Canoga Park Man Bludgeons Elderly Mother & Uncle To Death With Hammer
You read the title correctly. Yikes. When I first read about this I thought that due to the victims’ advanced age, it may be some sort of a mercy killing type situation. Then when I read the part about the hammer I thought “not so much.”
A 63-year-old man was arrested Friday on suspicion of bludgeoning to death his elderly mother and uncle, authorities said.
Police were called to the 7000 block of Eton Avenue in Canoga Park just after 9 a.m. Friday, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
When officers arrived, they were met by Arthur Reyes Morales, who immediately surrendered.
Inside they found the bodies of 87-year-old Rita Morales and 85-year-old Manual Reyes; both appeared to have beaten to death with a hammer. The suspect was the primary caregiver for the elderly pair, police said.
Reyes Morales was arrested and booked at the Van Nuys Jail on two counts of murder. He is being held on $2-million bail.
LAPD Topanga writes via Nixle:
63-year-old Suspect Arrested for Killing Mother and Uncle
Los Angeles: On Friday, April 30, 2010, at around 9:05 a.m., officers from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Topanga Area responded to a “Homicide suspect there now” radio call in the 7000 block of Eton Avenue in Canoga Park. The initial report led officers to believe that a man had killed his mother and father.
When the officers arrived, they were met by 63-year-old Arthur Reyes Moralesa, a resident of Canoga Park who immediately surrendered to the officers. The officers continued their investigation and found 85-year-old Manual Reyes, and 87-year-old Rita Morales, dead inside the home.
It appeared that their fatal injuries were caused by blunt force trauma.
The suspect had been the primary care giver for both of the decedents, who have now been confirmed as the suspect’s mother and uncle. The motive for this crime is still unknown.
Arthur Reyes Moralesa was arrested and booked at Van Nuys Jail for two counts of murder and is being held on a $2,000,000 bail.
Los Angeles Police Department Homicide Detectives assigned to Topanga Area are handling the investigation. For additional information, please call Topanga Area Homicide Detectives Detectives Pogue and Williams at (818) 756-3363.
The Daily News has a longer article with more details about the perpetrator and victims.
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Bank Robbery In Northridge?
A coworker of mine saw 8 to 10 LAPD cars pull up to the Citibank at Tampa & Nordhoff about 30 minutes ago, guns out. Was there a bank robbery? Have the Buckshot Bandits returned?
Update: I never did see anything in the media about this. So, not sure what happened. If anyone has any information, please leave a comment.
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Insane Armenian Mafia Hit Job In Valley Village Eatery? Crazy!
Thankfully this has nothing to do with Woodland Hills, but I want to repost it anyway. Surreal.
Police officials are calling the deadly Saturday afternoon shooting inside a Valley Village restaurant “an intentional act.” Four were killed and two critically injured after shots broke out inside Hot Spot Cafe, a Mediterranean restaurant on Riverside Drive near Colfax Avenue, in what some are calling an Armenian mafia or gang hit.
“This is not a random act of violence,” explained Kirk Albanese, the Deputy Chief for the LAPD’s Valley Bureau. “This is an intentional act and this is an investigation that will require a great deal of effort on the part of our detectives.”
Around 4:40 p.m., a group of people were eating at the restaurant when the incident occurred. Albanese could not confirm details initially reported in the media. “We need to answer [questions] correctly with an investigation that does so with the facts.”
Early media reports said a white 30-year-old male, possibly Armenian, walked in with a gun, but a cautious Albanese deflected. “We don’t now if it’s one or more gunman,” he said, citing the large number of bullets expended. Whether the suspect or suspects walked in or were already inside was unknown, he added. No official suspect description has been released.
All victims were men. Three of them were dead on scene while three others were transported the hospital where one died. The two others were in critical but stable condition and are expected to survive.
The shooting was rumored to be tied to organized crime. According to sources to the LA Times, it “might have involved Armenian gangs” while other media gathered at the scene spoke of the Armenian mafia. Police said they had no further information in that regards, citing it’s too early to say.
Those rumors were further fueled by neighbors of the eatery. “How do you run a business when there are no customers?” questioned Bettye Hicks, who lives down the street.
Matt Edwards, a neighbor who heard the gunshots, said he immediately knew the incident happened there. “The place is so shady,” he said of the place, described by the Times as a mom and pop mom-and-pop restaurant. “It opened like five years ago… I went in there to get something to eat and they didn’t even know what they were doing making the food.”
One employee at Marie Et Cie, a coffee house catty corner to the restaurant, said no one ever goes in and out of the business. And numerous neighbors noted how often private parties occurred there.
Addressing any concern, L.A. City Councilman Paul Krekorian, who represents Valley Village, said “this wasn’t a random act, there isn’t an immediate danger to the community.”
When Tony Braswell, President of the Valley Village Neighborhood Council arrived at the scene, police immediately addressed the same concern. “Our senior lead officer was here… He came over and said ‘this is not about Valley Village, it’s isolated.’
Braswell then relayed information to the Council’s network of neighborhood watches and informed other community groups. He said the senior lead officer also sent out an e-mail to community members.
Outside the police perimeter, a distraught woman who said her husband was shot tried to gather information from detectives. A few small groups of Armenian men gathered throughout the night.
“We will get to the bottom of it and we will get to the bottom of it quickly,” Krekorian said.
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YD’s West Hills Official Becomes Yankee Doodle’s
YD's in West Hills changes name to Yankee Doodle's
An astute reader writes in:
I read your article about YD’s Sports Bar and Grill in West Hills. Let you know that YD’s Sports Bar and Grill is change of name now called “Yankee Doodles Bar Sports and Grill” and replace new signs around the building. My dad and I were surprised to see them change it. We don’t know why. I saw alot of people at YD’s for UFC 111 and a Lakers game. Today’s biggest PPV event of the year is WWE Wrestlemania 26 at YD. Go WWE!! Thanks, Jose
Thanks Jose for letting me know. I drove by today to confirm the change and take a few pictures.
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Teen Killed In Porter Ranch “Head Out The Window” Accident Was Woodland Hills Resident
I remember hearing about this a few weeks back, but didn’t know the kid lived in Woodland Hills. It happened on Friday, February 12, 2010. There is a Facebook memorial page for Adir Vered with almost 3,000 members.
PORTER RANCH — A 17-year-old boy who had his head sticking out of a car window died when the 16-year-old driver crashed into a parked vehicle in Porter Ranch.
The crash happened around 9:25 p.m. Friday in the 10400 block of Wystone Avenue, according to Sgt. Charles Swanson of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Valley Traffic Division.
The 17-year-old was apparently not wearing a seat belt, and was ejected from the car when his head struck the parked car.
The deceased teen was identified as Adir Vered, an honor student.
The 16-year-old driver and another passenger, also 16, were not injured, Swanson said.
After an investigation, police officials said they had no reason to believe the driver was under the influence of alcohol.
The driver, whose name was also unavailable, was questioned and then released.
Porter Ranch – A teenager who stuck his head out of a car window died when the teen driver crashed into a parked vehicle in Porter Ranch, a Los Angeles police sergeant said today.
Adir Vered, 17, of Woodland Hills, was killed about 9:25 p.m. Friday in the 10400 block of Wystone Avenue, according to the coroner and Sgt. Charles Swanson of the Valley Traffic Division.
A 16-year-old was driving the car when it hit a parked car, Swanson said.
Vered, who was not wearing a seat belt and had stuck his head out the window, was killed when his head hit the parked car and he was ejected, Swanson said.
The 16-year-old driver and another passenger, also 16, were not injured, Swanson said. The driver was questioned and released, Swanson said.
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LAPD Seeks Information In Today’s Canoga Park Murder
Information on homicide, 22000 blk of Cantlay Street, sought by LAPD.
On February 25, 2010, at approximately 0830 hours, Los Angeles Police Department uniformed patrol officers assigned to Topanga Area responded to an “Assault with a Deadly Weapon” radio call at the 22000 block of Cantlay Street in the City of Canoga Park.
Upon officers arrival, they observed a male Hispanic unconscious, lying outside in the residence driveway. Victim, identified as 46 year old Juan Rivera of the San Fernando Valley sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
Los Angeles City Fire Department Paramedics responded to the scene and attempted emergency medical treatment with negative results. Victim Juan Rivera succumbed to his injuries and died at scene.
Los Angeles Police Department Homicide Detectives assigned to Topanga Area are following-up on all potential leads and are seeking the publics assistance.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Topanga Area Homicide Detectives at (818) 756-3363 during business hours, or after hours and on weekends at (818) 756-4800.
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LAPD Reports 8:30am Homicide In Canoga Park Ths Morning
A homicide occurred at approximately 8:30AM this morning in the 22000 block of Cantlay Avenue. Homicide investigators are on scene and are pursuing leads in the investigation. The suspect is not believed to be in the area.
I’ll let you know if any more information on this pops up.
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