LAPD Blog

Investigators Solve Several Recent Murders

Los Angeles: Los Angeles Police Department Homicide detectives have been working tirelessly to solve several recent murders in Los Angeles. The detectives have worked with our law enforcement partners and community members to identify and arrest these violent offenders.

Chinatown Double Homicide

On January 26, 2017 around 2:45 p.m.., the victims, Tony Young and Kim Kong Yun, were inside the Hop Sing Tong Benevolent Association. The suspect, Vinh Dao, a former member of the club, entered the location and demanded money from Young. When Young refused, Dao attacked him with a knife, killing him. When Kim Kong Yun intervened, he too was attacked by Dao and killed. Dao was identified just a short time later.
With the assistance of detectives from our Major Crimes Section, a bloodhound from our Gang and Narcotics Division, and members of the FBI Fugitive Task Force, Central Homicide detectives led the relentless pursuit of Dao.Due to the cooperation from the public, tenacity, and investigative skills of our detectives, we were able to capture Dao later in the City of Rosemead.

Northeast Mini-Mart Murder and Pacific Marijuana Dispensary Murder

On January 17 around 3:35 a.m., the suspect, Kayshon Moody, entered the Chevron gas station at Los Feliz Boulevard and Vermont Avenue posing as a customer. Following a brief interaction with the clerk, Moody pointed a handgun at the clerk, Md Mizanur Rahman, and shot the clerk for no apparent reason. Moody then reached over the counter and removed the cash drawer and fled to a white vehicle that was parked in the parking lot.
The victim, Md Mizanur Rahman, a Bangladesh native Foreign exchange student, was able to call 911 and was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

Northeast Homicide detectives obtained surveillance video from the Chevron. During the investigation, Northeast Homicide detectives met with Robbery Detectives from the Glendale Police Department to discuss potential similarities between the Northeast Murder and a Robbery in the City of Glendale.

The collaborative efforts of Northeast Homicide detectives and Glendale detectives and their forensic examination of the evidence collected from both crime scenes resulted in the identification of the suspect. Moody was located and arrested on January 20, 2017. On January 24, 2017, the District Attorney's Office filed 1 (ct) 187(a)PC-Murder and 2 (cts) 211PC -Robbery

During the investigation of the Northeast murder, Moody was also linked to a murder and robbery at a marijuana dispensary in the 12400 block of Venice Blvd in Pacific Division on January 18th . In that case, the owner of the business was shot multiple times during the robbery and died as a result of those gunshot wounds
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Murder of Sister-in-Law

On January 8th. around 3:15 a.m., the suspect, 32-year-old Marcos Flores, went to a residence in the 17500 block of Gilmore Street in Van Nuys where his wife was living with her sister. The suspect was angry over recent court orders related to his children. At the residence he shot the victim, 36-year-old Sulma Flores, in the chest. A teen daughter was present at the time of the shooting.

The suspect fled in 2004 Acura TL, light grey. On January 9th around 11:30 p.m., Metropolitan Division saw the suspect's vehicle in the area of 6800 Reseda. Suspect attempted to flee and a pursuit ensued. During the pursuit there was an officer-involved-shooting and the suspect was ultimately taken into custody. The District Attorney initially filed attempt murder, ADW, criminal threats, evading, discharge of a firearm with gross negligence, and felon with a firearm; however after the victim died the District Attorney amended the charge to murder.

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The Los Angeles Police Department Focuses on Education and Enforcement at Dangerous Intersections in Central Bureau

One of the primary duties of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is to facilitate the safe and expeditious movement of vehicular and pedestrian traffic. To enforce compliance with traffic laws and to develop driver awareness of the causes of traffic collisions, the LAPD appropriately warns, cites or arrests traffic law violators.

On January 27, 2017, the LAPD will conduct a Directed Enforcement Task Force (DETF) at various intersections throughout Operations-Central Bureau (OCB). The goal of the DETF is to reduce the number of traffic collisions at specific intersections that have the highest incident of fatalities, severe or visible injuries through education and enforcement. The Los Angeles Department of Transportation and LAPD partner on safety programs throughout the City of Los Angeles as part of Vision Zero, a goal to end traffic deaths by 2025. The DETF is a data-driven effort that brings a laser focus to locations and causes of crashes, preventable through education, enforcement, and engineering.

The DETF will be comprised of officers from traffic divisions throughout the City of Los Angeles. Through a detailed analysis of reportable traffic collisions over the past year, the LAPD has identified the following intersections in OCB that the DETF will focus on:


* San Pedro Street at 6th Street

* Alvarado Street at 6th Street

* Wilshire Boulevard at Alvarado Street

* 3rd Street Alvarado Street

* Cypress Avenue at Division Street

The DETF is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Remember, everyone is encouraged to help keep our roadways safe; Report Drunk Drivers - Call 911!

MEDIA NOTES: To schedule an interview regarding the Los Angeles Police Department traffic safety efforts, please contact Lieutenant Dave Ferry, Emergency Operations Division, at (213) 486-0680.

Fugitive Task Force Officer Involved Shooting in the City of Anaheim

**The following information is based on a preliminary and ongoing investigation, which continues to evolve as investigators interview witnesses, review physical and electronic records, and analyze forensic evidence.  The Department’s understanding of the facts and circumstances may change as additional evidence is collected and analyzed**

Anaheim: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Violent Crime Fugitive Task Force (VCFTF) officers located a wanted murder suspect armed with a shovel resulting in an officer involved shooting.  

The VCFTF is comprised of agents from the FBI, California Department of Corrections State Parole, officers from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and Los Angeles County Probation Department.   

On January 17, 2017, around 09:50 a.m., LAPD Gang and Narcotics Division detectives assigned to the FBI, VCFTF conducted a follow-up investigation to a commercial nursery in the 2700 block of West Broadway in the City of Anaheim.  Task force members received information that a wanted fugitive may be at that location.  The fugitive was identified as 24-year-old, Oscar Infante Ramirez wanted in connection to a September 2016 murder in Las Vegas, Nevada.  

Investigators saw Ramirez working at the nursery and approached him with the intent to apprehend him.  Ramirez armed himself with a shovel and refused to comply with commands to drop the shovel and surrender.  A task force member deployed a TASER twice, striking Ramirez but it was not effective.  Ramirez lunged towards LAPD Detective I Craig Hewitt, Serial No. 32951 with the shovel.  Detective Hewitt fired his police service shotgun, striking Ramirez in the right upper torso.  Ramirez fell to the ground and was taken into custody without further incident.   

The Anaheim Fire Department responded and transported Ramirez in a rescue ambulance to a local hospital where he underwent surgery and was listed in stable condition.   

No officers or bystanders were injured during this incident.  

There have been three officer-involved-shootings in 2017
 
LAPD’s specialized Force Investigation Division (FID) responded to the scene and began interviewing witnesses and collecting forensic evidence.  The complete investigation will be reviewed by the Chief of Police and the Board of Police Commissioners to determine whether the use of deadly force complied with LAPD’s policies and procedures.  

In addition, the Orange County District Attorney’s office will review the incident to determine whether any of the officers’ actions violated California criminal statutes.   

Anyone with additional information regarding this incident is urged to call the LAPD at any of the following numbers:

* During business hours at 213-486-5230;

* During non-business hours or on weekends at (877)-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247);

* Anonymously 24-hours a day to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or by texting “LAPD” and your tip to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S); or

* Online at www.lapdonline.org and click on “Anonymous Web Tips.  

Suspect Wanted for Hit and Run Collision That Left Two Victims Dead

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department West Traffic Division detectives are asking for the public's help in providing any information that would lead to the arrest of Arsen Akopyan, who was involved in a hit and run traffic collision that killed two of his passengers.

On Saturday, October 15, 2016, around 2:30 a.m., West Traffic Division Officers responded to an "Ambulance Traffic" radio call in the intersection of Wilton Place and 3rd Street. When officers arrived they found that the vehicle involved in the traffic collision was on fire. The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the location and extinguished the car fire. Once the fire had been put out, two bodies were discovered in the back seat of the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle, later identified as Arsen Akopyan, fled the scene and did not render aid to the victims.

Arsen Akopyan is described as a 34-year-old male, Caucasian, with hazel eyes and brown hair. He is 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs approximately 200 lbs.


On April 15, 2015, the City Council amended the Los Angeles Administrative Code and created a Hit and Run Reward Program Trust Fund. A reward of up to $50,000 is available to community members who provide information leading to the offender's identification, apprehension, and conviction or resolution through a civil compromise.

Anyone with information about this collision is asked to contact West Traffic Division Detectives, Detective McQueen at (213) 473-0233. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org. Tipsters may also visit www.lapdonline.org, and click on "Anonymous Web Tips" under the "Get Involved-Crime Stoppers" menu to submit an online tip. Lastly, tipsters may also download the "P3 Tips" mobile application and select the LA Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.

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Critical Missing 28-year-old Woman

Los Angeles: The family of Laura Lynne Stacy and the Los Angeles Police Department, Missing Person's Unit is asking for the public's help in locating her.

Ms. Stacy was last seen on January 22, 2017, in the 3600 block of Barham Blvd in the City of Los Angeles. She is driving a 2005 black Acura TL with a Colorado license plate number of 597WFD.

Ms. Stacy is described as a 28-year-old white female with blond hair and blue eyes. She stands 5 feet and 8 inches tall and weighs approximately 130 pounds.


Anyone with additional information is urged to call Los Angeles Police Department, Missing Person's Unit at (213) 996-1800. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org. Tipsters may also visit www.lapdonline.org, and click on "Anonymous Web Tips" under the "Get Involved-Crime Stoppers" menu to submit an online tip. Lastly, tipsters may also download the "P3 Tips" mobile application and select the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.

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Notes from the January 17, 2017 Weekly Police Commission Meeting

Commissioner President Matt Johnson opened the meeting and a quorum was established.  The meeting proceeded to the Consent Agenda Items, all of which (1A through 1G) were approved with no discussion.  All Regular Agenda Items (2A through 2C) were approved.  

Chief Beck thanked officers that were assigned duty to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade yesterday and to those who attended on their own time.  There were two Officer Involved Shooting (OIS) since the last Police Commission meeting.  Last night in Olympic Division, officers responded to a residence in which the suspect was armed with a large knife and confronted officers.  An OIS occurred, suspect was not hit and was taken into custody.  The second OIS occurred on 11th and Hope.  A man armed with a large kitchen knife had attacked a Department of Transportation officer on Hope when two LAPD traffic officers responded and an OIS occurred.  Officers responded to the suspect’s residence where they found a female deceased.  Currently there are 9,892 sworn officers, 400 reserve officers, 284 specialist volunteers, and 8,400 cadets in the Department.   

This concludes the Chief’s report.

1-17-17 COP PC Audio

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Officers Involved in a Shooting with Pursuit Suspect on the 405 Freeway

**The following information is based on a preliminary, ongoing investigation which continues to evolve as investigators interview witnesses, review physical and electronic records, and analyze forensic evidence. The Department's understanding of the facts and circumstances of the incident may change as additional evidence is collected and analyzed**

Los Angeles: On January 9, 2017 about 10:00 p.m. Metropolitan Division officers were in the area of Reseda Boulevard and Vanowen Street in Reseda. They were in the area checking locations for an attempt murder suspect, 32-year-old Marco Tulio Flores. Flores entered a vehicle and was driving away when Metropolitan Division officers initiated a traffic stop. Flores stopped and exited the vehicle in the 19000 block of Sherman Way. Flores was uncooperative and did not follow the commands given by the officers; at which time a Metropolitan Division officer fired three Less Lethal Bean Bag Shotgun rounds at Flores. The rounds had no effect on Flores and he entered his vehicle and fled from the pursuing officers.

Around 11:15 p.m., the pursuit was south on the 405 Freeway south of the Ventura Boulevard exit when Flores stopped his vehicle and fired two rounds from a handgun. Valley Traffic Division Officers Ryan Shaffer, Serial No. 38771, and Steven Burroughs, Serial No. 38314 fired rounds from their handguns at Flores. Officer Shaffer fired two rounds and Officer Burroughs fired six rounds at Flores. West Valley Patrol Division Officers Jessyka Monzon, Serial No. 42408, and Brian Hopwood, Serial No. 40219, also fired rounds at Flores. Officer Monzon fired 2 rounds from her handgun at Flores and Officer Hopwood fired two rounds from his Urban Police Rifle. Flores was not struck and continued south on the 405 Freeway. As Flores approached the Skirball Avenue exit, he again stopped the vehicle and failed to comply with the officer's commands. Officer Monzon fired three rounds from her handgun at Flores and a Metropolitan Division officer fired two Less Lethal Bean Bag Shotgun rounds at Flores.

When Flores was south on the 405 Freeway near the Sunset Boulevard exit, Metropolitan Division officers initiated a Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT) to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was stopped by the PIT and Flores did not follow the officer's commands. A K-9 was used to take Flores into custody.

Flores was transported to a local hospital to receive medical treatment for a K-9 bite. He was released and booked for Attempt Murder.

A handgun which Flores used at the first officer involved shooting location was recovered in the south lanes of traffic on the 405 Freeway near Ventura Boulevard.

No officers were injured during the incident.

This was the first officer-involved-shooting in 2017. This is the 1st incident in 2017 where a suspect was armed with a firearm or replica firearm resulting in a use of deadly force incident with a LAPD officer. In 2016, there were 28 incidents involving a suspect with a firearm or replica firearm which resulted in a use of deadly force.

LAPD's specialized Force Investigation Division is conducting a thorough investigation of the officer-involved shooting which will be presented to the Chief of Police and the Board of Police Commissioners to determine whether the use of deadly force and tactics employed by the officers complied with LAPD's policies and procedures. The Los Angeles District Attorney's Office will also review the evidence collected during the investigation to determine whether any criminal laws were violated.

Anyone with additional information regarding this incident is urged to call the LAPD at any of the following numbers:
• During business hours at (213) 486-5230;
• During non-business hours or on weekends at (877)-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247);
• Anonymously 24-hours a day to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or by texting "LAPD" and your tip to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S); or
• Online at www.lapdonline.org and click on "Anonymous Web Tips.

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Woodland Hills Homicide

Woodland Hills: The Los Angeles Police Department Valley Bureau Homicide Division is requesting the public's assistance in obtaining information to identify the suspect(s) involved in the murder of Fabio Sementilli, a Canadian born resident of Woodland Hills.

On January 23, 2017, around 5:05 p.m., Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded to the 5000 block of Queen Victoria Road for a "Hemorrhaging" radio call. The paramedics observed a male in the outdoor patio of the residence with injuries to his face and a significant amount of blood. The paramedics pronounced the victim dead at the scene and contacted Topanga Division officers because it appeared to be a suspicious death. When the officers arrived they found the victim, later identified as Fabio Sementilli, suffering from multiple stab wounds.

Valley Bureau Homicide detectives responded to the scene and their preliminary investigation confirmed that Fabio Sementilli, had sustained several stab wounds to his neck and upper torso. Detectives found that the victim's vehicle was missing from his home. The vehicle taken is described as a 2008, Porsche, Carrera 911, black with paper plates.

There is no suspect(s) description at this time.

Anyone with information regarding this crime is encouraged to call Detective Steve Castro, Los Angeles Police Department, Valley Bureau Homicide, at (818) 374-1925. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org. Tipsters may also visit www.lapdonline.org, and click on "Anonymous Web Tips" under the "Get Involved-Crime Stoppers" menu to submit an online tip. Lastly, tipsters may also download the "P3 Tips" mobile application and select the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.

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76-Year-Old Missing Man

Los Angeles: The family of Jorge Mejia and the Los Angeles Police Department's North Hollywood Detectives are asking for the public's assistance in locating him.

Jorge was last seen on January 20, 2017, in the 6100 block of Vineland Avenue in the city of North Hollywood. Jorge suffers from Alzheimer's disease and dementia. His is family is concerned for his safety.

Jorge is described as a 76-year-old male Hispanic with gray hair and brown eyes. He stands 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighs approximately 110 pounds. Jorge was last seen wearing a light blue sweater and brown pants.


If you have seen or have any information regarding the whereabouts of Jorge Mejia, please contact North Hollywood Watch Commander at (818) 754-8410. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers 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.

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Update on Women’s March In Los Angeles

Los Angeles: The streets of Downtown Los Angeles are emptying and you can be proud of your city. With crowd estimates well past one hundred thousand, the women, men, and children exercised their first amendment rights in a joyous and peaceful manner. So far as of 2:00 p.m. The Los Angeles Police Department has not made any arrests and is in the process of opening downtown streets to facilitate the flow of traffic. The men and women of the Los Angeles Police Department are currently working with the Department of Transportation to restore traffic back to normal. While there are long waits for public transportation, our city partners at Metro have added extra busses and rail cars to help expedite everyone's journey.

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