Law Enforcement

Stanley Cup: Police boost security as L.A. Kings go for sweep
Los Angeles Kings fans hoping to watch their team win its first Stanley Cup on Wednesday at Staples Center will be sure to see one thing: More security. Both the Los Angeles Police Department and AEG, which owns both Staples Center and L.A. Live, have plans to amp up security efforts for the 5 p.m. game and any celebrations that might follow. Capt. Horace Frank said the LAPD was encouraging celebration with any Kings victory but cautioned that the department would take a zero-tolerance policy toward lawlessness.
Los Angeles Times Blogdowntown

USC student killings: LAPD had suspect's name day after shooting
Within a day of the fatal shooting of two USC graduate students in April, LAPD detectives had determined the identity of one of the suspects, according to a search warrant in the investigation. The search warrant reviewed by NeonTommy shows that shortly after the killing of Wu Ying and Qu Ming about 3/4 of a mile from campus, LAPD detectives focused on Bryan Barnes as the primary suspect. According to the warrant, a witness identified him in an earlier shooting tied to the same weapon used to kill the two Chinese graduate students.
Los Angeles Times

$50,000 offered in slaying of 14-month-old boy
The City Council hopes a $50,000 emergency reward it offered Tuesday will flush out the young gun-toting bicyclist who fatally shot a 14-month-old boy near Watts while the child was in the arms of his father. The child's 24-year-old father was shot in a shoulder in the attack, which occurred at 7:49 p.m. Monday in the 10500 block of Hickory Street, police said. Angel Cortez underwent surgery, but died at the hospital at 10:20 p.m., said Officer Bruce Borihanh of the Los Angeles Police Department's Media Relations office.
Los Angeles Daily News

2 women shot and wounded in South L.A.
Two women were shot and wounded late Tuesday in South Los Angeles, police said. The women, both in their 20s, were in the 900 block of West 66th Street when they were attacked about 10:15 p.m., the Los Angeles Police Department said. The assailants were described as three males in a silver or grey vehicle, Officer Karen Rayner said. The women were in stable condition. Investigators were at the scene late Tuesday gathering evidence.
Los Angeles Times

Venice man shot on Santa Clara Avenue dies in hospital
A Venice man died after being shot on Santa Clara Avenue in Venice Beach Monday night. LAPD officers responded to a call of an assault with a deadly weapon at 10:30 p.m. Monday on the 600 block of Santa Clara Ave. Officers found Oscar Duncan, 23, lying in the roadway with what appeared to be a gunshot, according to police. Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics transported Duncan to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. LAPD detectives believe Duncan was walking on Santa Clara when a white vehicle stopped and one of its occupants shot Duncan.
ABC7

Paroled felon gets death penalty in Riverside officer killing
Riverside jurors recommended the death penalty Tuesday for Earl Elllis Green, the man convicted of shooting Riverside police Officer Ryan Bonaminio at point-blank range as the officer pleaded for his life. After 3-1/2 hours of deliberations, the panel returned the decision after hearing arguments from prosecutors that the penalty should fit the crime, while a defense lawyer asked the jury to spare Green's life, saying vengeance is not the same as justice.
Los Angeles Times

LAPD finds marijuana growing operation in a Lake Balboa warehouse
Police were preparing to serve a search warrant today on a warehouse in Lake Balboa where there appears to be a marijuana-growing operation. Officers went to the 7900 block of Hayvenhurst Avenue about 6:30 a.m. on a report that suspects wearing masks were seen near the building, said Los Angeles police Officer Bruce Borihanh of the Media Relations office. Arriving officers found an open door, searched the building, and came upon the marijuana growing operation, Borihanh said.
Los Angeles Daily News

Man missing from Van Nuys area home
Los Angeles police on Tuesday circulated photos of a 57-year-old man who has gone missing and may be suicidal. James Ernest Oberg, 57, was last seen about 9 a.m. last Thursday at his residence in the 3900 block of Coldwater Canyon in the Van Nuys area. His family believes he may be on foot and suicidal. Oberg is white, 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs about 140 pounds, with gray hair and brown eyes.
City News Service

Election 2012

2 California cities voters embrace pension cuts
Voters in two major California cities overwhelmingly approved cuts to retirement benefits for city workers in what supporters said was a mandate that may lead to similar ballot initiatives in other states and cities that are struggling with mounting pension obligations. Supporters had a simple message to voters in San Diego and San Jose: Pensions for city workers are unaffordable and more generous than many private companies offer, forcing libraries to slash hours and potholes to go unfilled.
Associated Press