17-Year-Old Woodland Hills Student Dies Of Fentanyl Poisoning

A 17-year-old El Camino Real Charter High School student has reportedly died from a fentanyl overdose, adding additional concerns onto the already mounting problem facing Southern California educators. The information was announced to staff and student body via a letter Thursday, announcing that the student had died at a nearby hospital. The latest in a string of tragic student deaths related to fentanyl, many parents have decided to speak with their children about the new danger facing them on a day-to-day basis. "It's heartbreaking, because it touches home to me," said Kate Vinas, a parent. "They're young kids, they don't know. And that child might've not known what he was taking." While details surrounding the student's death are still unclear as the investigation continues, the community has already begun mourning the loss of yet another young life. Weeks ago, a 15-year-old Bernstein High School student, Melanie Ramos, was found dead in the school bathroom after taking what she believed to be Percocet, which was in turn a fentanyl laced pill. 

CBS 2

LA Juvenile Arrested In Rapper's Slaying Released Days Earlier For Illegal Gun Charge: Source

The Los Angeles juvenile arrested in connection with the Sept. 12 murder of PnB Rock, born Rakim Allen, had previously been arrested for illegal possession of a firearm and released just days before the rapper's shooting death at a restaurant, a source tells Fox News Digital. The juvenile and his father, 40-year-old Freddie Lee Trone, were arrested in Las Vegas on Sept. 29 for their roles in Allen's slaying at Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles. Days before the rapper's death, the juvenile had been released from prison under the condition of electronic monitoring. He had been arrested on Sept. 3 and charged with illegal possession of a weapon, according to a source familiar with the case. The juvenile also has three other priors in addition to the Sept. 3 case, including illegal possession of a firearm last year and two stolen-vehicle charges. "My prayers go out to the family, friends and girlfriend of PnB Rock. Another sad and senseless act of gun violence in Los Angeles under the reign of George Gascón. George implemented over 60 directives the day he took office on Dec 7, 2020. Not a single one addressed or dealt with public safety," Los Angeles Deputy DA Jonathan Hatami told Fox News Digital in a statement. 

FOX News

South LA Street Takeover Ends With 60-Year-Old Bystander Being Shot

A street takeover in South Los Angeles ended with a 60-year-old bystander being shot. Back on September 18, the Los Angeles Police Department responded to a call near the intersection of West 48th Street and Western Avenue. Upon arrival, LAPD spotted a large street takeover dispersing and during investigation, the 60-year-old man was found suffering from a gunshot wound. LAPD later learned the 60-year-old man was walking home and had nothing to do with the street takeover. On Thursday, LAPD released surveillance photos of a man believed to be the suspect. The suspect is listed at about 5-foot-11 and likely weighs around 170 pounds, LAPD said. Anyone with information on the suspected gunman or the incident is asked to call 213-786-5414.

FOX 11

Hit-and-Run In Westminster Leaves Man Injured

A man underwent surgery after being injured in a hit-and-run collision in Westminster. Westminster Police Department officers responded to an accident call at 7:38 p.m. to Magnolia Street and Hazard Avenue near Westminster Park where they found the pedestrian lying in the street, Cmdr. Kevin MacCormick told City News Service. The victim was taken to a hospital and was in surgery, MacCormick said. There was no suspect description but witnesses said the driver who struck the victim was driving a light-colored SUV. The collision closed Magnolia Street and Hazard Avenue in all directions while police conducted their investigation.

MyNewsLA

Hollywood Producer Eric Weinberg Accused Of Multiple Rapes Released On Bail

A Hollywood TV producer who has been accused of multiple sexual assaults by various women and has been charged was released after posting bail, authorities said Wednesday. Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said in a news conference Wednesday afternoon that he was furious at the release of TV producer Eric Weinberg, who was accused of sexual assault by several women. Weinberg, the once co-executive producer for the NBC comedy "Scrubs" and Showtime’s "Californication," was released from jail hours after his arrest, as he faces 18 charges of rape and sexual assault. Gascón said he asked the court for no bail, and the judge disagreed, setting it at $5 million. Police say the five-time Emmy nominee used his position of influence to lure young women to his house for photoshoots, and once there, police allege he sexually assaulted them. LAPD says the charges he’s facing are from cases in 2014 to the 2020s, but they say this may have been going on as early as the 1990s. Court records show that Weinberg was charged Sept. 28 with 18 criminal counts, including rape, sexual battery, assault, oral copulation, false imprisonment and forcible penetration by a foreign object.

NBC 4

Man Attacked With A Scooter In Highland Park

A man was attacked by a group of minors and was assaulted with a scooter in Highland Park, reportedly over a case of beer, authorities said. Officials with the Los Angeles Police Department said the attack was reported just before 8 p.m. Thursday outside Tony’s Market near the intersection of Figueroa Street and E Avenue 40. The LAPD said three male juveniles, possibly teens, used a scooter to attack the victim before witnesses said the suspects ran off with the case of beer the victim was holding. The ran away from the scene going eastbound on Figueroa St. and left the scooter behind. Video taken from a bystander shows some of the aftermath of the attack, and shows the victim left bloodied along the sidewalk. Bystanders rushed in to help the victim before paramedics arrived. He was taken to the hospital in an unknown condition. No further information was released by authorities. 

FOX 11

Woman, 52, Reported Missing In San Pedro

Authorities sought the public’s help Thursday to locate a 52-year-old woman who was last seen in San Pedro. Kristi Lee Lozano was last seen in San Pedro in June 2021 and has not made contact with her family since then, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Lozano is white, 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 185 pounds, with long brown hair and green eyes. Anyone with information on her whereabouts was asked to contact the LASD Missing Persons Unit at 323-890-5500. Anonymous tips can be called in to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or submitted online at lacrimestoppers.org.

MyNewsLA

Prosecutors Link LA Investor To International Murder-for-Hire Plot

A 911 call that sent Vermont State Police troopers on a search for a nonexistent man claiming to have shot his wife was a big clue that helped detectives unravel an international murder-for-hire plot tied to a potentially lucrative — yet troubled — oil deal. Within hours of Gregory Davis’ body being found by the side of a snowy Vermont back road in January 2018, investigators learned of the deal that had the New Jersey native threatening to tell the FBI about his experiences with two Turkish investors he felt weren’t living up to their financial obligations. Four years later, charges have been filed. Prosecutors link Los Angeles biotech investor Serhat Gumrukcu, 39, to two middlemen and then to Jerry Banks — the man who allegedly made the 911 call, kidnapped and killed Davis. Gumrukcu was arrested in May in Los Angeles. He was returned to Vermont where he pleaded not guilty Tuesday to the charge of the use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire. Most of the details of the case are in the voluminous court documents that have been filed in federal courts in Vermont, Nevada and California.

Los Angeles Daily News

3 Southern California Men Plead Guilty In Dozens Of Smash-and-Grab Robberies At Cell Phone Stores

Three men face time in federal prison for a two-month smash-and-grab robbery spree of over 50 cell phone stores throughout Southern California. Tony Tyron Lee Stewart, 22, of Highland, has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for committing 52 smash-and-grab robberies of T-Mobile and AT&T stores. He’s been ordered to pay a restitution fee of $333,122. Stewart was assisted by two other men, Rayford Newsome, 21, of Compton and Jerome Gregory Belser, 21, of San Bernardino, according to the U.S. District Attorney’s Office. The group of thieves targeted 52 cell phone stores across multiple counties including Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, San Bernardino and Kern from November 2021 to January 2022. On Jan. 15, the men robbed multiple T-Mobile stores in Long Beach, Carson, Inglewood, Encino and Camarillo, officials said. Wearing ski masks, the suspects entered the stores and used hammers to smash display cases while threatening employees and customers. Merchandise taken from the stores include cell phones, watches and other electronic devices.

KTLA 5

14-Year-Old Stabs Florida Deputy 6 Times In The Head

A 14-year-old stabbed a deputy six times behind the ear with a pocketknife during an arrest, according to a Florida sheriff’s office. The teen was riding his bike around a restaurant in Punta Gorda after 2 a.m. on Oct. 6 - outside of curfew hours implemented in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, according to a news release from the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office. The deputy stopped the teen, who told him he was fishing in the area. But the teen did not have fishing equipment, according to the release. The teen started to walk away, but then turned around and struck the deputy in the head, causing “substantial bleeding,” the release said. As the two started to struggle, the deputy radioed for backup. The teen took out a pocket knife and stabbed the deputy six times behind the ear, according to the release. Punta Gorda is about 180 miles northwest of Miami. The deputy tased the teen and waited for backup to arrive, the release says. Paramedics airlifted the deputy to a hospital for treatment. He was in stable condition.

Charlotte Observer

Fact Check Team: A Closer Look At New York State's New Bail Law

One man accused of 42 separate attacks in New York City has bail reform in the spotlight again. The Fact Check Team has been digging into the effect of the relaxed standards. New York state’s bail law went into effect at the beginning of 2020 and it ended cash bail in most cases that involve misdemeanors or non-violent felonies. Under the law, judges have the option to set bail in almost any case involving a violent felony but in all other cases, they can release someone on their own recognizance — meaning on another set of conditions, like surrendering a passport or holding a job — to make sure they return to court. The law was essentially passed to lessen the risk that someone would go to jail because they couldn’t afford to pay for release and reduce the unnecessary use of incarceration. Following bail reform, there has been a small increase in criminal reoffending in New York City. The latest state data shows before the reform in 2019, there was a 19% rearrest rate within 180 days of arraignment.

FOX 26 News

LA County Health Says Extra Care Needed To Avoid Winter Surge In COVID Cases

With winter months and colder weather approaching, Los Angeles County's health director urged residents Thursday to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot to fend off what could be another jump in transmission of the virus as more people mingle indoors -- a setting conducive to infection. "I hope we can rally as a community and make every effort to protect our most vulnerable residents," Barbara Ferrer told reporters during a briefing Thursday. She noted that millions of county residents are currently eligible to receive the new COVID-19 booster shot, which is specifically engineered to target the most widely circulating viral variants. She said understands the "fatigue" people have over calls to get vaccinated, but the low number of residents who have received the new booster is a cause for concern. "Those numbers need to increase pretty dramatically before we get into the holiday season or we run the risk of having more transmission," Ferrer said.

FOX 11

Bass, Caruso Clash And Contrast In Feisty LA Mayoral Debate

Los Angeles mayoral candidates Rep. Karen Bass and developer Rick Caruso have contrasting ideas on how to address crime and homelessness in the city, and both landed attacks in their latest debate, which included a series of feisty exchanges. The third debate between the two general election candidates for mayor of Los Angeles is set for Tuesday, five days after Bass and Caruso debated for the second time. Caruso used his opening statement at the hourlong debate Thursday, hosted by KNX News at its Miracle Mile studio, to describe himself as a “pro-choice” Democrat. It was an attempt to fend off critiques over why he was a Republican until 2019 and donated to anti-abortion politicians, which has been a constant strategy of Bass’ campaign. When asked about whether a commercial showing a clip from a decade-old speech Bass made at a Church of Scientology event was a “cheap shot,” Caruso said it was about possessing the judgment to hold “one of the most important jobs in the United States.”

MyNewsLA

Your Guide To The L.A. City Attorney Election: Faisal Gill vs. Hydee Feldstein Soto

Two outsider candidates — neither of whom had high name recognition in the world of local politics before entering the race — are vying to become Los Angeles city attorney, a critical but often overlooked role with wide-ranging responsibilities. The city attorney handles the prosecution of all misdemeanor crimes that happen in Los Angeles, including petty theft, vandalism, DUI, some domestic violence charges and other offenses that carry a maximum penalty of a year in jail. Another part of the job, which has been held by Mike Feuer for nine years, involves giving legal advice to the mayor and City Council, as well as city boards and departments, including the Los Angeles Police Department. As general counsel, the office also defends the city in litigation. 

Los Angeles Times

Council Committee Recommends Ordinance Banning Oil Drilling In Los Angeles

A council committee recommended adoption of a proposed ordinance Thursday that would phase out oil and gas extraction in Los Angeles, moving the city a step closer to banning oil drilling. The Energy, Climate Change, Environment Justice, and River Committee voted unanimously to advance the recommendation to the City Council. The item was also referred to two other council committees. “We are sending a clear message to big oil,'' said Councilman Mitch O'Farrell, chair of the committee. “The city of L.A. will no longer tolerate oil and gas extraction.'' The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a similar ordinance last week. The City Council in January unanimously approved a series of recommendations aimed at banning new oil and gas wells. The draft ordinance would phase out all such oil and gas extraction activities by immediately banning new oil and gas extraction and ceasing existing operations within 20 years.

Westside Current