Quantcast
Channel: NBC Los Angeles
Viewing all 58096 articles
Browse latest View live

'Top Gun' Pop-up Bar Wings by Huntington Beach

0
0

So you say you don't quite feel the need, the need for speed?

But you would like to relax on a beautiful terrace, a lovely location that boasts an ocean view, all while quaffing cocktails that have been themed to "Top Gun"?

You clearly, if we might say so, have not lost that loving feeling.

And there's a time and place to Goose your dream into delicious existence: The Kimpton Shorebreak Resort's Pacific Hideaway, which will host a pop-up bar and experience themed to the 1986 sky-high hit starring Tom Cruise.

The pop-up bar, which will take over the Shorebreak's Pier View Terrace, will mostly coincide with The Great Pacific Airshow, which is winging its way into, or rather over, Huntington Beach from Friday, Oct. 19 through Sunday, Oct. 21.

As for the dates of the pop-up?

Think Oct. 18 through the 20th, or Thursday through Saturday. Don't be a Maverick: Show on those dates if you want to visit this three-day bar.

The hours of the Pacific Hideaway "Top Gun" Pop-up Bar will be 4 to 11 p.m. each day, and the movie-memorable menu choices will be as colorful as a sunset seen from the seat of an F-18 Super Hornet.

Three of the themed libations rock monikers that any "Top Gun" enthusiast will immediately recognize: Admiral's Daughter, Danger Zone, and That Loving Feeling. 

The Admiral's Daughter includes Beefeater gin, creme de Yvette, falernum, and prosecco, while Danger Zone is mescal-based and That Loving Feeling is made with Rittenhouse rye, in addition to other top-notch ingredients.

As far as the plane-inspired plates go?

Choose the churro-tastic Iceman Bites for dessert, after starting with some of the more savory choices, the ones with the cinematic handles (Take My Breath Away, USS Enterprise).

Games, a selfie station, and some design touches meant to summon the look of an aircraft carrier will lend the pop-up bar extra flavor.

So have you got your aviator sunglasses nearby and your leather bomber jacket casually draped over the seat of your motorcycle?

Or, rather, will you be wearing your leather bomber jacket and shades when your designated driver whisks you to the pop-up bar and home again?

Well, even if you're not sporting Maverick's sartorial style these days, you can still zoom for Huntington Beach, and the Shorebreak Resort, for a top-notch "Top Gun" pop-up, a quirky and cuisine-cool complement to The Great Pacific Airshow.



Photo Credit: Shorebreak Hotel

Preliminary Magnitude-3.1 Quake Rattles Wrightwood Area

0
0

A preliminary 3.1-magnitude earthquake shook the Wrightwood area Friday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The temblor hit at 11:44 a.m. with a depth of about 3.7 miles, the USGS reported.



Photo Credit: USGS

McLaren Driver Didn't Try to Avoid Head-on Collision: Autopsy

0
0

The San Diego teenager who drove head-on into oncoming traffic and died in a fiery crash on the crowded highway did not attempt to avoid the collision, according to the official autopsy report released Friday. 

Trevor Heitmann, 18, died on August 23 of multiple blunt force injuries when his McLaren collided with another vehicle driving in the opposite direction in the HOV lane of Interstate 805. 

Video of the impact examined by the California Highway Patrol showed Heitmann did not appear to swerve out of the path of the other vehicle, according to the autopsy.

CHP investigators believe Heitmann drove into traffic using the Carrol Canyon Road direct access ramp.

They estimate he reached speeds over 100 mph before colliding with a Hyundai SUV near Governor Drive, killing a 42-year-old mother and her 12-year-old daughter, and himself.

There were no alcohol or drugs detected in Heitmann's system at the time of his death and there was no history of depression or mental illness, according to the report.

No suicide notes were found. 

NBC 7 has reported previously that San Diego police were warned of Heitmann's erratic behavior hours before the deadly crash.

Police dispatch logs obtained by NBC 7 Investigates reveal a family friend of the driver told police that 18-year-old Trevor Heitmann was “screaming, paranoid and delusional” and had “threatened to harm his mom” at the Heitmann family home in Carmel Valley.

Heitmann’s parents told investigators that their son’s behavior changed in the days leading up to the incident.

When he admitted on Aug. 21 to driving the McLaren at 150 mph in a 25 mph zone, his father asked him what he thought may happen to him if the police ever caught him doing that.

The 18-year-old told his parents “neither police nor their bullets could hurt him,” according to the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s report. 

On the day of the collision, Heitmann's parents used their vehicle to block the McLaren so their son could not drive it, the report states.

However, Heitmann rammed his father's car and managed to get the McLaren out of the driveway, according to officials.

Heitmann operated a Youtube channel where he discussed virtual gun models, or "skins," for the popular online game Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Over the past four and a half years his videos racked up more than 200 million views.

Heitmann's victims included Aileen Pizarro, 43, and Pizarro's 12-year-old daughter, Aryana, who were traveling in their 2010 Hyundai minivan. The mother and daughter were killed in the collision.

Eight other individuals were injured in the crash, according to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.



Photo Credit: NBC 7
This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

"Bolder Than Most" Rapist: Send Me to Mental Hospital

0
0

When Alvin Quarles was sentenced to prison for his crimes in 1989 it was for 50 years.

However, the man nicknamed the "Bolder Than Most Rapist" may soon call Jacumba Hot Springs home.

The recent decision by a judge to grant Quarles parole and the decision by the Department of State Hospitals to place him in the remote community east of San Diego has residents upset.

After a hearing Friday, Judge David Gill approved Quarles' release describing it as the next step in the man's treatment. Gill ordered the move be completed by Nov. 30.

In July 2014, Quarles was civilly committed as a Sexually Violent Predator. He was convicted in a series of sexual assaults in the 1980s that involved 14 different victims. Four of his victims were raped at knifepoint. 

Quarles has been diagnosed with Sexual Sadism Disorder, Voyeuristic Disorder and Antisocial Personality Disorder, according to the San Diego County District Attorney's Office which opposes his release.

In 2015, two of his victims told NBC 7 they were happy Quarles was committed to the Department of State Hospitals to undergo sex offender treatment. 

"No community, no community should have to live with this -- knowing that someone has a history of doing this is there with the opportunity to do this again,” victim Mary Taylor said in a previous interview.

The Department of State Hospitals proposed a placement for Quarles of 43050 Desert Rose Ranch Road, Jacumba Hot Springs, CA 91934. he will be supervised in a conditional release program.

The location is near where the state placed convicted rapist and child molester Herman Smith in April. 



Photo Credit: NBC 7/San Diego County District Attorney's Office

Prepare to Brave SoCal's Spookiest Cinema Lobby

0
0

While nobody has ever signed an actual pact with a favorite movie theater, that we're aware of, there are certain well-known rules and common customs that are generally heeded.

For example? The scares, if there shall be scares, as in a horror movie, start in the cinema itself, for starters.

The eeks and screams emit from the silver screen. And you, as the movie goer, will never, ever encounter a monster or evil clown wandering around the lobby, as you dash to the bathroom during the final credits.

And yet all of those particular bets are way, way off at CGV Cinemas Buena Park 8, which will once again invite a cadre of creepy characters to haunt its lobby, concession counter, and theater-lined hallways over several spooky October nights.

Those creepy characters — think zombie types, frightful moaners, and shambling figures — will call upon the movie-loving destination every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night in October.

Oh, yes, and on Halloween night, too.

The undead begin their reign after 7 in the evening on those days, so best not show for a matinee if you'd like to experience some of the light mayhem, or at least giggles and stares, that the eerie visitors will bring to the cinematic scene.

Look also for thematic decorations, noises of an unsettling nature, and goodies on a special Halloween concessions menu, too.

Anyone up for a Flesh and Blood Pizza or a Pumpkin So-Tini? Both will be available during this spine-chilling stretch.

This isn't the first year that CGV Cinemas Buena Park has invited a few haunting performers to liven up, or, er, deaden up movie goers' October evenings.

So let's call it a tradition of the most offbeat and eeky assortment, one that is probably here to stay.

How to see these beyond-the-screen high jinks? Your movie ticket, on any of the nights mentioned, will give you access to the lobby and public spaces of the cinema.



Photo Credit: CGV Cinemas

An Actual Space Suit, Real Items Taken to the Moon Up for Grabs in Neil Armstrong Auction

0
0

Neil Armstrong Collection at Heritage Auctions in Beverly Hills.

What You'll Find in the Neil Armstrong Collection

0
0

The largest American flag to ever be in space, a piece of a Wright Brothers propeller that Neil Armstrong took to the moon (he was a big fan), an actual space suit, as well as letters, drawings, and medals are all part of the Neil Armstrong Collection currently displayed at Heritage Auctions in Beverly Hills.

About 2,000 items are part of the collection, and over 700 of them donated from Armstrong's family, including many items that he took into space.

In adddition to items belonging to the first man to walk on the moon, a red mercedes convertible with the liscence plate "MARS GUY" is also up for auction. The car belonged to Buzz Aldrin. 

The auctions will start taking place next month, and will lead up to the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission, next July.

In related news, Ryan Gossling's new movie First Man, about Neil Armstrong, opens tonight.

Aliya Jasmine was in Beverly Hills this morning to take a look at the auction first hand, watch the Instagram video above, or flip through some of the photos in the gallery below. Also, be sure to follow us @nbcla on social media to stay up to date with daily stories like this one. Click here for more auction information.



Photo Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS

Dodgers and Brewers NLCS Preview

0
0

And then there were two.

It took both teams 163 games, but at the end of the nearly seven-month long MLB season, two teams stood above the rest in the National League: The Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Both teams finished first and second in the national league and have been on a collision course for the championship series ever since they made a multitude of moves at both the non-waiver and waiver trade deadlines in July and August.

In July, the Dodgers acquired Manny Machado, Brian Dozier, and John Axford.

Milwaukee countered with Mike Moustakas, Jonathan Schoop, and Joakim Soria.

In August, the Dodgers acquired David Freese and Ryan Madson.

Milwaukee countered with Xavier Cedeno, Gio Gonzalez, and Curtis Granderson.

Each and every player acquired from both teams has played a pivotal role in the postseason push and the Dodgers and Brewers would not be four wins away from the World Series without them.

The two teams have never met in the postseason, the Dodgers are looking to advance to the World Series for the 20th time in franchise history, the Brewers are seeking their first trip to the Fall Classic as a National League team, and just their second in franchise history. 

The Dodgers are chasing demons after a demoralizing Game 7 loss to the Houston Astros in last year's World Series. They haven't won a championship in 30 years, since Kirk Gibson hit the most historic home run in baseball history in 1988.

After a massive rebuild just three years ago, the Brewers are definitely grateful just to be here, but with the moves they made in the offseason and during the season, they definitely feel like the future is now and they have the opportunity to catch lightning in a bottle in 2018.

Milwaukee might be the more hot team, winners of 11 straight games dating back to September, but the Dodgers have won seven of their last eight games, with their only loss coming in Game 3 of the NLDS on a grand slam from Ronald Acuña Jr.

That is why, despite the history of each franchise (or lack thereof), this NLCS matchup is not the juggernaut versus underdog story many people are making it out to be. No, it's more like a 12-round heavyweight fight with each team trading knockout blows before it ultimately and inevitably goes the distance.

The Dodgers are going to rely heavily on their starting pitching and depth, the Brewers on their vaunted bullpen and MVP candidate Christian Yelich, so without further ado, here is a preview of the best-of-seven NLCS series between the Dodgers and Brewers: 

Starting Pitching

Clayton Kershaw gets the ball in Game 1 of the NLCS opposite former Washington Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez. 

Kershaw's legacy will one day be cemented in Cooperstown, but his postseason demons are still very much alive. Kershaw's postseason ERA is 4.08, and despite throwing 12 shutout innings in his last two playoff appearances, Kershaw will forever be tortured by the blips in his game logs, like the six runs he allowed in Game 5 of the 2017 World Series in Houston, including losing not one, but two different four-run leads in the game.

Meanwhile, Gio Gonzalez is well-rested and ready for his moment in the spotlight after not appearing in the division series against the Colorado Rockies. Gonzalez has made six career postseason starts, sporting an ERA of 4.78.

However, he's had success in his career against the Dodgers, including a victory in Game 3 of the 2016 NLDS at Dodger Stadium where he allowed just three runs in 4 and 1/3 innings in an 8-3 Nationals win.

Needless to say, the Game 1 matchup is definitely an advantage for the Dodgers, as is the starting rotation for the rest of the series. 

The Dodgers have three different starters posting a sub-three ERA (Kershaw 2.73, Buehler 2.62 and Ryu 1.97). Only LHP Wade Miley has a sub-three ERA among the Brewers starting pitchers.

Power Surge

The Dodgers definitely have the big bats in the lineup, leading the National League in home runs this season while setting a franchise record for longballs in the process.

However, the Brewers finished second in the league in home runs and in addition to having the ability to change the game with one swing, they can also hit you to death, keeping their opponent on their toes throughout the game.

Milwaukee's lineup might be better overall than the Dodgers. Lorenzo Cain batted .308 with 37 steals on the season. They have the eventual NL MVP in Christian Yelich who batted .326 with 36 home runs. Jesus Aguilar hit 35 home runs and Ryan Braun, and Mike Moustaks each hit over 20. Not to mention Jonathan Schoop who they acquired from the Baltimore Orioles at the trade deadline.

Outside of Justin Turner, the Dodgers might not have the batting average numbers, but they have the power, with seven different players hitting 20 or more home runs in the 2018 season. 

Miller Park is a hitter's paradise, so expect a lot of home runs in Games 1 and 2 before the series shifts to Los Angeles for three.

Battle of Bullpens 

It goes without saying that both teams have stellar bullpens, but it’s the relief core where the Brewers definitely have the edge over the Dodgers. 

Milwaukee's relievers had the best ERA over the last six weeks of the season, and they relied heavily on them during their NLDS sweep of the Rockies.

Los Angeles' bullpen finished the 2018 campaign with a solid 3.67 ERA good for fifth in the national league, but the Brewers finished with a 3.47 ERA, second in the NL behind only the Chicago Cubs.

Milwaukee's formula over their last 11 games has been simple: get four or five innings from the starter, build a lead, and then turn it over to four dependable arms in the bullpen for the final four or five innings.

That strategy worked to perfection in Game 163 against their NL Central rivals, and against the Rockies in the NLDS. The Brewers built a lead, and then turned it over to their bullpen who had a 1.17 ERA with two wins against the Rockies.

Joakim Soria, Corey Knebel, Jeremy Jeffress, and Josh Hader comprise the lights out relievers, and it's something outside of closer Kenley Jansen the Dodgers will have difficulty combatting.

Jansen finished second in the league with 38 saves this season, and seems to have settled down since his 11-day DL stint in August with a heart issue. Jansen recorded a save in Game 2 of the NLDS and closed out the series in Game 4, but he has allowed twice as many homers (18) this season than any other previous year, and that does not bode well for the right-hander in Miller Park.

Things To Look For 

The Dodgers will try to not let Christian Yelich beat them. Milwaukee's MVP has been a one-man wrecking crew over the last six weeks of the season, and that seems to have carried over into his first ever playoff appearance.

In his last eight games, Yelich is batting .458 with five homers and 17 RBI. He also has dominated Kershaw in their one-on-one matchups this season, posting an average of above .500 and two home runs against the left-hander in two games this year.

Meanwhile, on the Milwaukee side, the Brewers will have their hands full with Dodgers breakout star Max Muncy. Muncy was a castoff two seasons ago, but broke out in a big way with the Dodgers this year after being called up in mid-April because of injuries.

The left-hander bashed 35 homers this season and has already hit two in his first taste of the postseason. So far, the Brewers strategy appears to be to keep him out of the lineup by staring left-handers against the Dodgers. However, Muncy will appear off the bench at some point and it will be interesting to see how Milwaukee manager, Craig Counsell, handles Mad Max.

We all know the names at the top of the lineup for both teams: Lorenzo Cain, Christian Yelich, Justin Turner, Manny Machado, etc. However, it could be the bottom of the lineup that makes the difference in the NLCS. 

Brewers catcher Erik Kratz has been a big reason Milwaukee has made it this far, as has Orlando Arcia and Hernan Perez. Arcia has hit .329 over the last two months and if the Dodgers breathe a sigh of relief after getting past the heart of the order, they will be in for a big surprise if they underestimate the back of the lineup.

On the flip side, the back of the Dodgers lineup is lethal. It features super utility player Kiké Hernandez who hit 21 home runs this season, as well as reigning NL Rookie of the Year Cody Bellinger, and the man who lead the NL in home runs for catchers in Yasmani Grandal with 24. When a right-hander starts, expect to see Yasiel Puig in the back of that lineup, something that definitely should strike fear in Milwaukee's pitchers.

If the Brewers can get an early lead against the Dodgers starting rotation, it could be an early exit for Los Angeles. However, if the Dodgers can get an early lead against Milwaukee's starters, and force the bullpen to come into the game early and often in the series, the advantage definitely shifts to the more experienced veteran laden team in Los Angeles. Either way, we should be in for an entertaining series. 

Schedule

Game 1: Friday, Oct. 12, in Milwaukee, 8:09 p.m. ET (FS1)
Game 2: Saturday, Oct 13, in Milwaukee, 4:09 p.m. ET (FOX)
Game 3: Monday, Oct. 15, in Los Angeles, 7:39 p.m. ET (FS1)
Game 4: Tuesday, Oct. 16, in Los Angeles, 9:09 p.m. ET (FS1)
Game 5*: Wednesday, Oct.17, in Los Angeles, 5:05 p.m. ET (FS1)
Game 6*: Friday, Oct. 19, in Milwaukee, 8:39 p.m. ET (FS1)
Game 7*: Saturday, Oct. 20, in Milwaukee, 9:09 p.m. ET (FS1)
*If necessary

Pitching Matchups

Game 1: Clayton Kershaw (9-5, 2.73) vs. Gio Gonzalez (10-11, 4.21)
Game 2: Hyun-Jin Ryu (7-3, 1.97) vs. Wade Miley (5-2, 2.57)
Game 3: Jhoulys Chacin (15-8, 3.50) vs. Walker Buehler (8-5, 2.62)
Game 4: TBD vs. Rich Hill (11-5, 3.66)
Game 5*: TBD vs. TBD
Game 6*: TBD vs. TBD
Game 7*: TBD vs. TBD 



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Dodgers NLCS Roster Moves

0
0

If it ain't broke don't fix it.

That mantra has been tried and tested, but the Los Angeles Dodgers decided to veer off course a little bit when announcing their 25-man National League Championship roster on Friday morning. 

The Dodgers used 12 pitchers and 13 position players in a four-game series victory over the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS. Many believed that the roster was perfectly constructed as it was, and it would simply roll over unchanged into the NLCS matchup with the Milwaukee Brewers. 

On Wednesday, the Dodgers hosted a workout at Dodger Stadium ahead of their Thursday flight to Milwaukee. During a pregame press conference, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was asked what changes, if any, would be made to the NLCS roster. 

Roberts said that there could still be "a couple changes," with many experts looking at LA's all-star right-handed pitcher Ross Stripling as a potential add-on candidate against the vaunted right-handers in the Brewers lineup.

After being sent to Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona for the NLDS, outfielder Andrew Toles was part of the workout at Dodger Stadium, and flew to Milwaukee on Thursday. Many believed that it was possible Toles would be added to the roster as a left-handed bat off the bench, or as a potential replacement for Joc Pederson should he go on paternity leave during the series.

However, not a lot of people saw the one and only change the Dodgers made to the roster coming. In a surprise move, the team added 22-year-old left-hander Julio Urias to the NLCS roster, removing veteran left-handed relief pitcher Scott Alexander.

The move came as a surprise considering Urias missed over a year after undergoing shoulder surgery, and only appeared in three games this season. 

The hard-throwing left-hander did not allow a run in those three games, and its possible the front office sees Milwaukee's unfamiliarity with Urias as an advantage for the Dodgers over Alexander. 

"The value of Julio to come in and get one, two, four, or five outs, I think that for us with out bullpen construction, we feel comfortable with that," said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. 

Alexander pitched well during the season, going 3-2 with a 3.68 ERA and had three saves in 2018. He made one appearance in the NLDS, and pitched a scoreless ninth inning in Game 3.

Meanwhile, Milwaukee also made only one addition to their NLCS roster, adding relief pitcher Xavier Cedeno and removing outfielder Keon Broxton.



Photo Credit: Rob Carr/Getty Images

Kershaw Collapses, Dodgers Drop Game 1 of NLCS

0
0

It was a sloppy start to the National League Championship Series.

The Dodgers committed three errors and Clayton Kershaw only lasted three innings as the Milwaukee Brewers, lead Los Angeles, 6-4, in Game 1 of the NLCS at Miller Park.

In the shortest start of his 10-year postseason career, Kershaw struggled mightily in Milwaukee, allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits with two walks and one strikeout in just three innings pitched on Friday.

Kershaw and the Dodgers got off to a great start as Manny Machado hit his third homer of the postseason on a line-drive shot that just cleared the fence in left-center, to give LA a 1-0 lead.

The solo shot had an exit velocity of 116 MPH, the hardest hit home run of the season by any Dodgers player.

Machado's homer marked the first time the Brewers had trailed in the postseason, but the LA lead would be short-lived, as Milwaukee would tie the game in the most improbable way in the bottom of the third inning.

Batting for himself, Brewers relief pitcher Brandon Woodruff became the first pitcher to homer in Milwaukee history when he crushed a 92MPH fastball from Kershaw 407-feet into right-center for the game-tying home run. 

Woodruff, the most improbable of heroes for the Brewers, became the first relief pitcher to homer in the postseason since Travis Wood of the Chicago Cubs in 2016, and only the third reliever to homer in a postseason game all-time, with Rosy Ryan being the other in 1924.

Allowing the game-tying home run to the opposing pitcher must have rattled Kershaw as the floodgates opened from there in a disastrous third inning that will have many former catchers scratching their heads for years to come.

Lorenzo Cain followed with a single, and Kershaw walked soon-to-be MVP Christian Yelich to put runners on first and second with no outs. A few pitches later, Dodgers' catcher Yasmani Grandal, allowed a passed ball—his second of the game—that allowed both runners to advance.

Following the passed ball, Kershaw thought he had recorded the second out of the inning on a diving stop by David Freese at first base, but Grandal was called for catcher's interference, and the Brewers loaded the bases with just one out.

Hernan Perez followed with a fly ball to shallow centerfield, but Grandal dropped Bellinger's throw to the plate, allowing the go-ahead run to score, and both runners to move up 90-feet as Grandal became the first catcher in MLB playoff history to have two errors and two passed balls in the same game.

Kershaw was chased from the game in the bottom of the fourth after a walk, two singles, and an error put runners on second and third for pinch-hitter Domingo Santana who promptly laced a two-run single to left field that gave the Brewers a 4-1 lead.

Kershaw exited stage left without recording an out in the inning, and Ryan Braun knocked in Santana with an RBI single, giving the Brewers a 5-1 lead as Kershaw was charged with his fifth run of the game.

Relief pitcher Josh Hader lived up to the hype as he pitched three scoreless innings of relief for Milwaukee.

After facing big league hitters just three times since May of 2017, Dodgers reliever Julio Urias surrendered a solo shot to Brewers All-Star Jesus Aguilar in the bottom of the seventh to give Milwaukee a 6-1 lead.

The Dodgers refused to go quitely into the Milwaukee night, loading the bases for Machado in the top of the eighth before the Brewers opted for closer Jeremy Jeffress for a four-out save. 

Machado greeted Jeffress with a two-run single, and Matt Kemp followed with an RBI single of his own to cut the lead to 6-4, before pinch-hitter Yasiel Puig struck out to end the inning.

The victory was the Brewers 12th consecutive win as Milwaukee has not lost since September 22nd.

Up Next:

The Dodgers will look to even up the series in Game 2 as another matchup of southpaws is expected when Hyun-Jin Ryu toes the rubber opposite Wade Miley for Milwaukee. First pitch is scheduled for 1:09PM PT.

Please refresh this page for more updates, stats, and player reactions…

If you can't view the embedded videos, click "VIEW THE FULL MOBILE SITE"  at the bottom of this page.



Photo Credit: Stacy Revere/Getty Images
This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Who Shot 15-Year-Old Hannah Bell to Death

0
0

"We shouldn't be here."

Those are the word of Ronnie Bell, the older brother of a young girl shot to death in South Los Angeles on April 27.

"My sister wasn't that type," he says. "She shouldn't have died. There was so much more she should've been doing."

Hannah Bell was 15 years old. Her mom says she was just starting to feel comfortable in her own skin.

"She was a big girl," says mom Samantha Mays. "But I told her she could be a plus-sized model and she was good with that."

On that April night, Hannah and her mom had gone to a hamburger stand on the corner of West 78th Street and South Western Avenue in South LA.

"She wanted to go to Jack-in-the-Box and you don't understand how that hurts my heart that I didn't take my baby to Jack-in-the-Box," Mays recalls. "I chose this hamburger stand that doesn't have a place to walk in, you stand out on the street. I hate it to this day, it hurts, it breaks my heart that I chose that place."

LAPD South Bureau Homicide detectives say they don't know much about the shooter. But new surveillance video released to NBC4 for the first time shows someone walking toward the hamburger stand and then running away.

It's that man that police believe pulled the trigger.

"Hannah and her mother had their backs to the street," says Detective Gabe Ruiz. "They were facing the window ordering and the suspect fires indiscriminately in their direction."

Ruiz says they're not entirely sure who the suspect was aiming for, but released additional surveillance footage that shows two people of interest: an older black man seen tossing trash in the video and a younger black man looking at his cellphone.

Both, according to police, may either know the shooter or could provide a better description of him having seen his face. But those two men have yet to come forward to police to assist. Other witnesses who did come forward say they heard the shots as far as two blocks away.

Sylvester Burns says he heard the shots as he got off a bus and found himself near the hamburger stand just moments afterward.

"I got here and she was on the floor and her mom or auntie was just telling her, fight it, fight it," he says.

Hannah's death has taken a personal toll on even those who didn't know the young girl. Shortly after the murder, LAPD South Bureau Homicide Division held a news conference announcing a $50,000 reward and neighbors came and shouted down officers asking for immediate arrests and updates on the case.

Leads have dried up, forcing police to release the surveillance video in the hopes of getting more people to come forward with information.

"To me you'd be a hero in my eyes, and even the world would think you're a hero, too," Hannah's mother says. "That's why they're offering you $50,000 to say something."

Mays says Hannah was the youngest of her children and calls her a best friend.

"You know when God picks his fruit, there's nothing we can do about it," she says. "He just picked it to me, at the wrong time. And she was taken the wrong way."

Anyone with information on the shooting — and particularly the men seen in the surveillance video — is asked to contact LAPD South Bureau Homicide Detectives at 323-786-5100. A $50,000 reward is still active in the case and will be given to anyone who can offer a tip to lead to the killer's arrest and prosecution.

Lightning Gives SoCal a Show During Fall Storm

0
0

Lighting could be seen and thunder heard across a wide swath of the region and rain began falling in downtown Los Angeles about 7:30 p.m. after several flashes of lightning.

Check Out Chase Utley's Hilarious Retirement Present

0
0

It may not be Father's Day, but the Dodgers got their "Dad" a gift nonetheless.

Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Chase Utley may have played the last game of his career.

The future Hall of Famer did not make the Dodgers 25-man NLDS or NLCS roster, and it's likely if the team advances to their 20th World Series in franchise history, he probably won't be on that roster as well.

Despite the decline of his bat and glove, Utley's mind is still a valuable asset to the Dodgers in their quest for a World Series title. Utley's leadership and dedication to film study has helped not only the younger players on the team, but some of the starting pitchers who may have been tipping their pitches during the season as well.

One of those players is 27-year-old super utility player Enrique Hernandez who affectingly refers to Utley as "Dad," and has carried on the gag that he is Utley's adopted son throughout the 2018 season. 

Hernandez created "Best Dad Ever" t-shirts for Utley this season and continued that mantra with his teammates ahead of the NLCS as they gifted Utley a present he will never forget. 

With Utley off the NLCS roster, he will be watching the best-of-seven series between the Dodgers and Brewers, so the Boys in Blue bought him a custom rocking chair to make sure he's comfortable catching the games.

"The boys in blue made me my own personalized rocking chair. Thanks guys. #AmIThatOld?" said Utley in the caption as he sat in the chair with both the Dodgers and Phillies logos on it as well as his number 26.

 

If you can't view the embedded image, click "VIEW THE FULL MOBILE SITE"  at the bottom of this page. 



Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images
This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Beyonce, Jay Z Appear at City of Hope Cancer Charity Event

0
0

Beyonce paid homage to a high-profile music executive being honored at a charity event to raise money for cancer research.

The singer's vocals soared as she performed three ballads including her 2009 smash hit "Halo" and "Ava Maria" after saluting the character of Warner/Chappell Music Publishing CEO Jon Platt at the City of Hope gala near Los Angeles on Thursday night. She took the stage following her husband, Jay Z, who presented Platt with the Spirit of Life award during a charity event that raised more than $6 million.

"Most people lead with their ego, but you lead with your heart," Beyonce said Platt, who will soon be leaving his position at Warner/Chappell to take on the top role at Sony/ATV, the top publishing company in the music business.

"You have touched so many lives, mine included," she added.

Jay Z called Platt the "Obama of the music industry." The music executive is known for signing publishing deals with Jay Z, Usher, Kanye West and Snoop Dogg. His roster of songwriters at Warner/Chappell includes Lil Wayne, Bruno Mars and Timbaland.

Both Beyonce and Jay Z appeared at the black-tie charity event after the couple wrapped up their On The Run II tour about a week ago.

"I can't think of anyone more deserving of this award than my brother, Jon Platt," Jay Z told more than 1,000 attendees. "He's known as 'Big Jon' and he has a beautiful soul."

City of Hope is a treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases as the Music, Film and Entertainment Industry Group has raised more than $118 million in 45 years. The award is the group's highest honor recognizing those that have helped further music, film and entertainment.

Previous Spirit of Life award recipients include Quincy Jones, Clive Davis, Irving Azoff and Mo Ostin.

Music mogul Diddy, singer Usher, former NBA player Chauncey Billups and some of Platt's family members took part in a video dedicated to the music executive. Platt's oldest son, Jonathan Platt, was diagnosed with diabetes.

Platt shed tears while talking about his friendship with Jay Z, thanking the rapper for coming into his life.

"As an African-American, I want to say that we're more than just athletes and music artists. ... We're CEOs," Platt said.

Pharrell Williams hosted the star-studded event that included Quincy Jones, Dr. Dre, Tiffany Haddish, Usher, Timbaland, Derek Fisher and Rita Ora.

Mary Mary performed a few of their hits including "Shackles (Praise You)" and "God in Me." Jazz player Trombone Shorty also provided a musical set.

Haddish introduced cancer survivor, Kommah McDowell, who said she had a 5 percent chance to survive triple-negative inflammatory breast cancer. She told her story of overcoming the disease 13 years ago.

"It's great that everyone took time out of their crazy schedules to do something good," singer Bebe Rexha said. "The real happiness doesn't just come from money or numbers or where you are on the Billboard charts. It's all about doing stuff like this, helping people. That is what makes people truly happy."



Photo Credit: Rob Hoffman/Invision for Parkwood Entertainment/AP Images, File

After Deadly Storm, Fla. Engineers Study Flaws in Home Designs

0
0

You see the aerial video from the Panhandle and it’s enough to leave you stunned. Miles and miles of devastation, but it looks familiar to anyone who remembers the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew or last year’s assault by Hurricane Irma on the Lower Keys.

As you contemplate roofs that are splintered and walls which have collapsed, remember that experts say for the most part, you’re looking at homes built before stronger building codes became state law in 2002.

Compared to older homes, structures built according to the newer building codes fared much better during Irma and Hurricane Michael, both Category 4 storms.

“Definitely a lot less damage, they would be on stilts, most likely be concrete block structure, hurricane clips on the roofs,” explained Walter Conklin, an engineer who runs FIU’S Wall of Wind lab. “So you have minimal damage compared to what you see now of everything there was to code.”

The Wall of Wind lab is one of only a handful of wind tunnel facilities in the world able to simulate Category 5 hurricane winds. The engineers here are always doing research or testing products and building designs to see how they perform in strong winds. They’re looking for what does and what doesn’t hold up against a storm like Michael.

“What roofs hold up better than others, what nailing pattern would work better than others, hurricane strap compared to no hurricane strap, concrete compared to wood frame,” said Conklin, listing some of the components of modern houses.

The Wall of Wind is a powerful tool for research, but Conklin says his team can’t adequately simulate the effect when a hurricane demolishes a structure and then hurls its debris into another house.

“So even if the home was to code it wasn’t meant to withstand damage from multiple homes impacting it,” Conklin said.

That phenomenon, the engineers at FIU say, surely happened in the Panhandle communities, accounting for an unknown amount of damage, because there are so many homes there built before the building codes were beefed up in 2002.

If those codes are followed, homes and other structures can be made hurricane-resistant, but only if everything is built correctly.

“A lot of it has to do with installation, so you can have the best building codes in the world but if you don’t install it correctly that thing will fall apart,” Conklin said.

Quality matters.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Agriculture Checkpoint Moved to Ease Traffic Delays

0
0

Your drive home from Las Vegas might go a bit smoother now.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture has moved one of its inspection stations along the 15 freeway in an effort to alleviate traffic backups. The station has moved from just east of Barstow to about 7 miles south of Primm Nevada. The move is part of a statewide plan to streamline the inspection stations and locate them near California Highway Patrol facilities. This is the 2nd Border Protection station to be updated. The other is on interstate 80, north of Lake Tahoe in Truckee.

Drivers heading toward Los Angeles from Nevada will notice that trucks and cars are separated as they approach the inspection station, with trucks going through their own inspection lanes before moving on to a weigh station. The previous inspection station near Yermo, often caused traffic backups as cars and trucks would share 2 lanes until just before arriving at the station. It also was avoidable by using local roads. State officials were very concerned about big rigs using local roads to avoid traffic delays. The new station doesn't eliminate all backups on that part of Interstate 15. The freeway does go from 3 lanes to 2 when it reaches Primm, but opens up to 3 lanes well before the station, with up to 6 lanes available for drivers to pass through. Once drivers have been given permission to continue, there is a 3rd lane for trucks and slow-moving traffic help ease congestion up the hill toward Nipton Rd.

Other benefits of this move are the elimination of the previous station, which allows traffic to flow through the Calico area before reaching Barstow where the road widens to more than 2 lanes, as well as giving drivers an option of stopping at Primm to eat, shop or gamble should traffic back up from the station.

There are 16 Border Protection Stations in California. They are used to prevent invasive species of plants, insects and animals from being brought into California, which could threaten our enormous agricultural economy. For more information about the CDFA and its stations look here.

Rescued Thai Soccer Team Honored at LAFC Game

0
0

Members of the “Wild Boar” youth soccer team from Thailand were honored at Friday’s LAFC game. The young boys and their dramatic rescue from a water-filled cave captured the attention of the world last summer.

Target Hiring 13,000 Seasonal Workers in LA Area

0
0

With the economy going strong, Target is getting ready for what is expected to be a booming holiday shopping season by holding hiring events across the nation from Friday through Sunday.

The big box retailer will bring in 13,000 seasonal workers to handle the rush at its 103 stores in the LA area. An additional 750 workers will be hired for five LA-area Target distribution centers.

The hiring events will be held at individual Target stores. The company is planning to hire as many as 120,000 seasonal workers nationwide. Seasonal employees can take advantage of a 10-percent discount at Target stores as well as a 20-percent discount on some food items.

Clinton's Security Clearance Withdrawn at Her Request

0
0

The State Department says former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's security clearance has been withdrawn at her request, NBC News reported.

Clinton's decision comes after Admiral William McRaven penned an op-ed in the Washington Post rebuking President Donald Trump's decision to revoke former CIA Director John Brennan's security clearance in mid-August, according to her spokesperson Nick Merrill.

On Aug. 30, Clinton's representative wrote a letter to the Bureau of Diplomatic Security at the U.S. State Department asking for a withdraw of her clearance "immediately."

"[Clinton] has no desire to have her clearance become part of an unprecedented partisan controversy over the clearance process, for the reason eloquently stated by Admiral William McRaven," Clinton's attorney wrote.



Photo Credit: Getty Images, File

Rainfall Causes Health Advisory at LA Beaches

0
0

Beach goers are advised to avoid coming into contact with ocean water near storm drains, creeks and rivers because of a potential public health hazard caused by rain that fell overnight Friday, the LA County Department of Health said.

The rain creates runoff that may bring water contaminated with bacteria, chemicals, debris and trash into the tide. Portions of the beach that aren’t near drainage areas are considered safe, according to the department.

In November, LA County voters will decide on a measure that would establish a parcel tax to fund projects that would reduce the amount of contaminated water that runs into the ocean during rain. Measure W would generate an estimated $300,000 million annually to improve the amount of water runoff captured, which could then be reused throughout the region.

Viewing all 58096 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images