LAPD Blog

Suspect Arrested in Connection with Synagogue Shooting

UPDATE Los Angeles: Earlier today, Beverly Hills Police Department officers arrested a suspect that Los Angeles Police Department detectives have been seeking in connection with a shooting that occurred last Oct. 29 when two men were shot as they arrived for morning prayer services at the Adat Yeshurun Valley Sephardic Synagogue in North Hollywood. With a warrant for his arrest, Beverly Hills SWAT officers took Christopher Littlejohn into custody without incident in the vicinity of Nordhoff Street and Balboa Boulevard for an assault that took place in the city of Beverly Hills.  Littlejohn is described as a 37-year-old Black male who resides in Northridge. His bail has been set at $2 million and he is currently being held at the BHPD jail.  More details about the synagogue shooting are available below in the original press release that went out on Oct. 29, 2009: Gunman Shoots Two at North Hollywood Synagogue Motive Still under Investigation Los Angeles:  At 6:19 this morning, at the Adat Yeshurun Valley Sephardic Synagogue in North Hollywood, two men arriving for prayer services were shot. A number of 911 calls brought Los Angeles Police Department officers from the North Hollywood area and Los Angeles City firefighters to the Synagogue located at 12405 Sylvan Street, where they found the victims, two men, one 38 the other 53 years old, in an underground garage suffering from gunshot wounds to their legs. One of the victims had just gotten out of his car in the underground garage of the Synagogue and was near a stairwell when he was approached by a black man wearing what has been described as a dark color sweatshirt with a hood.  Investigators believe that without warning, the gunman tried to shoot the man, and his weapon malfunctioned.  As he tried to get the weapon to work, a second victim heard and saw what was happening and approached the gunman.  At that point, the suspect shot both of the victims.  He then ran on foot from the Synagogue parking garage. The victims were taken to area hospitals where they are being treated for their wounds, which are not life threatening.  Detectives from North Hollywood are interviewing the victims as part of their investigation.  The victims have been able to give only a brief description of the shooter, a black male in his late teens to early twenties, wearing a dark-color sweatshirt with a hood. More than an hour after the shooting, LAPD officers detained a man in an area near the shooting who fit the brief description of the suspect.  He is being interviewed as part of the ongoing investigation.  Detectives are also viewing security video of the Synagogue as part of the investigation. At this time, a motive for the shooting has not been determined.  North Hollywood detectives will be looking into the possibility of the crime being an unsuccessful armed robbery attempt, a random act of violence or a possible hate crime. A citywide tactical alert was issued to help manage police resources, and the LAPD Department Operations Center was activated at a Level One.  Area Commanding Officers were notified to increase patrols around critical Jewish sites in their areas.  Also assisting the LAPD in its investigation is the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the LA Area Joint Regional Intelligence Center. More information will be released as it becomes available.  Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact North Hollywood Detectives at 818-623-4045.   After-hours or on weekends, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at 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.

Former LAPD Chief Daryl F. Gates Dies at 83

Los Angeles:  Daryl F. Gates died today at 83 years of age after a short battle with cancer.  The 49th Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department passed away at his Newport Beach home with his loved ones at his bedside.

LAPD Chief of Police Charlie Beck eulogized, “Daryl Francis Gates was a one-in-a-million human being.  He inspired others to succeed and, in doing so, changed the landscape of law enforcement around the world.”    

Born August 30, 1926, Gates grew up in Glendale and the Highland Park Area of Los Angeles.  After graduating from high school, he joined the United States Navy.  Except for his two-year tour in the Navy, Gates was a lifelong resident of Southern California.  He attended and later earned degrees from the University of Southern California.  

Gates Joined the Los Angeles Police Department on Sept. 16, 1949 and rose through the ranks to become the 49th Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department.  Gates served as the Chief from March 1978 until his retirement in 1992.  

Chief Gates accomplished great things in both good and difficult economic times.  And the successes of several major programs and events in the City of Los Angeles and around the world, especially the Los Angeles 1984 Summer Games, have their roots in the leadership achievements of Daryl Gates.                  

Chief Gates is survived by his long-time companion; his brother, retired LAPD Captain Steven Gates; three children; five grandchildren and three great grandchildren.  Further notification will be forthcoming when details about a memorial service are finalized.

A pictorial slide show, (courtesy of the Los Angeles Police Historical Society) highlighting Chief Gates career with LAPD is accessible clicking here or through the homepage of the Department’s website, www.lapdonline.org, by clicking on a link for more information next to his photo.  The photos are also available by contacting LAPD Media Relations at 213-486-5910.

Woman Shot during Purse Robbery in Silver Lake LAPD Releases Composite Sketch of Suspect

Los Angeles: Los Angeles Police Department Northeast detectives have provided a composite drawing of a man who shot and wounded a woman during a purse snatch incident in the Silver Lake area on April 11.

Detectives say the woman and a group of her companions were walking to their car in the 2300 block of Glendale Boulevard around 9:30 p.m. when a man approached them and asked for the time.  As the individuals looked down at their watches, the man violently attempted to snatch the woman’s purse.  The companions intervened and struggled to fight off of the suspect.  In the course of the struggle, the suspect shot the woman in the arm and ran with her purse.  Paramedics rushed the woman to a local hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

The suspect was described as a thin-build, male Hispanic between 20 to 35 years of age.  He stood 5 foot 8 inches and was last seen wearing a dark-blue, hooded sweatshirt.

A composite sketch of the suspect is available on www.lapdonline.org.

Anyone with information regarding this crime is urged to call Northeast Division robbery detectives at 213-847-4270.  During non-business hours or on weekends, calls may be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7.  Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).  Tipsters may also contact Crimestoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) using a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”  Tipsters can also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on “web tips” and follow the prompts.

LAPD Search for Two Runaway 12-Year-Olds

UPDATE

Around 11 o’clock this morning, juvenile officers found both girls at a home in Los Angeles.  The girls were unharmed and returned their families.

Los Angeles:  The Los Angeles Police Department requests the public’s assistance in locating two 12-year-old runaways.

On April 9, Iris Vanessa Rodriguez and Sonia Gonzalez were last seen jumping a fence at Carver Middle School in the 4400 block of McKinley Avenue to meet up with friends.  They have not returned home, investigators said.

Police say Gonzalez called her mother on April 12 and told her that she wanted to come home but never showed up.  Rodriguez has yet to be heard from.  The missing girls are known to frequent Bethune and South Parks in Los Angeles.

Rodriguez is described as Hispanic, 5 feet 1 inches tall and weighs 98 pounds.  She has black hair, brown eyes and was last seen wearing a white shirt and blue jeans.

Gonzalez is also described as Hispanic, 5 feet tall and weighs 120 pounds. She has black hair, brown eyes and was last seen wearing a white shirt and blue pants.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of these two juveniles is encouraged to contact Newton Division Juvenile Officers Lucas Padilla or Bill Miller at (323) 846-6576.  During off-hours, calls may be directed to Newton Division’s watch commander at 323-846-6547 or a 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (527-3247).  Anonymous 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.”  Tipsters may remain anonymous.

Cellphone Store Robbery Caught on Tape

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Newton Area detectives are asking for the public’s help in identifying a suspect who robbed Lupita’s Cell store.

On March 18, 2010, at around 3:25 p.m., an armed male entered Lupita’s Cell store near the area of Central Avenue and 41st Street in the Newton Area of Los Angeles.  The male suspect ran into the business pointing a handgun at the employee, jumped over the front counter, grabbed the employee and forced the employee to open the cash register.  Once the register was opened, the suspect grabbed the cash and ran from the location.  

The suspect is described as an African American with black hair, brown eyes, approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing 160-180 pounds and about 30-35 years old.  

*Images of the suspect were captured by surveillance cameras within the store and are available at www.lapdtv.org

Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call Newton Area Robbery Detectives Humphreys or Matsuda at 323-846-6572.  During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7.   Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).  Tipsters may also contact Crimestoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.

Suspects Operating a Motor Vehicle Theft Ring in Korea Town, Rampart, Wilshire and Hollywood Areas are Captured

Los Angeles:  Detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Olympic Station expect to return a few hundred items taken from more than 100 cars to their rightful owners.

Since January 2010, between the early morning hours, patrol officers responded to more than 20 locations where property was stolen from parked cars.  Investigators believe that two suspects targeted the vehicles in subterranean parking lots of apartment complexes in areas of Korea Town, Rampart, Wilshire and Hollywood.  

The suspects would enter the parking garages and fill empty backpacks with clothing, sports apparel, GPS devices, cameras, sunglasses, designer purses, jewelry, watches, ID cards and other items commonly found inside a car.  The suspects would then store the backpacks in local motels.  In one motel room, the investigating detectives found several backpacks filled with a variety of items.

The suspects, Alejandro Torres and Jesse Torres, both 22 years old, were arrested and booked at Olympic Station on April 10, 2010, at 4 a.m.

Anyone whose car was broken into when parked in a subterranean parking structure in one of the areas mentioned above within the last few months is asked to call Detective Ron Kim, Olympic Property Crimes Unit at 213-382-9370, or 213-382-9440.  Detectives will assist victims of these thefts in retrieving their stolen property.

During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crimestoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.

LAPD Seeks Help to Identify Murdered Jane Doe

Update

April 14, 2025

The Jane Doe has been identified as 17-year-old Darlene Robles, a resident of North Hollywood.  Van Nuys homicide detectives have released video footage containing two males and a female suspect who dropped off the victim at the hospital and left in a car. Images of three suspects were captured by surveillance camera and are available at www.lapdtv.org and detectives are asking for the public’s help to identify them.

Los Angeles: Los Angeles Police Department Van Nuys homicide detectives are asking for the public’s help in identifying a shooting victim who was dropped off at a hospital emergency room early Tuesday morning in Panorama City.

At around 5 a.m., an unidentified male and female dropped off the woman at the Kaiser Permanente Hospital in the 13600 block of Willard Street.  The victim is described as either Hispanic or of European descent, between 20-25 years of age, approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing about 140 pounds.  She was wearing a black sweatshirt and blue jeans and has “Destiney” tattooed on her chest.  Detectives said she was shot and then taken to the hospital in a private vehicle. She then died at the hospital a short time later.  

There is no suspect description, and the case is under investigation to determine the motive for the shooting.

Anyone with information regarding this crime is urged to contact Van Nuys Division homicide detectives at 818-374-0040.  During non-business hours or on weekends, calls may be directed to 877-LAPD-24-7.  Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).  Tipsters may also contact Crimestoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) using a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”  Tipsters can also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.

COMPSTAT Citywide Profile

Crime Statistics April 10, 2025


VIOLENT CRIMES                  2010**           2009**          % Chg

Homicide                                83*                 81             2.5%
Rape                                     191                 221          -13.6%
Robbery                               3032               3490          -13.1%
Agg Assaults **                     2486               2948          -15.7%
Total Violent Crimes             5792              6740          -14.1%

PROPERTY CRIMES

Burglary                                 4505             4997            -9.8%
BTFV                                      7809             8120            -3.8%
Personal/Other Theft             6776             7634           -11.2%
Auto Theft                             4795             4951            -3.2%
Total Property Crimes       23,885         25,702           -7.1%
Total Part I Crimes            29,677         32,442          -8.5%

* 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

A Heated Argument Escalates to Attempt Murder in South LA

Los Angeles:  The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Southeast Area detectives are asking for the public’s help in locating Mark Tucker.  Tucker was involved in the attempt murder of his ex-girlfriend in the City of Los Angeles.

On March 30, 2010, at 10:30 p.m., LAPD Southeast Area officers responded to a radio call regarding a shooting.  When officers arrived they found a 36-year-old female, with a gunshot wound to the back.

According to detectives, Tucker and the victim were having an argument when the he shot the victim and ran from the location.  There were two children present during the shooting.

Tucker is described as a male Black with date of birth of February 15, 1970.  

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Southeast Major Assault Crime Detectives Richard Carrillo at 213-972-7861.  During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7.  Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call     Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).  Tipsters may also contact Crimestoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”  Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.

Sixty Pounds of Marijuana Seized, Two Arrested Downtown

Los Angeles: On April 7, just five hours after the Los Angeles City Attorney announced the latest gang injunction aimed at gang-affiliated drug dealers in Skidrow, narcotics detectives arrested two men for transporting 60 pounds of marijuana to downtown Los Angeles.

“This marijuana was destined for Skidrow,” said Lt. Paul Vernon, commanding officer of the Central Detective Division.  “It’s both ironic and tragic that the county’s largest recovery area is also the region’s biggest drug bazaar.”

Narcotics detectives received an anonymous tip that a large shipment of marijuana was being delivered by men in a gray Ford Escort.  Detectives set up near the parking lot of the Bunker Hill Tower apartments at 234 S. Figueroa Street.  Around 4PM, the expected gray car drove up with three men inside.  

“It didn’t take the detectives long to realize they had the right car,” Lt. Vernon explained.  “There was so much weed in the car, they could smell it when they approached the driver’s window.”

Detectives arrested the unlicensed driver, Hector Cabrera, 33, and the front passenger Fernando Padilla, 38, for transporting over 50 pounds of marijuana.  Bail for that charge was $100,000.  Cabrera’s bail was increased by $40,000 due to an arrest warrant for drunk driving, and Padilla’s bail was increased due to a $5,000 arrest warrant for marijuana possession.  An adult passenger in the backseat was questioned and released.

Cabrera lives in Riverside, and Padilla lives in Big Bear, California.  “This arrest is another example of commuter drug dealing downtown,” Lt. Vernon said.  “And that’s the point of the new Skidrow injunction against drug dealers; it’s outsiders who are bringing the drugs into this recovery area.”

The wholesale value of the 60 pounds of marijuana is estimated at $24,000.  “And that translates into more than 27,000 ‘nickel’ bags and more than $100,000 in profit for the Skidrow drug dealers,”
Lt. Vernon explained.  “Think what a detriment that would be to recovering addicts.”

The marijuana was tightly wrapped in packages, each weighing a little more than one pound.  The packages were stacked into cardboard boxes.

Neither of the arrestees was among the 80 named drug dealers in the injunction announced the same day.  

The public is urged to report information about illicit drug activities.  Anonymous tips can be called into Crimestoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477), or by texting 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”  Online tips may be placed at www.LAPDOnline.org, click on “webtips” and follow the prompts.