Showing posts with label LAPD. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LAPD. Show all posts

Monday, July 23, 2018

The L.A. Trader Joe’s Shooting Story has Taken an even Darker Turn.

Melyda "Mel" Corado
Los Angeles, CA--It all began as a dispute between a 28 year-old drug addicted freeloader, Gene Adkins and his 79 year-old grandmother, Mary Elizabeth Madison in South L.A. 

Adkins allegedly shot his grandmother seven times with a handgun.  In the process a 20 year-old woman that was Adkin’s yet to be identified girlfriend suffered a bullet graze wound to her head. Adkins allegedly then stole his grandmother’s car and kidnapped the girlfriend.  

Suspect Gene Adkins being loaded into an ambulance
In Hollywood, the police caught up with the stolen car that was equipped with a GPS tracking device and the chase began.  

Adkins soon crashed his car near the entrance of the Silver Lake Trader Joe’s and was exchanging gunfire  with police as he sought refuge inside of the crowded supermarket.  Apparently Adkins was wounded in his left arm by police.  That’s when the store manager, Melyda “Mel” Corado was also struck by gunfire.  Corado was quickly dragged outside to the parking lot and unsuccessfully aided by numerous officers.  She died at the scene. 

Melyda "Mel" Corado surrounded by cops in the parking lot
Cops have to make split second decisions but firing into a crowded supermarket at any suspect is absolutely against police training in every American jurisdiction.  

Requirements everywhere in the USA are that before an officer shoots that that he or she knows the target and what’s behind it.  This shooting is out of policy everywhere.  

Ballistic evidence, body cam and other surveillance video will be examined redundantly by cops, lawyers and police trainers in the coming months and even years.

Sherman Oaks Personal Injury Lawyer Lowell Steiger
I contacted Sherman Oaks personal injury lawyer, Lowell Steiger for his thoughts about the case.  Steiger said if he had the case he’d be immediately looking at deficiencies in the officer’s training, background and supervision.  He said any payout by a jury in this case could be astronomical.  He also said he’d put his own investigator on this case immediately. 

Another serious legal question may be about Trader Joe’s responsibility to protect their employees and customers.  

The biggest question remains as to when and how the LAPD will explain this disaster and own up to their failings.  

As for the cop/s that failed here it’s a huge tragedy for them and their families as well.  Nobody wanted this horrible outcome. 

As for the many friends and family of Mel Carado this is beyond a heartbreak.  Mel’s Big brother, Albert Corado now must take charge of healing his family from this unthinkable event.  

As for the Suspect, Gene Adkins, he will be charged under the felony/murder rule for Mel Corado’s death.  He will also face as many as 50 counts of kidnapping along with the shooting of his grandmother and girlfriend.  Last but not least, the theft of his grandmother’s car.  Adkins will never see another moment where he’s not locked in a cage for as long as he lives.  


As for any cops that failed, they too will pay a high price.  As for the rest of the cops that did their jobs heroically, they too will suffer greatly.  Sometimes everyone looses because of the unthinkable.  

Update:  The day after I published this blog article the LAPD confessed it was their gunfire that killed Ms. Carado.  However, they stopped short of admitting liability, negligence or recklessness.   

Friday, February 26, 2016

Unarmed Security is Meaningless Because it Simply Facilitates Violence

Los Angeles, CA-
-As the final preparations are being made for Sunday's Oscar Awards Gala terrorism is a real possibility.  Terrorists love to create havoc during events that draw worldwide publicity.

Having untrained minimum-wage earning workers in pseudo police garb is beyond silly.  Thankfully the LAPD will be out in force with every possible resource to deal with these issues. 

I keep wondering when terrorists will employ mortars for assassination and terror within the USA? That may be old technology but teemed up with small computers those things would have amazing accuracy.  Air surveillance by helicopters or drones is  now more important than ever. 

Our large shopping malls are perfect soft targets because they phased out armed security over 40 years ago.  Before everyone had a cell phone there was an advantage to mall guards with radios.  They could notify their office to call police to deal with problems.  Now anyone can make the call so that became a game changer.  Now other than giving directions to confused shoppers or dealing with lost children they have no function.

The Gun Fee Zone concept works as long as criminals or terrorists are not involved.  Making a super-soft target of any public gathering site is pure insanity.  

Running, ducking and hiding does not save lives.  Armed resistance on the other hand is a proven lifesaver. 

Remember, when seconds count the cops are many minutes away. Once the cops arrive they can't tell the good guys from the bad ones. 

Trained and armed citizens or security people can react and end these unthinkable events on the spot.  

I must ask, why do the mall operators and politicians always  prefere solutions that they know don't work? 



Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Latest UCLA Coed Murder Court Report

Andrea "Andy" DelVesco, UCLA coed Murder Victim
Dimitry Gorim represented Alberto Medina 

 Steven Cron represented Eric Marques 
Los Angeles, CA—This was the initial appearance bail hearing for the two men arrested for killing Andrea “Andy” DelVesco.
It began with an announcement by the judge that there would be no photography, video or sketching in court.   Additionally that much of the evidence offered by the DA was privately discussed in judicial chambers and would be sealed.
Both defendants had top gun, privately retained defense lawyers.  Dimitry Gorim represented Alberto Medina and Steven Cron represented Eric Marques.   Hiring these lawyers involves paying a very large retainer up front.  
Only a partial story was revealed by the prosecutor and many more questions remained unanswered.  These are simply allegations rather than proof.  
Words never uttered in this proceeding were drugs, witness tampering or revenge killing. 
For the blow-by-blow description I made a quick iPhone video that I hope provides a window into the courtroom.

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

What I’ve Learned So Far About the UCLA Coed’s Murder Case.

Los Angeles, CA—I took an early interest in the case because of my closeness to past and present UCLA students and alumni. 
It was about 7:00 AM when LAFD emergency vehicles came screaming to the Scene midblock at 10900 Roebling adjacent to the UCLA Campus.
It was a lucky break that some of the students there were awakened by screams and fellow residents were up trying to combat the fire with a fire extinguisher on the first floor, Eastern side of the complex. 
That was the residence of UCLA Spanish and Psychology major, Andrea “Andy” DelVesco.   Andy was an active member of the Pi Beta Phi Sorority. 
Some of the more observant kids present were able to tell the firemen that Andy was unaccounted for and they began an aggressive search.  They found Andy badly burned and beyond all medical aid.  Some 30 firefighters were able to contain the blaze within ten minutes.
Thankfully no others suffered injuries considering this was early when the complex residents would normally be asleep.  Without early discovery by neighbors and and LAFD intervention this could have been a tragic holocaust.  
Soon UCLA police and members of the LAPD determined that this was an arson fire that was set to cover up a murder.  Ignorant criminals often believe setting their crime scenes on fire will destroy evidence and make detection more difficult.  More often this creates even more evidence that will snare the criminals.  This would prove to be one of those cases.

Police quickly notified Andy’s parents, Art and Leslie DelVesco in Austin, TX.  They wasted no time, jumping on the next flight to L.A.  I can’t imagine the horror they are still reeling from and the devastation to their close-knit family.
Police did what cops do these days.  They quickly learned about the recent felony drug possession for sale arrest of Andy and discovered she was cooperating with authorities to curry favor possibly evading a ruined life with a felony conviction and prison term.
It’s obvious to me that the arresting agency (UCLA Police Department) dropped the ball badly here and failed to protect their indentured informant.
Police also obtained Andy’s computer and cellphone.  They’d also get search warrants to capture every possible communication records from her ISP, Email and phone providers.  That of course gave them a shopping list of potential suspects to investigate. 
Once they zeroed in on obvious involved characters their cell phone and emails would be captured via search warrants and analyzed too.
Police released the crime scene on September 21.  However curiously on the afternoon of the 23rd they returned with a search warrant spending the next 30 hours sifting through the debris for evidence.
On September 27 police got a break in the case that gave them probable cause to arrest 22 year-old Alberto Medina who is a pre-psychology and social work major at Fresno State University. That also gave police the ability to obtain search warrants for his cars and residences.  Fresno police acting on a request from the LAPD took Medina down and into custody during a felony stop on the street without incident.
It was learned that Medina was a Member go the Lambada Chi Alpha Fraternity but was expelled over some bad behavior.  

That in turn led police back to the Westwood UCLA Campus.  On the evening of September 27 an LAPD SWAT team raided the nearby Strathmore Regency Apartments arresting 22 year-old Eric Marques for murder too. Needless to say they used a search warrant to locate and seize evidence from his apartment.
Like Andy and Alberto Medina, Eric Marquez had a promising future.  He was a pre-med biology UCLA student. 
On September 28, police felt they could announce their arrests to the media without comprising the investigation.
What remains to be told is more about the motive and the various informants and witnesses that were involved. One life senselessly snuffed out and two others that will unlikely ever taste their freedom again.
Because of the nature of the kinds of drugs seized from Andy by police last June it’s apparent at least to me that the drug ring was catering to Rave Festivals and such.
I have to ask when will we learn that the Drug War and the huge profits it generates are far more evil than the drugs themselves.  How many more lives will be lost or destroyed before we understand treating the addicted is far cheaper and better than the constant violence the Drug Was creates? 
In the meantime we will be waiting and watching as this nightmare unfolds in a Los Angeles courtroom.








Monday, September 28, 2015

Arrests Were Made In UCLA Coed Andrea “Andy” DelVesco’s Murder!

I'm 
Los Angeles, CA—Students will be sleeping easier tonight after police announced the arrests of two 22-year old Hispanic men for killing Andrea "Andy" DelVesco. 
Alberto Madina and Eric Marquez are in custody at the Van Nuys Jail. 
This is sure to be a “special circumstance” case meaning prosecutors can ask for the death Penalty. 
Yet to be offered by police is the motive however the drug selling connection is sure to be playing a part in this investigation.

the DelVesco girl and her two alleged killers showed promise as students of making great contributions to our world.  However now we have three young lives destroyed because of our insane Drug War.  How many more killings must we tolerate until we end this madness? We need to redirect our efforts to treat thoes addicted.  



Friday, September 25, 2015

Solving the UCLA Coed’s Murder and Arson Crime, What’s Next?

Los Angeles, CA—I’m convinced that UCLA coed, Andrea “Andy” DelVesco’s killer’s are reading what I offer on this blog.  If that’s the case, this is a “Golden Hour” for at least one person with involvement in the murder and or drug activities.  Yes, there is a Get Out of Jail Free card waiting for someone and serious police protection.