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Homicide Investigation

Family Seeks public’s help to solve Murder of Donte Lee Johnson 768 1024 SIB Staff

Family Seeks public’s help to solve Murder of Donte Lee Johnson

Detectives and Family Members Seek the Public’s Help to Solve the Murder of Philadelphia Resident Donte Lee Johnson; $20,000 Reward

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Detectives held a press conference on Wednesday, November 2, 2022, to announce a $20,000 reward in exchange for information that will lead to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the murder of 30-year-old- Donte Lee Johnson. The reward was approved by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

On March 5, 2021, at approximately 2:09 p.m., Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) deputies responded to an assault with a deadly weapon, and gunshot victim call, at 609 N. Long Beach Boulevard, Compton, CA. Upon arrival, deputies found Donte Lee Johnson on the ground, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the upper torso. Unfortunately, the victim, Donte Lee Johnson, succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased.

Mr. Johnson, a resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was visiting friends to attend a social gathering in the City of Compton. Donte and his friends were at the location when they encountered the suspect, who produced a handgun and began firing in their direction. After the shooting, the suspect entered the rear passenger seat of an awaiting silver Chrysler PT Cruiser, which drove west on Elm Street from Long Beach Blvd. and out of view. The PT Cruiser was missing two hubcaps, had oxidation on the roof, and had a sticker on the lower left corner of the rear window. Investigators believe the shooting was gang-related and Donte was an innocent victim of the senseless act of violence.

Donte Lee Johnson’s younger brother was killed in 2011 in Philadelphia, and his mother, Movita Johnson-Harrell, created the CHARLES Foundation (Creating Healthy Alternatives Results in Less Emotional Suffering) in his memory. Donte advocated ending gun violence, speaking at events including the House of Representatives and the Senate. In his speeches, he would label himself as an “endangered species.” Donte and his family worked tirelessly so that other families would not experience the pain of losing a loved one to gun violence. In addition to fighting gun violence, Donte worked in the family business since the age of 16, caring for people with mental disabilities. He was a loving father to a 9-year-old girl and a 4-year-old-boy.

“My son came down the steps on March 4th, 2021, kissed me on my left cheek five times, looked me in my eyes and said, ‘mom, I love you. I’ll see you later,’ and the next time my son came home was in a box,” said Donte’s mom, Movita Johnson-Harrell.

Detectives believe there are witnesses in the area who may have seen or know the suspects’ identities. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Information can also be provided anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477) or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org/.

Press Conference

Help us Solve The Murder of Lentrail Hicks 1024 768 SIB Staff

Help us Solve The Murder of Lentrail Hicks

Detectives and Family Members Seek Help from the Public to Solve The Murder of LeNtrail Hicks; Detectives Announce $20K Reward

On Thursday, March 24, 2022, Homicide Bureau Detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department held a press conference to announce a $20,000 reward in exchange for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the murder of Lentrail Hicks. The reward was sponsored by Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Second District.

Shortly before noon on November 7, 2020, deputies from the Century Sheriff Station responded to a call at a residence in the area of 66th Street and Compton Avenue, in the Florence-Firestone area of Los Angeles County. Upon arriving at the location, they located Victim Lentrail Hicks suffering from a single stab wound to his abdomen. At that time, Hicks was unable to give deputies any information that would assist them to identify or locate the suspect(s). He was also unable to provide the location of the incident.

On Monday, November 9, 2020, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Investigators were notified that Victim Lentrail Hicks had died from the injuries he sustained on November 7, 2020. 

Upon obtaining and viewing surveillance footage, Investigators observed an incident involving three male Hispanics walking southbound on the west sidewalk of Compton Ave. The male Hispanics included a young boy, approximately 10 to 12 years of age, a male approximately 18 years old wearing all black clothing; and a male approximately 35 years old wearing a black t-shirt with a large white logo on the front, khaki-colored pants and had a ball cap in his hands.  The victim, wearing a white t-shirt, dark colored pants, and a ball cap, walked northbound on the west sidewalk of Compton Ave. The Hispanics and the victim crossed paths on the northwest corner of 68th St. and Compton Ave. It appeared there were words exchanged, but no physical altercation. The victim continued walking northbound on Compton Ave, possibly entering a local business on the block. The group of Hispanic males continued walking southbound on the west sidewalk of Compton Ave. and out of view.  The entire contact took approximately 30 seconds. 

Approximately two minutes later, Investigators observed the victim enter the camera view on the west sidewalk of Compton Ave, near the businesses in the 6700 block of Compton Ave. The victim looks southbound but starts walking northbound.  All of a sudden, a dark colored Prius is seen driving at a high-rate speed northbound Compton Ave in the southbound lanes. The Prius stops in the number 2 southbound lane, just north of 68th Street, parallel to the victim. A male Hispanic, wearing the same black t-shirt with a large white logo on the front and khaki-colored pants from the earlier confrontation with the victim, exited the front passenger door of the Prius.  He walked straight to the victim and began a physical altercation with him on the sidewalk.  It appeared the driver also exited the Prius and confronted the victim.  The altercation spilled out into the lanes of traffic. The two male Hispanics appear to be assaulting the victim, and at one point, the victim attempts to protect himself by kicking at them. During the altercation, the Hispanic male in khaki pants can be seen making a stabbing motion toward the victim. The victim stops and looks down at his shirt.  The second Hispanic male takes a large swing at the victim, who avoids contact by spinning around.  Suddenly, the three males stop fighting. The two male Hispanics get back into the Prius, while the victim is seen walking northbound. The Prius makes a u-turn on Compton Ave, then drives west on 68th Street at a high-rate speed and out of view.

According to the Victim’s mother, Paula Stringer, when Lentrail got home he yelled to her to call 911 because he had just been stabbed. Ms. Stringer called 911 and paramedics performed first aid and lifesaving measures and transported him to St. Francis Medical Center for further treatment. Despite advanced life-saving measures, Victim Hicks ultimately succumbed to his injuries.

“I’m not angry, I’m more hurt than anything. My anger has passed. My son was a lovely father, a devoted brother, a loving son, and he did not deserve this. Whatever was going on out there, please come forward and let us know that Lentrail’s death won’t go in vain,” said Lentrail’s mom.     

If you have information about Lentrail’s murder, please contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500, or if you prefer to provide information anonymously, call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile App on Google Play or the Apple App Store, or use the website http://lacrimestoppers.org/.

Press Conference Video

Press Conference Material

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Centralized LA Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau Connects 3 East LA Unsolved Murders, 2 Persons of Interest Sought 1024 819 SIB Staff

Centralized LA Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau Connects 3 East LA Unsolved Murders, 2 Persons of Interest Sought

On Wednesday, August 18, 2021, Homicide Bureau detectives announced an $80,000 reward in exchange for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects responsible for the murders of 34 year-old Jesse Avalos, 38 year-old Eduardo Robles and 27 year-old Amanda “Nikki” Lopez, who were killed in East Los Angeles in 2014, 2015 and 2018, respectively. The reward was sponsored by Supervisor Hilda Solis, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, First District.

On Monday, February 10, 2014, at approximately 10:50 p.m., Victim Jesse Avalos received a phone call from an acquaintance requesting a jumpstart to his vehicle near the intersection of Telegraph Road and Arizona Avenue in East Los Angeles. Victim Avalos provided the jumpstart approximately 15 minutes later. A few hours later, East Los Angeles Sheriff’s Station received a phone call at 3:25 a.m. of an injured person at the 4800 block of Telegraph Road in East Los Angeles. There, deputies found Victim Avalos on the driver’s seat of his blue SUV.  He had sustained numerous gunshot wounds. The hood of his SUV was found open and two suspects were seen around the vehicle.  

On Monday, July 6, 2015, victim Eduardo Robles was involved in a physical altercation on the driveway of a residence on the 4300 block of Eagle Street in East Los Angeles. Victim Robles was visiting, and approximately 15 people were present when the incident occurred. After the fight, the suspect jumped over a wrought iron fence to the street, walked to Victim Robles’ vehicle and punctured the four tires with a sharp object and fled the location. The same suspect returned to the location five minutes later and shot Victim Robles several times in the upper torso. The suspect was picked up by a Hispanic male in his mid to late forties, five feet eight to five feet nine inches tall, heavy set build, in a light green colored vehicle.

On Sunday, April 22, 2018, at approximately 2:40 a.m., the suspect exited the passenger side of a silver PT Cruiser and began searching for Amanda “Nikki” Lopez in a homeless encampment that was situated in a courtyard in front of the East Los Angeles Courthouse. The suspect located Victim Lopez in a tent in front of the field office of First District Supervisor Hilda Solis. The suspect placed a firearm into the tent and fired at Victim Lopez while she slept, striking her in the upper torso, killing her.  

Sheriff’s detectives made a plea to the public, hoping $80,000 will motivate someone to bring that missing piece of the puzzle and bring closure to these families. “We know there were witnesses at every murder,” said Homicide Bureau Captain Joe Mendoza. It was witnesses coupled with surveillance at scenes that allowed a good description of both suspects.

But what led sheriff’s investigators to explore a possible connection in these three murders? Captain Mendoza explained, “One of the things that’s unique about LA County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau is that we are centralized and we commonly speak to other investigators about our cases.  So when investigators were comparing notes on cases, they believed they had similar description of the suspects and that’s when they really started to connect the dots. The link was the descriptions of the suspects who were similarly described.”

When the ballistic evidence from the 2014 murder of Victim Avalos was compared to the ballistic evidence from the 2015 murder of Victim Robles, the comparison determined the same handgun was used in both murders.

All three murders occurred within 2.2 miles of each other and within the same general area of East Los Angeles.  Although a motive for the murders was unclear, investigators believe the victims were known to the suspects and were specifically targeted based on their relationships with the suspects.

In the three cases, witnesses describe the main suspect as a Hispanic male with short hair in his late twenties, five feet eight inches tall with a medium build. He has a tattoo on his neck with unknown writing.

The second suspect drives the getaway vehicle and is described as a Hispanic male in his mid to late forties, five feet eight to five feet nine inches tall, heavy set build and possibly with a mustache.

“I speak for my family as well as the other two families. We don’t have closure, we don’t have justice and I’m sure all of these families are still suffering. Please help us, please come forward with any information you may have,” said Victim Avalos’ eldest sister, Maria Orozco.

 “Our brother is truly missed by our family, by his children,” added Victim Avalos weeping sister, Bertha Avalos.

Justice Deputy Esther Lim, representing LA County Board of Supervisor’s Hilda L. Solis said, “Through this $80,000 reward, the county is counting on our residents to help us bring accountability to the perpetrators of these heinous crimes.”

“We’ve had nobody come forward that can really tell us who these suspects are,” said Captain Mendoza. “So we are trying to get them to come forward because we know those witnesses are out there.  And the $80,000 reward may quite possibly help do just that.”

Video of the full press conference:

To view video surveillance of the suspect exit the passenger side of a silver PT Cruiser, search for Victim Amanda “Nikki” Lopez and fire into the tent, click and download here: https://www.lasdvideos.org/mediaportal/lasd-homicide-captain-mendoza-announces-80k-reward-in-three-east-la-unsolved-murders/

If you have information about these senseless murders, please contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500, East Los Angeles Station at (323) 264-4151 or if you prefer to provide information anonymously, call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile App on Google Play or the Apple App Store, or use the website http://lacrimestoppers.org/.

Emotional Falcon family speaking to press
LASD announces Reward in La Puente Shooting 900 742 SIB Staff

LASD announces Reward in La Puente Shooting

Sheriff’s Homicide Detectives to Announce $20,000 Reward in La Puente Shooting Death of Ten-Year-Old Boy

During a press conference at the Homicide Bureau offices, investigators and family members made a public plea for information about the murder Enrique Sebastian Falcon, a ten-year-old victim shot to death in front of his family.

At 9:15 P.M. on Sunday, May 17, 2020, the little boy known by his middle name, was a passenger in the back seat of a car, travelling through La Puente with his mother and her boyfriend.  As they drove southbound on Hacienda Boulevard, a black sedan pulled alongside their vehicle and the boyfriend alerted the occupants to turn on their headlights.  Both vehicles continued southbound on Hacienda Boulevard.  As the two vehicles approached the intersection with Amar Road, a male inside the other vehicle fired one round from a handgun at Sebastian’s vehicle.  Sebastian was struck one time on the right side of his torso.

Sebastian’s mother called 9-1-1, and deputies assigned to Industry Sheriff’s Station responded to their location.  Deputies administered life-saving measures to the little one while they drove him with lights and sirens in a patrol vehicle to the nearest hospital.  Despite their efforts to save his life, Sebastian succumbed to his injuries and died at the hospital later that night.

The suspect vehicle fled the area in an unknown direction.  The suspect was described as a male Hispanic, bald, between 20 and 25 years of age.

Homicide detectives announced a cash reward for $20,000.00 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect(s) responsible for taking Sebastian’s life.  The reward was secured by the city of La Puente, and the Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis’ Office.

Detectives and Sebastian’s family spoke at the event and asked for the public’s assistance to bring the perpetrators of this senseless crime to justice.  Sebastian’s mother, Adriana, held one of her son’s favorite toys as she faced media.  She said they missed him and asked for justice. 

If you have information about the suspect, suspect’s vehicle or this investigation, please contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. 

Sheriff’s Homicide Detectives Announce $20,000 Reward in La Puente Shooting Death of Ten-Year-Old Boy

During a press conference at the Homicide Bureau offices, investigators and family members made a public plea for information about the murder Enrique Sebastian Falcon, a ten-year-old victim shot to death in front of his family.At 9:15 P.M. on Sunday, May 17, 2020, the little boy known by his middle name, was a passenger in the back seat of a car, travelling through La Puente with his mother and her boyfriend. As they drove southbound on Hacienda Boulevard, a black sedan pulled alongside their vehicle and the boyfriend alerted the occupants to turn on their headlights. Both vehicles continued southbound on Hacienda Boulevard. As the two vehicles approached the intersection with Amar Road, a male inside the other vehicle fired one round from a handgun at Sebastian’s vehicle. To read more and learn about the reward offer, click: https://lasd.org/lasd-announces-reward-in-la-puente-shooting/

Posted by Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department on Tuesday, September 15, 2020
Death Investigation in Alhambra 297 294 SIB Staff

Death Investigation in Alhambra

DEATH INVESTIGATION IN ALHAMBRA

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Investigators are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of an elderly woman in Alhambra.

Officers from the Alhambra Police Department responded to the area of a flood control channel near the Almansor Golf Course to check the welfare on a woman reported down near a rear access road.

Upon arriving, they discovered an unconscious Asian woman alongside the flood control channel. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Her cause of death was not immediately apparent. Investigators however believe the victim may be a woman reported missing from San Gabriel in recent days. At this time, the victim has not been positively identified and her name will not be released pending that identification by the coroner and notification to her family.

The investigation continues and there is no further information at this time.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. If you wish to remain anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), using your smartphone by downloading the “P3 MOBILE APP” on Google play or the App Store, or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org

Forwarded by:
Deputy James Nagao
Sheriff’s Information Bureau – Newsroom
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
Hall of Justice – First floor
211 W. Temple St, Los Angeles, CA 90012