Wave Staff and Wire Reports
HOLLYWOOD — Zaya Campbell, the 12-year-old daughter of Grammy-winner singer Erica Campbell and music producer Warryn Campbell, was the winner of the 30th annual Little Miss African American Scholarship Pageant.
The pageant was held Aug. 4 at Barnsdall Art Park.
The pageant was produced by Lisa Ruffin, who created the pageant 30 years ago.
Ruffin calls the event an art educational program designed to increase the confidence of African-American girls between the ages of 6 and 12.
Thirty-five girls took part in this year’s pageant.
Man killed in
parking lot fight
WEST HOLLYWOOD — A 48-year-old man is expected to appear in court Aug. 8 on a murder charge in the death of another man after an altercation in a parking lot Aug. 6.
Deputies responded to the 7900 block of West Santa Monica Boulevard at around 12:45 p.m., where they located an unresponsive man on the sidewalk in front of a 7-Eleven, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Paramedics arrived and rushed the unconscious man, later identified as 68-year-old Armando Gabriel of Los Angeles, to a hospital, where he died.
Investigators learned that Gabriel and Bell Gardens resident Ramon Casas were involved in a minor traffic collision in the 7-Eleven parking lot at Santa Monica and Fairfax Avenue moments before the physical altercation, during which Casas allegedly assaulted Gabriel and knocked him unconscious.
Casas was subsequently arrested on suspicion of murder and is being held on $2 million bail.
Deputies shoot
man with scissors
PARAMOUNT — A 30-year-old man was fatally shot by sheriff’s deputies Aug. 4 after allegedly advancing on them armed with a pair of scissors, authorities said.
Deputies were sent to the 8400 block of Quimby Street, near Downey Avenue and Century Boulevard, about 9:15 p.m. “regarding a family disturbance and battery just occurred call,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
“Deputy personnel contacted the victim, who explained that the suspect, his 30-year-old son, had punched him in the face after a verbal argument,” according to a department statement. “Deputies contacted the suspect in the rear yard of the residence.
“The suspect was armed with one pair of scissors approximately 8 inches in total length. The suspect immediately and aggressively advanced towards deputy personnel. A less lethal Taser was deployed but was ineffective.”
The suspect continued advancing towards deputy personnel when a deputy-involved shooting occurred. Paramedics pronounced the man dead at the scene.
He was identified by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner as Julio Palomares.
Anyone with information about the case is urged to call the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.
Man shot to death
in East L.A. incident
EAST LOS ANGELES — A man was shot to death early Aug. 4, authorities said.
The shooting occurred at about 12:10 a.m. in the 500 block of North Rowan Avenue, about a mile north of the Pomona (60) Freeway, where the man was pronounced dead at the scene, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reported.
A witness was driving by and heard several gunshots in the area. The witness reporting seeing the victim lying in the street between two parked vehicles, according to the sheriff’s Information Bureau.
“Simultaneously, the witness noticed two unknown individuals running southbound away from the location,” the department said. “When deputies arrived on scene, they found the victim, a male Hispanic adult, suffering from gunshot wounds to the upper torso.”
Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to contact the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org.
Tobacco shop owner
kills robbery suspect
NORWALK — The owner of a tobacco shop fatally shot one of at least three people who attempted to rob the store Aug. 6, authorities said.
The attempted robbery occurred at about 9 a.m. in the 10900 block of East Firestone Boulevard, near the San Gabriel River (605) Freeway, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
One of the store’s owners told KCAL9 that his partner at the business was pepper-sprayed during the attempted robbery, prompting him to grab a gun and open fire, striking one of the intruders.
The wounded man died at a hospital, according to the sheriff’s department.
The other suspects fled the scene on foot, prompting authorities to set up a perimeter in the area, according to the sheriff’s department. Some reports from the scene indicated that two suspects were taken into custody later that morning, but sheriff’s officials did not immediately confirm the
arrests.
One killed, one hurt
in Aug. 3 shooting
BOYLE HEIGHTS — A man was killed and another was wounded Aug. 3 in a shooting in a commercial area.
The shooting was reported at 3:20 p.m. in the 3000 block of Wabash Avenue, near Evergreen Avenue, said Los Angeles Police Department Officer Tony Im.
There was no suspect information immediately available.
The slain man was identified as Alonzo Reyes, 19, of Los Angeles, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Another man was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where his condition was unknown.
Metro Digest is designed to help promote events, activities and initiatives that are serving the interests of community residents in L.A. To submit an item, send emails to newsroom@wavepublication.com.
