Los Angeles, Ca
Rebuilt 1940s-era plane stolen, burned, used for scrap, owner says
Authorities recovered an oversized Airstream trailer, which housed a vintage single-engine aircraft, both of which were stolen from a warehouse parking lot in Torrance in a theft that was caught on surveillance cameras earlier this month.
The brazen heist occurred on Jan. 3 in the 22800 block of Lockness Avenue near Sepulveda Boulevard.
Security footage captured the moment a suspect driving a white truck pulled up, hitched the Airstream trailer to their vehicle and hauled it away with the 1940s-era two-seat Piper PA-15/17 plane inside.
“I’m pretty devastated,” the plane’s owner and flight instructor, Anis Pradhan, said. “They broke a lock pad on the gate, opened the gate and they came in and just pulled it out of there.”
For more than a decade, Pradhan has been meticulously rebuilding the vintage aircraft. It was not only his passion but was meant to be used for training underprivileged children who aspired to be pilots in his home country of Nepal as part of a nonprofit effort.
“I’ve spent so many hours, thousands of hours, putting this aircraft together and in a matter of minutes, it just disappeared,” he said of the U.S. built plane.
The aircraft, which was uninsured because it was in storage, measured 22 feet in length, 35 feet in width and weighed over 1,000 pounds. It had wings that folded up, allowing it to be stored in the custom-built trailer.
Authorities discovered the burnt-out trailer at Daisy Avenue and 17th Street overnight. It had been completely dismantled and destroyed, with the classic airplane that was stored inside the trailer gone.
However, in photos obtained by KTLA, the 1940’s-era Vagabond plane had been inside the trailer and appeared to have been burned down to the frame along with it. According to witnesses, the remains of the plane were then hauled away by three suspects between Jan. 9-12.
“I was informed of it’s location by an anonymous person that works in the area, who sent photos of the trailer before it had been scrapped but after it had burned,” Pradhan said in a GofundMe organized to get a new plane. “By the time the informant found how to contact me, it had already been scrapped.”
KTLA is awaiting confirmation on these details from the police department, but those with knowledge of the custom trailer and vintage aircraft said that along with the 4 rebuilt engines, four propellers and vintage spare parts stolen and destroyed, the loss is valued at around $250,000.
Los Angeles, Ca
Man found stabbed to death in Huntington Park
A man was found stabbed to death in Huntington Park early Sunday morning, authorities said.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department homicide investigators are assisting the Huntington Park Police Department with the investigation after the deadly stabbing was reported around 12:03 a.m. in the 3500 block of Florence Avenue.
Officials said the victim, described only as an adult man, was pronounced dead at the scene.
No information about a possible suspect or the circumstances leading up to the stabbing was immediately released.
The investigation remained ongoing Sunday morning.
Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.
Anonymous tips can be submitted to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers by calling 800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at lacrimestoppers.org.
Los Angeles, Ca
$50,000 reward offered in 2019 Koreatown killing; family still seeks answers 7 years later
Juan Cuevas, 26, was shot and killed near Beverly Boulevard and St. Andrews Place in Koreatown in January 2019. Seven years later, his parents, Cesar and Patricia Cuevas, returned to the neighborhood this weekend to hang flyers, hoping someone will provide information about the unsolved killing.
In March, the Los Angeles Police Department announced a $50,000 reward for details leading to the suspect’s identity, arrest and conviction.
The killing remains unsolved and the suspect has not been identified. Juan was the oldest of four children and the only son in his family. He also worked for the family’s plumbing business with his father, Cesar.
“He was my partner,” Cesar said. “He used to work with me all the time.”
Surveillance video obtained by the Los Angeles Police Department captured the moments before and after the shooting. Investigators reported that a dark-colored Honda Accord pulled up just after 10:20 p.m. the night of the incident. A passenger then exited the vehicle, approached Juan and opened fire. Another camera recorded Juan running into a nearby liquor store in search of help. He collapsed inside and was taken to the hospital, where he later died.
The family said that it continues to experience profound grief over Juan’s death. The family has set up a GoFundMe page in hopes of raising awareness of the case.
“We are dying together,” Cesar said. “The time is coming and going and we are dying together.”
Juan’s mother said that her son’s death is an ongoing struggle.
“So far we haven’t had any answers,” Patricia said. “Seven years. It hasn’t been easy for our house, our family, living with this in our hearts, knowing that person is around.”
The family noted that multiple detectives have been assigned to the case over the years, but they feel they have received limited information about the investigation.
“It was my only son,” Cesar said. “I got three daughters. It was my first son and we haven’t heard anything from the police.”
The family said that investigators seem overwhelmed handling the case.
“All they say is, ‘We have so many cases we have to work on,’” Cesar said. “‘Yours is on our list, but we have a lot to work on,’ and that’s their answer.”
In their search for answers, the Cuevas family reached out to people who knew Juan, but they said no one has been willing to talk.
“Nobody has said anything,” he added. “Too many people say ‘I know your son’ and nobody wants to say anything.”
The family hopes the recently announced $50,000 reward will bring renewed attention to the case. Watch the full report from KTLA’s Jillian Smukler in the video at the top of this story.
All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KTLA. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat information into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KTLA staff before being published.
Los Angeles, Ca
Motorcyclist killed by hit-and-run truck driver in Sun Valley
A truck driver was arrested for a hit-and-run crash that killed a motorcyclist in Sun Valley.
The Los Angeles Police Department identified the suspect as Edvard Gyulnazaryan, 64, of Glendale.
On May 28, police responded to the crash near Bradley Avenue and Tuxford Street around 4:20 a.m.
Gyulnazaryan was driving a semi-truck when he made a left turn onto a private property.
A motorcyclist from behind attempted to pass on the left side of the truck during the turn and was struck by the vehicle.
Gyulnazaryan continued driving and did not stop to check on the motorcyclist, police said.
The biker was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. His name is being withheld pending identification and notification to next of kin.
Police said Gyulnazaryan returned to the scene hours later and was taken into custody. He was booked at the Van Nuys jail for felony hit-and-run causing death.
“Motorists are reminded that if they become involved in a collision, they should pull over and stop as soon as it is safe to do so, notify emergency services, and remain at the scene to identify themselves,” LAPD said.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call Detective Ramirez at 818-644-8025 or Officer Reyes at 818-644-8114.
During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-527-3247. 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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