Law Enforcement

15-year-old accused in shooting death of 1-year-old boy
Los Angeles police have charged a reputed teenage gang member with murder, accusing him of firing into a crowd in Watts earlier this month, killing a 1-year-old boy while his father cradled him in his arms, authorities said Thursday. The 15-year-old boy, identified as Donald Ray Dokins, is a suspected Fudgetown Mafia Crip gang member. Prosecutors charged Dokins as an adult with one count each of first degree murder and attempted murder.
Los Angeles Times

Teardrop Rapist linked to up to 35 attacks may have struck again
The so-called Teardrop Rapist, responsible for as many as 35 attacks since 1996, may have struck again this month when a woman was accosted in South L.A. by a gun-wielding man who tried to sexually assault her in an alley before being spooked, police said Thursday. The 29-year-old woman was alone about 5:30 a.m. June 15 when she was approached by a man near 25th Street and Naomi Avenue, investigators said. After trying to talk to her, the man stuck a handgun in her face and forced her into an alley, where he attempted to sexually assault her.
Los Angeles Times

Man goes on bizarre rampage with fire extinguisher
Two people were hurt when a man went on a rampage inside a Canoga Park clinic Wednesday armed with a fire extinguisher. Police initially responded to reports of shots fired inside the clinic on Sherman Way Wednesday afternoon. When they arrived, officers determined the suspect was armed with a fire extinguisher and was using it to smash objects around the building. One witness said the man used the fire extinguisher as a club and attacked two women, spraying foam in the face of one victim and hitting another with the nozzle. Both women were taken away by ambulance.
KTLA

Suspected drunken man enters wrong house, frightens family
Los Angeles police arrested an allegedly drunken man early Thursday after he broke a window and climbed into what he thought was a friend's home and frightened a woman and two children inside. Officers said they were summoned by the woman to the 2100 block of Mansfield Avenue in the Mid-City area about 2 a.m. The suspect, who was in his mid- to late-20s, answered the front the door of the house when police arrived, said Lt. Darius Bone of the Wilshire Division. He was arrested on suspicion of trespassing. "The guy was drunk and thought he was getting into a friend's house," Bone said.
Los Angeles Times

Man charged with stalking, threatening popular L.A. model
A man who allegedly sent dozens of chilling messages to a Los Angeles model, including some that threatened her life, has been arrested and charged with cyber-stalking, FBI officials said Thursday. Authorities believe Luis F. Plascencia, 47, sent harassing emails to Los Angeles model Kourtney Reppert, who has almost 200,000 "likes" on her Facebook page. According to the criminal complaint, some of the messages threatened to kill Reppert's parents, one wished a gruesome car accident on the model and still others included detailed personal information, such as her home address and those of her friends and family.
Los Angeles Times

Largest cyber sting in history nabs 24 on four continents
An international cyber sting led by the FBI attracted criminals from around the world and led to 24 arrests in what is believed to be a multi-million online financial fraud case, federal law enforcement officials said. Eleven people were arrested in the United States, law enforcement officials said. The other arrests occurred in 13 countries on four continents. Officials called the sting the largest coordinated international police action in history targeting cyber crime.
ABC World News

Immigration

One-step immigration center opens in Chatsworth
A one-stop shop to apply for U.S. citizenship, register for a green card or adjust immigration status opened in Chatsworth on Thursday. Previously, residents of the San Fernando Valley and northern Los Angeles County had to travel to the federal building downtown to transact such business with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. "This is a very exciting moment for USCIS to be able to bring our services closer to the communities we service, including the one here in the San Fernando Valley," USCIS San Fernando Valley field office director Roland Lyons said.
Los Angeles Daily News

Health Care

What the Supreme Court's health care ruling means for Californians
For the majority of California's nearly 7 million uninsured residents, Thursday's landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling on health care reform means they will have access to health care coverage in the next few years. About 1.5 million of the uninsured will be covered by MediCal, California's version of the federal Medicaid program for low-income and disabled people. In 2014, the state will expand MediCal to include adults who make up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level.
The Bay Citizen

City Election 2013

Top L.A. mayoral hopefuls won't take campaign cash from Wal-Mart
Two leading mayoral candidates vying for labor support said Thursday that they would not accept campaign contributions from Wal-Mart, the global retail giant that is beginning construction this week on a controversial new grocery store in Chinatown. Los Angeles City Controller Wendy Greuel and City Councilman Eric Garcetti made the pledge after pressure from labor groups, which take issue with Wal-Mart's wage scale and non-unionized workforce.
Los Angeles Times

Transit

Congress set to OK bill that would help fund L.A. transit projects
As he seeks to build a legacy as a big-project transportation mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa on Thursday made gains at home and in Washington in his efforts to speed expansion of the Los Angeles region's transit system. Congress is expected as early as Friday to approve a long-awaited transportation bill that includes a measure sought by Villaraigosa during at least two years of lobbying federal officials.
Los Angeles Times