioner Robert Saltzman expressed his displeasure of finding out certain aspects of the Task Force through the media and was disappointed in the Department.  Deputy Chief Beck then offered his apologies but stated the information Commissioner Saltzman had spoken too was not released to the media by the Department.  He informed the Commission 10% of his workforce in the Latent Prints section was examining the situation and they were in the process of re-examining 1,139 cases.  Once the Task Force is able to complete the examination, Chief Beck said they can better understand the depth of the problem and the cause of it.  The Commission then called for a 30 day extension.

• The Department’s report, dated January 13, 2009, in response to Boards query, relative to Sworn Classification Essential Job Functions, was approved.

• The Department’s report, dated January 14, 2009, in response to Board query, relative to the Report on Detective Bureau Operations Relative to Supervision, Audits, Promotions and Productivity Tables, was continued.  The Commission requested a supplemental report. 

•  The Department’s report, dated January 9, 2009, relative to the Preliminary Response to the “Audit of the Forensic DNA Backlog Reduction Grant Program Awards,” was continued for 30 days.

Double Arson-Related Deaths

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) Robbery-Homicide Division (RHD), Homicide Special Section (HSS), is conducting a criminal investigation into the suspicious arson-related deaths of two people discovered inside of a house in the 3800 block of Redondo Boulevard in the lower Baldwin Hills area.

On Jan. 16, 2009, at approximately 12:57 a.m., an LAPD Communications Division 9-1-1 operator received a telephone call from a distraught woman stating that “he is setting the house on fire.”  She then screamed and the telephone went dead.  LAPD and the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) arrived at the location within minutes and observed the home engulfed in flames.  Once the fire was extinguished, two bodies were discovered inside the location.

The deceased persons were later identified as 78-year-old Salvador Rosales and his 34-year-old daughter Christina Rosales.  Rosales’ 63-year-old wife and the mother of Christina Rosales was able to exit the burning house.  She was transported to a local Kaiser Permanente Hospital and then transferred to the University of Southern California Burn Center where she is listed in critical but stable condition.

Arson investigators from RHD and LAFD continue to investigate the incident and ask that anyone with information regarding the case contact RHD/HSS Detectives Michael Oppelt or Salaam Abdul 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 (527-3247).  Callers may also text “CRIMES” with a cell phone or log on to www.lapdonline.org and click on Web Tips.  When using a cell phone, all messages should begin with “LAPD.”  All calls and contacts are anonymous.

41-Year-Old Man Shot and Killed

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is requesting the public’s help in identifying the suspects responsible for the shooting death of 41-year-old Melvin Antonio Almendares.

On January 18, 2025 at about 3:50 a.m., Rampart patrol officers responded to an “assault with a deadly weapon shooting” radio call in the 1300 block of South Bonnie Brae Street. When officers arrived, they found Almendares, a Los Angeles resident, down on the sidewalk, suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest.  

The Los Angeles Fire Department Paramedics responded and pronounced the victim dead at the scene.

A preliminary investigation revealed that a white vehicle, possibly a Toyota Camry, was driving southbound from the scene around the time when the gunshots were fired.  

The motive for this shooting is under investigation.  

Anyone with information about this shooting, including the identity and possible involvement of the white vehicle, is asked to contact Rampart Homicide Detectives John Motto or Michael Arteaga or 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.  All tips are anonymous.

LAPD Launches Sports Page

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is set to unveil a new sports section on its website, www.lapdonline.org.  LAPDSports, will feature not only major sports such as football, basketball and baseball, but will also feature non-traditional sports such as motor-cross, power lifting, boxing, and sumo wrestling.

LAPDSports will showcase the accomplishments and stories of the Department personnel who excel in sports.  In cooperation with The Los Angeles Police Revolver and Athletic Club, LAPDSports will also contain links to upcoming schedules, video highlights, pictures and special events.  With approximately 30 different teams and individual sports, there will be something for every sports fan to enjoy. Because like you, cops love sports.

The Los Angeles Police Foundation (LAPF) funds the Department’s official website and essential equipment and programs for the LAPD which are not included in the City’s budget.  For more information about the Los Angeles Police Foundation, please visit www.lapolicefoundation.org, or call 213-489-4636.

For additional information, please contact the LAPD Online Unit at 213-485-1750 or visit www.lapdonline.org.  Other questions may be directed to Media Relations Section at 213-485-3586.