Edwin Lugo, a 21-year-old Latino, was convicted June 13 of a double homicide in Panorama City, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

According to Deputy Dist. Atty. Scott Marcus, a jury found Lugo guilty of two counts of first-degree murder with special allegations of discharging a firearm causing death and the special circumstance allegation of multiple murders.

Jaime Carasco Polino, a 26-year-old Latino, and Mario Angel Martinez, a 35-year-old Latino, were shot and killed June 2, 2012, in the 7900 block of Brimfield Avenue in Panorama City, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

The bodies of both men were discovered inside Martinez’s apartment about 11:10 p.m.

Polino and Martinez each died from a single gunshot wound to the head, coroner's records show.

On July 29, 2012, LAPD officers in North Hills arrested Lugo.

Lugo, who faces a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole, is expected back in court July 1 for sentencing.

-- Maloy Moore

A West Covina man was convicted June 18 of killing his wife and leaving her body in the trunk of her car, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

After deliberating for about two hours, a jury found Tomas Rodriguez Infante, a 62-year-old Filipino, guilty of first-degree murder.

Charito Vega Tolentino, a 57-year-old Filipino, was found Jan. 13, 2013, in her abandoned red Toyota RAV4 in the parking lot of the Hawaiian Gardens Casino in the 11800 block of Carson Street. She had been stabbed and beaten to death.

According to Deputy Dist. Atty. Miriam Avalos, at the time of the killing, Infante was having an affair with another woman. When his girlfriend found out he was married, she ended their relationship. The next day, Tolentino disappeared.

On the witness stand, Infante's son testified that he believed his father had killed his stepmother. Additionally, cellphone records and blood evidence found at his home connected Infante to the crime, Avalos said.

On January 14, sheriff's investigators arrested Infante at the West Covina home he shared with his wife.

Infante, who faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life, is expected back in court July 8 for sentencing.

-- Veronica Rocha and Maloy Moore

A 49-year-old man was sentenced June 19 to state prison for a 2010 double homicide in Monterey Park, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

Richard Vithya Tauch was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for murdering his ex-girlfriend and her current boyfriend.

On Nov. 19, 2013, a jury found Tauch guilty of two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and lying in wait.

Jenny Vanny Sor, 40, and Wenwa Chao, 53, were shot and killed Jan. 19, 2010, in the 200 block of North Chandler Avenue in Monterey Park, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

According to Deputy Dist. Atty. Steve Ipson, on Jan. 19, Tauch went to the Hollywood Park Casino in Inglewood where Sor worked and hid in her car. After work, she drove to Monterey Park to meet up with Chao at an assisted-living facility where his father lived.

Tauch followed Sor inside the facility, confronted the victims and then shot them both multiple times, Ipson said.

Chao and Sor were pronounced dead at the scene at 8:11 p.m.

Tauch fled the scene, but was taken into custody in the early afternoon of Jan. 20.

-- Maloy Moore

Before the candles were lit, the heads were bowed in prayer, and the calls for violence to end were shouted, Janet Sanders-Bolden met Roshon Davis on the side of the road, at a place where no one wanted to be: the vigil for the killing of her son. It was an encounter of two people who never wanted to meet.

Davis’ son, with the same name, was fatally stabbed Jan. 30. He said repeatedly that his son’s birthday — July 17 — is coming up. Sanders-Bolden’s suffering was just beginning. Davis has been living day-to-day.

“This just needs to stop,” she told Davis before joining the group of mourners gathered around dozens of candles, right across the street from where her son had just moved into a new apartment.

Just one day before he was killed, Aveion Curtis Bolden invited his mother over to show her his new place. He was proud.

The next night — Friday, June 13 — Bolden, his girlfriend, Jacinta Walker, and another couple had plans to go to dinner, then to go see "22 Jump Street."

The group of four got into a silver Toyota Camry about 10 p.m. Walker and Bolden sat in the back, while the other couple sat in front.

Shots rang out. The driver of the Camry, Anthony Alonzo Cudger, shot back.

In a matter of minutes, Walker, 18, Bolden, 20, and the gunman from the other car, Trevor Andre Williams, 33, were dead — the latest casualties in a ongoing string of shootings between two rival Crip gangs that has lasted for years.

At the vigil, held near South Figureoa Street and West Manchester Avenue,  Sanders-Bolden clutched a framed photo of her son with his girlfriend. Her eyes were expressionless as family, friends and community members walked up to her to hug her.

Sanders-Bolden’s fiance, David Williams, knew Bolden for eight years. He said Bolden got caught up in the wrong crowd but had a "heart of gold" and had received his high school diploma in January 2013. Sanders-Bolden said she planned to use a picture of him in a cap and gown on the front of the obituary for his funeral.

Late that night, her nephew called Sanders-Bolden and said, “I think Aveion’s been shot.”

She rushed to the crime scene and stood behind the yellow tape, hoping it wasn’t her son.  It wasn’t until 4 a.m. that her fears were affirmed.

When Sanders-Bolden had to go to the police station, she saw the vigil for the shooter, Trevor Andre Williams. She admitted she felt hatred.

“It was a weird feeling,” she said. But she acknowledged that justice, or the justice she’s settling for — has been served.

“The person who killed my son is dead,” she said.

Men and women walked up with tears in their eyes to place a candle at the vigil. Minister Tony Muhammad called for change. Sanders-Bolden hugged Walker’s mother, Carolyn Cole.

Sanders-Bolden told the crowd that her son wanted to have children with his girlfriend of a year and a half.

“They lost their lives together,” she said.

-- Nicole Santa Cruz

Photo: Janet Sanders-Bolden holds a photo of her son, 20-year-old Aveion Curtis Bolden and his girlfriend, 18-year-old Jacinta Walker. The couple was killed Friday, June 13, near South Figueroa Street and West Manchester Avenue. Credit: Nicole Santa Cruz

Nicole Santa Cruz's recent article about LaQuita Suggs, a grief counselor who had to find strength after the killing of her mother, Ella, has elicited strong reader reaction. Ella Suggs was 53 when she was stabbed to death at a bus stop in 2007.

Readers are sharing their own stories of loss and thanking LaQuita Suggs for her inspirational outlook. Following is a sampling.

From commenter Stephanie Castillo:

Thank you for sharing your story LaQuita Suggs. Special thanks for reminding us that it is “OK not to remember everything.”

From Richard C:

You are not alone LaQuita, and thank you for sharing your story with all of us who lose loved one's senselessly, and thanks for this blog that can bring us all together to share and try and cope with the grief. I lost my cousin Angelo 2 months ago and the pain comes and goes when you miss them. Stay strong everyone.

From Brenda:

Laquita, thanks for sharing. I have been reading this blog since 2007 and often wonder about you. I am so sorry for your loss and I thank you for your strength. When my brother passed in 2010 from cancer, it was a nightmare for me. One of the things that helped me with my grieving process was when I thought of you and your Mom, it kept me going. Knowing that I was not alone in how I was feeling and that if you could continue on after the loss of your Mom, I could. The loss of my brother was very painful, but if it had been due to homicide, I know it would have been worse. Again, thank you for your strength.

And on Friday, on the Homicide Report page for Ella Suggs, B Davis wrote this:

You are amazing. I say that because of the strength that you have shown over the past 7 years. You continue to be helpful to others and have become an expert in Greif and Loss. Even though your mom is not here in the physical, she continues to live through you and I believe that she is still giving you guidance. I remember how kind your mom was and how helpful she was. (And I especially remember how skilled she was with that sowing machine). Keep doing God's work and he will continue to bless you and those around you.

LaQuita Suggs, as LaQuita-Daughter, also wrote a comment:

I'm sitting here reading through all the blogs and it's interesting that I can recall what state I was in when I wrote some of these blogs. After the article posted about my mom, my heart started beating really fast -- as if I was nervous or reliving some aspect of the traumatic experience. Although, I was afraid I am very grateful at the same time. More importantly, I am sooooo happy that I did not die from a broken heart --  which could have easily happened. Never in a million years would I think that I would be at a place of being okay -- not the same as acceptance, but a sort of reduced emotional state. I just literally closed my eyes and I felt like kicking my legs as a semblance of victory within my storm. What does that mean -- I don't know really, but something like an extreme kick start into living -- without covering the suffering. Yeah I feel unmasked and proud of my scars. The Williams Brothers sings it best "bruises, I've taken my lumps and bruises but I'm still here."

— Matt Ballinger

Derrick Anthony Hill, a 48-year-old blackmale, died Saturday, June 14, after being shot in Florence, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Jose Luis Horta, a 34-year-old Latinomale, died Friday, June 20, after being shot in Vermont Square, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Three Latino men were sentenced June 23 to state prison for a 2012 murder in Sun Valley, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

Evin Adonis Ortiz, 25, Rene Ubaldo Ramirez, 32, and Edwin Alexander Bonilla 30, were sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the killing of Danilo Estuardo Morales.

Ramirez was given an additional sentence of 25 years to life for firing the gun that killed Morales, prosecutors said.

Additionally, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Greg Dohi gave each defendant a life sentence for the attempted murder of Manuel Flores, 70, the victim’s grandfather.

On Nov. 1, 2013, the three defendants were found guilty of the special circumstance murder of Morales and the attempted murder and second-degree robbery of Flores.

Morales, a 24-year-old Latino, was shot and killed Jan. 9, 2012, in the 8100 block of Coldwater Canyon Boulevard in Sun Valley, according Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

Morales was gunned down while attempting to help his grandfather, who was robbed outside his home about 6:45 p.m.

The robbers demanded that Flores hand over his possessions and jewelry. As he tried to take off a bracelet, he yelled, "They're robbing me!" and dived to the ground. One of the robbers fired his gun.

Hearing the gunfire, Morales ran from the house and chased after the robbers who had fled in a white SUV. The men opened fire and Morales was struck in the head. 

Morales was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 8:59 p.m. Flores was not injured.

Ortiz and Ramiriez were arrested several days after the murder. Bonilla was arrested the following month.

-- Maloy Moore

Samuel Santoyo-Mendoza, a 29-year-old whitemale, died Sunday, June 22, in East Los Angeles, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records. The cause of death is pending.

Antoine D. Hunter, a 24-year-old blackmale, died Tuesday, June 24, in Compton, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records. The cause of death is pending.

Monique Brittanyann Campbell, a 21-year-old black woman, was shot and killed Tuesday, June 24, in the 4800 block of South Western Avenue in Vermont Square, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

Campbell and Marquette Bryon Carter, 28, were sitting in a black Hyundai shortly before 11 p.m. when a light-colored sedan pulled up next to them and multiple shots were fired, said Los Angeles Police Det. Chris Barling.

Campbell was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:14 p.m., said Ed Winter, a coroner’s spokesman. Carter was taken to a hospital where he died.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Criminal Gang Homicide Division at (213) 485-1383. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Veronica Rocha

Marquette Bryon Carter, a 28-year-old black man, was shot and killed Tuesday, June 24, in the 4800 block of South Western Avenue in Vermont Square, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

Carter and Monique Brittanyann Campbell, 21, were sitting in a black Hyundai shortly before 11 p.m. when a light-colored sedan pulled up next to them and multiple shots were fired, said Los Angeles Police Det. Chris Barling.

Carter was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead at 11:25 p.m., said Ed Winter, a coroner’s spokesman. Campbell died at the scene.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Criminal Gang Homicide Division at (213) 485-1383. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Veronica Rocha

William Dion Carter, a 38-year-old black man, was shot and killed Wednesday, June 25, in the 5300 block of West Century Boulevard in Westchester, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

About 12:15 p.m., Carter and another man walked into Nature’s Cure, a marijuana dispensary, and shot at a security guard in an attempt to commit a robbery, said Los Angeles Police Det. Scott Masterson.

The security guard fired back, striking Carter, who then fled west on West Century Boulevard and collapsed in front of the Westin Hotel. Carter was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:40 p.m., said Ed Winter, a spokesman with the coroner’s office.

The other man -- later identified by police as Jermal Akins, 31 -- ran east on West Century Boulevard, then returned to the scene to retrieve his car, Masterson said. Akins, who is black, was arrested on suspicion of murder June 26, Masterson said.

The security guard had minor injuries that did not require hospitalization, and no one else in the clinic was injured, Masterson said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the West Homicide Bureau at (213) 382-9470. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Los Angeles Times staff

Latinos in California are killed at twice the rate of whites and are more likely to have been killed by a stranger.

That's just one of the findings in a recent report on crime, Latinos and their experiences in the justice system produced by Californians for Safety and Justice.

The report, "Latino Voices: The Impacts of Crime and Criminal Justice Policies on Latinos," also found that Latinos are dramatically overrepresented as victims of crime and in courts, jails and prisons.

The findings of the report, which was released Tuesday, were reviewed by a panel at the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce.

“There are more broken families,” said Roberto Suro, the director of the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute at USC, which conducted research for the report. “There are more stories.”

Suro said the report sheds light on the “cumulative disadvantage” that Latinos see at every stage of the criminal justice system. This includes the increased odds of ending up in prison and higher bail amounts. 

Though Latinos are the largest ethnic group in California, there is very little data on the impact of the criminal justice system, said Lenore Anderson, the executive director of the nonprofit.

“When you have a system that is disproportionately impacting the community, you need to talk to the community,” Anderson said of potential solutions.

David Guizar, a crime survivor, also spoke on the panel. When Guizar was 10, his brother Fernando Oscar Martinez, then 17, was shot and killed.

Guizar’s memory of that night remains vivid. He remembers his mother shouting “No!” over and over.

The years to follow would be filled with drug and alcohol abuse. He got sober in 2006.

Six years later, his older brother, Gilberto Francis Guzman, was shot and killed in Central Alameda.

For Guizar, the report “gives some validity to my story.”

“It’s not just my family that this happened to,” he said.

Regarding crime, the report also found the following:

• Latinos are more likely to experience multiple crimes. In a 2013 survey of California crime survivors, 43% of Latinos had experienced three or more crimes in the past five years, compared with 36% of crime survivors overall.
• The same survey found that Latinos also have a harder time accessing services after a crime. Fewer than half of Latinos were aware of assistance with a victims’ compensation application (34%), help with medical or other crime-related expenses (37%), or mental health counseling (41%). Of those who were aware, one-third found counseling difficult to obtain. Nearly two-thirds of Latinos found the victims’ compensation application difficult.
• Nationally, from 1994 to 2011, Latinos were also more likely to be shot than whites, and had higher home burglary rates than white households, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. (Latinos were less likely than African Americans to be shot and had lower burglary rates than African Americans.)
• From 1997 to 2009, hate crimes against Latinos increased nationwide. As immigration increases, such crimes increase, according to a National Institute of Justice Report.
• A 2013 study found that Los Angeles neighborhoods with a larger population of Latino immigrants led to less violent crime.
• A survey of more than 2,000 Latinos in counties in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and Phoenix found that 44% of Latinos would be hesitant to report being a victim of crime because they were afraid that police would inquire about immigration status.

To read the full report, click here. 

-- Nicole Santa Cruz

Photo: David Guizar, left, and his brother Gilberto Francis Guzman at a wedding. Credit: David Guizar

Marcel Dupre Johns, a 28-year-old black man, was shot and killed Friday, June 27, in the 5600 block of Dairy Avenue in Long Beach, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

Officers from the Long Beach Police Department responded about 2 a.m. to a report of gunshots in the area, according to a news release from the department.

Paramedics arrived and pronounced Johns dead at the scene at 2:19 a.m., said Ed Winter, a coroner’s spokesman.

Johns was riding a motorcycle when he was shot, which caused him to crash into multiple empty vehicles. Police did not provide suspect information.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Long Beach Homicide Dets. Scott Lasch and Donald Goodman at (562) 570-7244. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

-- Nicole Santa Cruz

The Homicide Report has reported new details on 16 recent homicides in Los Angeles County. Click on the victims' names for more information.

Marcel Dupre Johns, 28: Shot to death June 27 in Long Beach.

William Dion Carter, 38: Shot to death June 25 in Westchester.

Marquette Byron Carter, 28: Shot to death June 24 in Vermont Square.

Monique Brittanyann Campbell, 21: Shot to death June 24 in Vermont Square.

Antoine D. Hunter, 24: Shot to death in a confrontation with L.A. County sheriff's deputies June 24 in Compton.

Samuel Santoyo-Mendoza, 29: Shot to death June 22 in East Los Angeles.

Israel Lopez, 29: Stabbed to death June 20 in South Whittier.

Rogelio Islas-Morales, 42: Shot to death June 20 in Compton.

John Wayne Whitmore, 65: Died June 20, a weak after being beaten at a Blue Line station in Willowbrook.

Jose Luis Horta, 34: Shot to death June 20 in Vermont Square.

Ruben Victor Zermeno, 56: Found beaten to death June 18 in Avocado Heights.

Eloisa Salas Lara, 37: Found shot to death June 16 in Pomona.

Derrick Anthony Hill, 48: Shot to death June 14 in Broadway-Manchester.

Sotai Jamin Jackson, 38: Shot to death June 12 in Willowbrook.

Dwayne Kenneth McKesson, 47: Shot to death June 12 in Florence-Firestone.

Abraham Saldinas, 38: Shot to death May 29 in Valley Glen.

The Homicide Report has chronicled 264 homicides in 2014, as of June 27, in Los Angeles County. The vast majority of victims died of gunshot wounds. Twenty-eight were stabbed; 18 died of blunt-force trauma.

Steven Joseph Ruiz, a 48-year-old Latinomale, died Wednesday, June 25, after being shot in Lincoln Heights, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Paul Ray Kemp Jr., a 40-year-old blackmale, died Friday, June 27, in Inglewood, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Marcel Dupre Johns, a 28-year-old blackmale, died Friday, June 27, after being shot in Long Beach, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.

Samuel Ramirez, a 17-year-old Latinomale, died Friday, June 27, after being shot in East Los Angeles, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.