A 36-year-old driver was charged today with murder and driving under the influence after plowing into a Metro bus at a high rate of speed, killing two people and injuring five others in Chatsworth earlier this week.
“First and foremost, my heart is with the families mourning the loss of their loved ones and everyone who was affected by this devastating crash,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said. “The defendant Bailee Lynn Rios allegedly made the choice to drive while impaired on the wrong side of the road through a red light well above the speed limit, which put the lives of those in her path in danger. The deadly and destructive consequences of her actions will be felt for years to come. My office will hold her accountable under the maximum penalty of the law which is life in prison.”Read more...
A Los Angeles County judge today found a 38-year-old man factually innocent of a 2013 drive-by shooting that seriously injured two brothers. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office’s Justice Conviction Review Unit and the California Western Innocence & Justice Clinic cited new evidence that came to light after sentencing and pointed to another individual who allegedly committed the crime.
“Today was a great day for justice. Often when a District Attorney says this, he is talking about an arrest, a conviction, a trial victory or a sentence,” said Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman. “But today justice took a different form: setting aside a wrongful conviction and proclaiming a man factually innocent of attempted murder charges brought over a decade before. My Office’s relentless pursuit of justice does not stop with the verdict and sentence but continues on, following any new evidence that comes to light to make sure we have brought the culpable criminal to justice.Read more...
A Los Angeles County jury today found that Kevin Eduardo Cataneo Salazar, 32, was legally sane when he killed Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer in September 2023, rejecting Salazar’s not guilty by reason of insanity defense.
“Today, a jury has made clear that the defendant must be held accountable for the violence that took Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer’s life,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said. “I thank the jury and Deputy District Attorneys Michael Blake and David Ayvazian for delivering justice and ensuring that the defendant answers for the devastating outcome of his actions. We hope that this verdict brings a sense that Deputy Clinkunbroomer’s life is remembered, valued and honored through the pursuit of justice.”Read more...
The District Attorney’s Office has made combating hate crimes a priority through aggressive prosecution, community outreach and close collaboration with law enforcement agencies and community organizations. The Office continues to encourage victims and witnesses to report hate crimes so perpetrators can be held accountable.Read more...
The speeding driver who struck on-duty Los Angeles Police Department Sgt. Shiou Lih Deng and stranded motorist Jesús Arturo Garcia on the 405 Freeway last year has been charged with murder in the deaths of both men. Sgt. Deng was 53 years old and had served the LAPD for over 26 years.
“This case is a tragic reminder that police officers risk their lives every day to keep us safe,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said. “I extend my deepest condolences to Sgt. Deng and Mr. Garcia’s family and loved ones. Sgt. Deng spent half his life serving the public with bravery and selflessness as an LAPD officer. His death is a profound loss to the LAPD community and Los Angeles. Mr. Garcia, only 34 years old, was devoted to his family and, like all Angelenos, deserved to make it home safely after a long shift at work. I want to emphasize that speeding kills. If you drive over 100 mph and kill someone, you are on a fast-track to a murder charge. I thank the California Highway Patrol for their thorough and diligent work in bringing justice to the families.”Read more...
