Los Angeles, Ca
KTLA credited with helping LAPD apprehend suspect
L.A.’s Very Own KTLA 5 helped the Los Angeles Police Department take a suspect into custody on Sunday.
LAPD Central Bureau Assistant Commanding Operations Officer Lillian L. Carranza confirmed early Sunday afternoon that a suspect featured in a video published to the KTLA website, YouTube and social media pages was caught after an “alert citizen” recognized the man on the news and called police.
The video in question depicted him kicking down the door of a home in L.A.’s Atwood neighborhood.
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A resident in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Atwater shared Ring doorbell camera footage with KTLA that shows a man kicking down their home’s front door. -
A resident in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Atwater shared Ring doorbell camera footage with KTLA that shows a man kicking down their home’s front door.
“After receiving the LAPD community crime alert and watching the [KTLA 5] morning news, a citizen called 911,” Carranza said on X. “Officers quickly responded and arrested the suspect.”
His name was not released, but he was described as a 44-year-old Hispanic man. The exact location of where he was arrested was also not disclosed.
The homeowner who provided the original video to KTLA says it depicted the eighth time the man had attempted to break into their residence and the first time he was able to make it inside. They were eventually able to chase him out of their home and call the police but remain understandably shaken.
The suspect connected to a series of hot prowl burglaries and connected sexual assault in East Hollywood and Silver Lake early Friday morning is still outstanding, Carranza said.
Anyone in those neighborhoods who observes suspicious activity is urged to call 911.
About 20 people were detained Saturday during a large police response in Los Angeles’ Koreatown after authorities received reports of an armed man threatening people, officials said. Officers responded to the 3400 block of West 8th Street near Kingsley Drive on reports of an assault with a deadly weapon, according to the Los Angeles Police […]
A former Riverside County man was found guilty of sex trafficking a female victim and forcing her to engage in commercial sex acts along L.A.’s notorious Figueroa Corridor.
Elias Abdul Shabazz, 34, formerly of Perris, was found guilty by a jury following a five-day trial, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Prosecutors said Shabazz had led the victim to believe they were in a romantic relationship before he turned physically and sexually violent. He began demanding that the victim engage in commercial sex acts from May to October of 2021, court documents said.
He carried a handgun with him and, on occasion, was accused of using it to pistol-whip the victim. He also fired the gun at her feet while threatening to kill her, prosecutors said.
At trial, the victim said Shabazz demanded that she meet a daily quota of commercial sex proceeds and that she was terrified of the consequences of not meeting that quota.
She testified that Shabazz compelled her to work in the notorious Figueroa Corridor in South L.A., a dangerous area known for human trafficking and prostitution.
Shabazz had confiscated her identification card, Social Security card and birth certificate. He constantly monitored her cell phone to stop her from communicating with any friends or family.
“He also introduced her to addictive narcotics and controlled every aspect of her life, including when she ate, slept and showered,” prosecutors said.
In May 2025, Shabazz was arrested and has remained in federal custody. His last known address at the time was in Washington, D.C.
On June 26, 2026, Shabazz was found guilty of one count of coercing or enticing interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 6, where he faces 15 years to life in prison.
“Sex trafficking matters rank among the most tragic cases our office prosecutes,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli. “This defendant will now face many years in a federal prison cell for his sick, disgusting, and disturbing behavior.”
“Elias Shabazz preyed on a vulnerable victim using physical and sexual violence and cruel psychological coercion to compel commercial sex acts for his own profit,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “There is no place for this type of conduct in civilized society. We deeply respect the victim’s courage to face her trafficker in court. The Criminal Division will continue to bring these cases and try them.”
Anyone with information about human trafficking can report tips to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888
The star-studded feel-good giveback event of the summer has returned. KTLA 5 is teaming up once again with Project Angel Food for the annual “Lead with Love: Going the Distance” telethon to raise critical funds for medically tailored meals delivered to people living with serious illnesses throughout Los Angeles County. The seventh annual telethon airs […]
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