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Man accused of kidnapping, killing Whittier woman also tried to rape her, district attorney says

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:56 GMT

A man faces a slew of charges in connection with the fatal shooting and kidnapping of 19-year-old Andrea Vazquez, including attempted rape, officials announced Wednesday.Gabriel Sean Esparza, 20, was charged with one count of murder, one count of willful, deliberate and premeditated, attempted murder, one count of kidnapping to commit rape, one count of kidnapping, one count of assault with intent to commit rape, and two counts of attempted forcible rape, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Special circumstances of murder during a kidnapping and murder during an attempted rape are also allege.He pleaded not guilty to the charges during an arraignment Wednesday and is being held without bail.Authorities, however, told KTLA that Esparza confessed to the killing. Woman abducted after Whittier shooting found dead; man arrested Esparza approached Vazquez and her boyfriend shortly after midnight Sunday in the parking stalls area of Penn Park in Whittier and ...

Thieves ransack Beverly Hills store, escape with nearly $200K worth of wigs

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:56 GMT

Security cameras captured the moment burglars ransacked a Beverly Hills shop and escaped with almost $200,000 worth of wigs for cancer patients.The smash-and-grab burglary targeted The Wig Fairy located on La Cienega where at least three thieves shattered the glass front doors before sprinting inside."Everything was shattered,” said Mona Zargar, owner of The Wig Fairy. "The glass was everywhere. They used two long metals to break in."The suspects quickly grabbed handfuls of merchandise, ignoring the blaring store alarms."They grabbed so much that there were wigs all over the floor,” Zargar said. “[They scooped] them up ... running out the door. It was two-and-a-half minutes and they stole a lot.”About 70 custom human hair wigs were taken, worth almost $200,000, Zargar said.Security cameras captured burglars ransacking a Beverly Hills wig shop and escaping with almost $200,000 worth of wigs meant for cancer patients. (The Wig Fairy)Security cameras captured burglars ransacking a Beve...

Kristin Smart killer Paul Flores hospitalized after being attacked in prison

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:56 GMT

The man convicted last fall of killing Cal Poly freshman Kristin Smart in 1996 was hospitalized after he was attacked in prison, his lawyer confirmed to KTLA citing an official for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.Paul Flores was taken to the hospital after he was attacked at Pleasant Valley State Prison in Coalinga, according to his attorney Harold Mesick. Flores was transferred to the facility less than a week ago while he awaits appeal for his murder conviction.Flores was convicted of killing Smart in October 2022, following a whirlwind trial and years of speculation related to the most infamous unsolved crime on California's Central Coast. Smart was 19 years old when she vanished on May 25, 1996 from Cal Poly's campus in San Luis Obispo. Flores was also a student at the time and was considered the last person to see her alive following an off-campus party.For years, Flores was the only person of interest ever seriously considered to be a suspect in her...

Shop owner killed over Pride flag said she would never take it down, friend says

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:56 GMT

The California woman killed for apparently refusing to remove an LGBTQ+ rainbow Pride flag from outside her store was adamant that she would never take it down, a longtime friend said Wednesday. Laura Ann Carleton was fatally shot Friday outside Mag.Pi, the clothing and home decor shop she owned in Cedar Glen, a mountain community east of Los Angeles. The shooter, Travis Ikeguchi, was killed by deputies after he opened fire on them a short time later, San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus said Monday. Ikeguchi had frequently posted anti-LGBTQ content on social media, sheriff’s officials said.Korey Pollard, whose wife worked at Mag.Pi, said Carleton was defiant in the face of criticism she received for hanging the rainbow flag outside the small store. Lynn Neel and Trish Forest speak about the tragic passing of Cedar Glen community member Laura Ann "Lauri" Carleton on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023. (Anjali Sharif-Paul/The Orange County Register via AP)“She would say, ‘Korey, this is t...

Beverly Hills man accused of stealing $1.8M worth of jewelry from hotel, selling items in Florida

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:56 GMT

A Beverly Hills man is facing federal charges after allegedly stealing more than $1.8 million worth of jewelry and other items from guests at a luxury hotel, and then selling the goods in Florida, officials said.Jobson Marangoni De Castro, 37, was arrested at LAX on Monday and was charged with interstate transportation of stolen property, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.On May 10, De Castro took an Uber to the luxury hotel in Beverly Hills and allegedly tricked an employee into giving him a key to the victims' room while they were having dinner.He then allegedly stole six suitcases containing jewelry, clothing and accessories worth more than $1.8 million.The victims, who were visiting from Brazil to attend a fashion event the previous day, returned to find their suitcases missing. The hotel staff notified authorities.Federal prosecutors say De Castro traveled to Miami and messaged a buyer for the stolen goods on Instagram. The defendant allegedly told the buyer that he w...

2 Injured in DUI Collision on South Eastern Avenue [Las Vegas, NV]

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:56 GMT

Two Hospitalized after DUI Accident near Desert Inn RoadLAS VEGAS, NV (August 23, 2023) – Tuesday evening, two victims sustained injuries in a DUI collision on South Eastern Avenue.Police responded to the scene around 9:30 p.m., near Desert Inn Road on August 15th.According to reports, the female driver of a black Nissan Maxima was heading south and attempted to make a U-turn. There, she was struck by a southbound Mercedes sprinter van that was traveling in the center lane.Paramedics arrived and took the female driver of the Nissan to Sunrise Hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries. Meanwhile, crews treated the Mercedes driver for minor injuries.Following preliminary duties, officers believe the female driver was impaired.At this time, an active investigation to determine further information about the DUI collision on South Eastern Avenue is still currently underway. Once available, more details will be provided.The presence of alcohol or other altering substances ...

Three Injured after Vehicle Crash on 19th Avenue [Phoenix, AZ]

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:56 GMT

Traffic Accident at Fresenius Kidney Care North Phoenix Dialysis Clinic Left Several HurtPHOENIX, AZ (August 23, 2023) – Wednesday afternoon, a vehicle crash on 19th Avenue left three people with injuries.The incident occurred just before 1:00 p.m., August 10th, at the Fresenius Kidney Care North Phoenix Dialysis Clinic.A driver was headed to the clinic to have his dialysis treatment when it slammed through the building and crashed into the back wall, Phoenix Fire Captain Todd Keller said.In addition, there were three people sitting near the window at that time, a man and woman in their 40s, and a woman in her 30s, who were the injured people identified.Furthermore, paramedics arrived and transported all injured victims to the hospital in critical condition. They were all expected to survive.Meanwhile, patients from the North Phoenix Dialysis were transferred to other facilities due to the damage to the building. Both directions of the roadway were temporarily shut down to all...

Felipe Beltran-Salgado Killed in Pedestrian Crash on State Route 74 [Winchester, CA]

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:56 GMT

34-Year-Old Man Pronounced Dead after Semi-Truck vs Pedestrian Collision near Amanda AvenueWINCHESTER, CA (August 23, 2023) – Early Wednesday morning, Felipe Beltran-Salgado was killed in a pedestrian crash on State Route 74.The incident occurred around 2:30 a.m., on the eastbound lanes of the freeway just west of Amanda Avenue.Per reports, the 59-year-old male driver of a Freightliner tractor-trailer was heading east and struck a pedestrian. Upon impact, the pedestrian was sent airborne in a southeasterly direction.Responding medical personnel transported the severely injured victim to Loma Linda Medical Center-Murrieta. There, 34-year-old Beltran-Salgado, of Pasadena succumbed to his injuries.Emergency crews closed off the surrounding area for a brief time during cleanup and preliminary duties.The California Highway Patrol continues to investigate if drugs and alcohol played a role in the incident. Police are asking anyone with additional information about the fatal pedestri...

Oakland A’s fans not buying most of John Fisher’s claims

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:56 GMT

OAKLAND – Some Oakland A’s fans are not surprised that owner John Fisher has no intention of selling the MLB franchise but are highly skeptical of his claims he’ll make the necessary investments to help the team become championship-caliber after its proposed move to Las Vegas.“I don’t believe anything (Fisher) says,” said Lynda Seaver, 65, of Danville, who has been coming to the Coliseum since the A’s arrived in 1968. “He’s been lying to us for I don’t know how many years now. Why should we trust him now?”“Absolutely not,” said Ted Trautman, 39, of Oakland. “He’s a cheapskate.”Several of the announced 5,075 fans in attendance for Wednesday’s A’s-Royals game at the Coliseum at times kept up the “Sell the team” chant that began earlier this season and has also permeated other MLB ballparks, notably in San Francisco and Los Angeles when Oakland was the visiting team.But Fisher, in an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal published Wednesday, said he has no...

Crews battle blaze on park district land near Oakland Coliseum, I-880

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 12:00:56 GMT

OAKLAND – Crews on Wednesday afternoon were battling a brush fire just west of the Oakland Coliseum, according to authorities.The fire was reported on East Bay Regional Park District land near Oakport Street and Zhone Way, the Oakland Fire Department said in a social media post. As of 4:20 p.m., the blaze had burned two acres.The fire department said roughly 20 firefighters were at the scene and making progress toward extinguishing the fire. But the agency warned that drivers on Interstate 880 might see and smell smoke, as well as experience minor traffic delays.Crews had a line around the blaze and were continuing to put out hot spots as of 4:50 p.m., the fire department said. A park district helicopter was also providing information about the fire from the air.Incident Commander has requested additional units for the 2 acre fire on East Bay Regional Park district land near Oakport St & Zhone Way. OFD's E29, E27, E23, E328 and @EBRPD fire personnel responding (approx. 20 fi...