Southwest
Arizona rancher George Alan Kelly has charges dismissed in migrant shooting case
An Arizona judge on Tuesday dismissed the case against rancher George Alan Kelly, who was charged with murder after being accused of shooting a Mexican national on his border property.
Kelly, 75, was accused of killing Gabriel Cuen-Buitimea, 48, on his 170-acre cattle ranch near Keno Springs outside Nogales, Arizona, on Jan. 30, 2023.
Santa Cruz Superior Court Judge Thomas Fink said the State “has decided not to retry this case following mistrial because another jury would not convict the defendant based upon the same evidence.”
“At best, another hung jury would result. More likely, another jury would acquit,” Fink wrote.
ARIZONA RANCHER GEORGE ALAN KELLY DEFENSE SAYS ‘LONE HOLDOUT’ JUROR BLOCKED ACQUITTAL, STATE WEIGHS 2ND TRIAL
George Alan Kelly, 73 at the time, was accused of shooting a Mexican man on his property in January 2023. (Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office via AP)
Santa Cruz County prosecutors in April decided not to retry Kelly after Fink declared a mistrial due to a hung jury. Jurors voted in favor of acquitting Kelly 7-1 of second-degree murder or the lower counts of manslaughter, negligent homicide or aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
In his decision, the judge cited a lack of physical evidence and witnesses despite the fact that the shooting occurred more than a year ago; the bullet that allegedly killed Ramirez was never located.
ARIZONA RANCHER DEFENSE CONSULTANT CLAIMS ‘CARTEL INFLUENCE’ IN MURDER PROBE, RIPS SHERIFF’S PAST COMMENTS
Santa Cruz County prosecutors in April decided not to retry Kelly after Fink declared a mistrial due to a hung jury. (Mark Henle/The Arizona Republic via USA Today Network, FILE)
The judge also questioned whether the only witness named who came forward, Daniel Ramirez — a man who was walking with Cuen-Buitimea on the night he died — “would even be around for another trial.”
Ramirez testified that he has tried and failed to cross the border 10 times. “There is no assurance that his whereabouts would be known in the future,” Fink said.
ARIZONA RANCHER GEORGE ALAN KELLY’S WIFE TESTIFIES IN MURDER TRIAL, DESCRIBES ARMED MEN NEAR BORDERLANDS HOME
Arizona Superior Court Judge Thomas Fink walked out of the trial of rancher George Kelly, who is charged with murder in the death of a Mexican national on his border property. (Santa Cruz County, Arizona | Pool)
Prosecutors have said that jurors’ opinions about the border may have impacted their decision-making in Kelly’s trial, but Fink said that is only speculation.
The judge described the jury as “rational and diverse” in their 7-1 decision to acquit Kelly.
The judge described the jury as “rational and diverse” in their 7-1 decision to acquit Kelly. (Mark Henle-USA TODAY NETWORK)
“The court finds that the State is not able to articulate a reasonable basis for holding this case ‘open’ with a dismissal without prejudice. The interests of justice are not served by the dismissal without prejudice for a case that cannot and will not be re-tried,” Fink wrote. “The interests of justice are not advanced where the only thing to be accomplished by a dismissal without prejudice … is the harassment of the Defendant.”
Fox News’ Stepheny Price contributed to this report.
Read the full article from Here
Los Angeles, Ca
Kids, teens can enjoy free lunch at over 90 parks across Los Angeles
Children and teens can enjoy a free lunch this summer at more than 90 parks across Los Angeles.
The annual Summer Food Service Program is sponsored by the city’s Department of Recreation and Parks.
From June 12 to July 31, anyone under 18 years old can grab a free lunch at a participating local park.
Menu offerings may include fresh fruits and vegetables, milk, salads, deli sandwiches and other nutritious meal options.
City officials said the program helps to ensure that children and teens continue to have access to healthy meals while school is out for the summer.
No application or proof of income is needed. Adults and guardians can simply bring their child to a participating location to receive food.
Meals must be consumed onsite and are available at no cost. Serving times will vary by location but typically range between 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
“Summer should be a time for children to learn, play and create lasting memories, not worry about where their next meal will come from,” said Jimmy Kim, General Manager of the Department of Recreation and Parks. “Through our partnership with LAUSD, we are proud to provide free, nutritious meals in safe and welcoming park environments where young people can stay active, connect with their communities and thrive throughout the summer.”
A full list of participating parks and serving times can be found here.
The public can also call 818-346-2700 or text “Summer Meals” to 97779 for a list of parks. Flyer information in Spanish can be found here.
More information about the city’s 2026 Lunch Program can be found here.
Los Angeles, Ca
Armed home invasion in L.A.’s Fairfax District leaves resident assaulted
A resident was assaulted after two armed suspects forced their way into a home in Los Angeles’ Fairfax District early Saturday morning, police said.
The home invasion robbery was reported around 4:32 a.m. in the 800 block of North Detroit Street, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
Police said two suspects, both described as adult males, entered the property while armed with handguns.
The resident was assaulted during the confrontation, though authorities did not immediately release information about the victim’s injuries.
Investigators said the suspects stole jewelry and cell phones before fleeing the area in an unknown vehicle.
Video from the scene showed LAPD officers investigating outside a modern residential property as daylight broke Saturday morning. Several patrol vehicles were parked nearby while officers canvassed the area.
No arrests had been announced as of Saturday afternoon.
Anyone with information about the robbery is urged to contact the LAPD.
Los Angeles, Ca
Woman, man found shot to death in Pomona, suspect leads officers on erratic chase
Loved ones are devastated after a woman and a man were found shot to death at a Pomona apartment complex and the woman’s boyfriend was arrested after leading officers on a dangerous pursuit.
On Friday, friends and family gathered outside the Pomona apartment complex where Veronica Lopez, 24, and Richard Brady, 48, were found fatally shot.
On June 18, Pomona police were called to the Monterey Station Apartments at 180 E. Monterey Ave. just before 3:30 p.m. on reports of a shooting.
Officers made their way up to a fourth-floor apartment hallway where they found two victims suffering from gunshot wounds.
Despite life-saving measures, both were pronounced dead at the scene. The suspect and Veronica’s boyfriend, Robert Galtman, 48, had fled the scene in a Kia sedan.
Around 5 p.m., California Highway Patrol officers spotted his vehicle on the freeway and he led them on a high-speed, hour-long chase before officers successfully performed a PIT maneuver that disabled his vehicle. He surrendered and was taken into custody.
Friends and family members are devastated over the victims’ deaths and have so many unanswered questions.
“I don’t understand,” said Sheila Lopez, Veronica’s mother. “She didn’t deserve this.”
Sheila had spoken to her daughter just hours before the deadly shooting. She told her daughter she would call her later after work, but when she did, her daughter never answered the phone.
Her family later learned that Veronica had been shot and killed and that her boyfriend of several years, Galtman, was under arrest.
Lopez’s family said that Veronica was in an abusive relationship and they believe she was trying to leave her boyfriend when she was killed. They had also previously urged her to leave.
“I believe she was walking away,” Sheila told KTLA’s Lindsey Pena. “I think she should’ve just walked away. This is why this all happened.”
They also believe the other victim, Brady, was likely just trying to help her. Brady’s close friend and the mother of his child, Heather Cantu, agreed, saying helping others in a situation like that is something he would’ve done.
“I just think that if she was in an abusive relationship, that’s what he was doing,” Cantu said.
His brother told The Daily Bulletin that he was aware of Veronica’s abusive relationship.
“My brother helped her out of that situation,” he told the outlet. “They became friends. My brother stuck up for those who couldn’t stick up for themselves. Unfortunately, he walked into a situation out of his control.”
Cantu described him as a loving father to two children and a kind man and who will be greatly missed.
“We’ll all remember how happy he made everybody,” Cantu said. “He was a jokester. He was always happy and he always tried to make everybody else feel good.”
On Friday night, loved ones gathered at a growing memorial outside the Pomona apartment complex where the victims and the suspect all lived.
Sheila said Veronica was the youngest of her five daughters, who always lit up a room and brought joy to those around her.
“She’s definitely someone to miss,” Sheila said. “She’s a great skateboarder. She loves to go to games and she loves her family.”
In a GoFundMe page, loved ones said Veronica “had a way of making everyone around her feel loved and valued. The pain of losing her is unimaginable, and our hearts are broken.”
Galtman remains in custody on $3.1 million bail.
A GoFundMe page to help Veronica’s family with funeral expenses can be found here.
A GoFundMe page to help Brady’s family with funeral expenses can be found here.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with additional information is asked to call the Pomona Police Department’s Detective Bureau at 909-620-2085.
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