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Long Beach taco truck worker beaten, robbed in violent confrontation

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Long Beach taco truck worker beaten, robbed in violent confrontation

A man recalls the terrifying moment he was beaten and robbed while working at his family’s taco truck in Long Beach — the second time they’ve now been targeted.

The victim, Erick Flores, was working at the Los Bros Tacos truck located on Junipero Avenue and 7th Street when two suspects suddenly approached him on Thursday, May 2.

“They crossed the street and came walking up,” Flores recalled. 

One male suspect was wearing a black hoodie and the other was wearing a red hoodie as Flores, who worked as a cashier in front of the food truck, spotted them.

As the man in the black hoodie began ordering food, that’s when his accomplice made his move.

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“The guy with the red sweater ended up grabbing my hand and was struggling to get the money out,” Flores said.

  • Two male suspects seen on security camera about to rob the Los Bros Tacos Truck in Long Beach on May 2, 2024. (Los Bros Tacos)
  • Two male suspects seen on security camera about to rob the Los Bros Tacos Truck in Long Beach on May 2, 2024. (Los Bros Tacos)
  • Erick Flores was left bloodied and with a broken nose after being beaten and robbed by two men on May 2, 2024 in Long Beach. (GoFundMe)
  • The Los Bros Tacos truck in Long Beach, California. (KTLA)
  • Erick Flores was left bloodied and with a broken nose after being beaten and robbed by two men on May 2, 2024 in Long Beach. (KTLA)
  • Manuel Antonio working at the Los Bros Tacos truck in Long Beach, California. (KTLA)
  • Erick Flores and a coworker outside of the Los Bros Tacos truck in Long Beach, California. (KTLA)
  • The Los Bros Tacos truck in Long Beach, California. (KTLA)
  • Erick Flores and a coworker outside of the Los Bros Tacos truck in Long Beach, California. (KTLA)

Surveillance video captured the tense confrontation as Flores tried to fend off the robbers. As he yanked his hands away, that’s when the thieves knocked Flores to the ground and repeatedly punched him in the face.

“I remember he was screaming at me but I don’t actually remember what he was saying,” Flores said, still stunned. “Everything happened so fast.”

Flores’ coworker, Manuel Antonio, noticed the commotion and stepped into action. He was able to chase the suspects away but not before the men escaped with the money and some cash from Flores’ pocket.

He was left with a broken nose and was found bloodied and bruised by his coworkers.

Antonio can relate to Flores’ experience as he was also robbed at gunpoint and beaten while working the Los Bros Taco truck back in December 2023. The truck had only been serving the Long Beach location for two months back then.

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  • Surveillance video captured masked thieves storming into the Los Bros Tacos truck on Dec. 16, 2023 in Long Beach. (Los Bros Tacos)
  • Surveillance video captured masked thieves storming into the Los Bros Tacos truck on Dec. 16, 2023 in Long Beach. (Los Bros Tacos)
  • The Los Bros Tacos Truck in Long Beach. (KTLA)
  • The Los Bros Tacos Truck in Long Beach. (KTLA)
  • The Los Bros Tacos Truck in Long Beach. (KTLA)

“This was our dream goal to start a business and flourish as a family,” Flores said of his family’s truck.

Flores was filling in for his mother on the night he was attacked. He said he was relieved it was him who was there instead and that he is alive.

However, after the violent incident, the family said serving the Long Beach community has taken a toll and is considering whether the city is the best place for their future.

A GoFundMe page created to help Flores with medical bills and to replace the stolen money can be found here.

The suspects remain at large as police continue investigating the incident. Anyone with information can call Long Beach police at 562-570-7260.

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Los Angeles, Ca

Body found underneath 210 Freeway in Irwindale

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Body found underneath 210 Freeway in Irwindale

Authorities are investigating after a body was found underneath a freeway overpass in Irwindale on Wednesday.

Irwindale police responded to reports of an unresponsive man on the 2300 block of Central Avenue at around 1:44 p.m.

Arriving officers found the man lying on a dirt road adjacent to the Los Angeles County Flood Control Bradbury Channel underneath the 210 Freeway. 

The man, who was unresponsive, was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

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The cause of death remains unclear and under investigation by detectives. His identity will be released pending an investigation by the L.A. County Coroner’s Office.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact Detective Lucy Aguilar at 626-430-2239 or by email at laquilar@irwindaleca.gov.

Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.

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Los Angeles, Ca

Body found washed ashore on Ventura County beach identified

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Body found washed ashore on Ventura County beach identified

The body of a man who washed ashore on a Ventura County beach was identified.

The man was confirmed to be Connor O’Donnell, 31, from Oak Park, according to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.

On April 17, deputies responded to reports of a body found at Sandy Dune Beach on Pacific Coast Highway at around 4:30 p.m.

The sheriff’s Major Crime Investigators and the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office responded to the beach to investigate.

The cause and circumstances surrounding the man’s death are unclear.

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Detectives are seeking any information related to O’Donnell’s activities and known whereabouts between April 6 and April 17.

Connor O’Donnell, 31, is seen in a photo from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.

“Anytime a body is found in the ocean, it is always regarded as suspicious,” explained VCSO Capt. Dean Worthy. “However, at this time, they are investigating if it was a homicide, suicide or an accident.”

O’Donnell’s photo was released for the public to reference. The incident remains under investigation.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Sergeant Craig Hennes at 805-384-4744.

Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.

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Los Angeles, Ca

11-year-old to graduate from Southern California college, break record

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11-year-old to graduate from Southern California college, break record

Eleven-year-old Athena Elling will graduate from Irvine Valley College this week and become the youngest to do it, breaking her own brother’s record.

Athena, whose family is from San Juan Capistrano, is set to graduate with an associate degree in liberal arts on Thursday.

When she does, she will be about six months younger than her brother Tycho Elling was when he set the school’s record last year.

  • Athena Elling is seen in an image provided by Irvine Valley College.
  • Athena Elling is seen in an image provided by Irvine Valley College.

Athena said it was because of her brother that she began taking classes at the college.

“So I chased my brother, who I am very competitive with, all the way into calculus because he really liked math,” she said.  

Math was not Athena’s favorite subject but she found plenty of other courses that captured her interest.

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“I just started taking classes … There is so much variety and since I really liked acting I can take all the really fun classes to help me with that,” she said.

Athena’s father is a software engineer and her mother was a high school chemistry teacher who became a children’s author.

“I am both proud and a little bit in awe of my own children. That they’ve already developed so well,” Christina Chow said. “I wish I could say what the secret sauce is and I feel like I don’t know … I feel very blessed to have these children.”

Tycho is now a junior at UC Irvine but Athena is planning to remain at Irvine Valley College and complete a second associate degree. 

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