City Sees Increase in Gun Violence in November

A year of increased gun violence in Pasadena continued in earnest in November, culminating in the fatal shootings of three men at or near Villa-Parke, according to police.

A woman was also found stabbed to death at Hahamongna Park. A suspect was arrested in New Mexico in connection with the killing.

“As many of you are aware, the city of Pasadena has experienced an 80 percent increase in gun violence, compared to 2019,” Lt. William Grisafe said.

“Although the crime rate is relatively low compared to past decades, an 80 percent increase is very concerning to Chief John E. Perez and the members of the Pasadena Police Department,” Grisafe said.

“Understanding the residents in the impacted areas want police presence and enforcement to stop the senseless murders, we are taking the necessary steps to prevent future acts of violence,” according to Grisafe. “We, too, need help from community members to assist with these investigations. Collectively, we can curtail the violence.”

Officers responded to a total of 7,654 calls for service during November, including 4,659 9-1-1 calls, according to the Police Department’s monthly report.

A total of 11 guns were seized during the month, including eight pistols and three shotguns, officials said. A total of 267 guns had been seized throughout the year.

Police activity for November:

Nov, 1, 1:02 a.m.: Officers were dispatched to the 300 block of North Lake Avenue regarding a gunshot victim. The victim had walked into a nearby business with a gunshot wound and asked for help. Officers and the ambulance responded and the victim was transported to a local hospital. Evidence of a shooting was located in the immediate area. The victim’s injury was not considered life-threatening and only minimal information was immediately available. Detectives are conducting further investigation.

Nov. 1, 6:49 a.m.: Officers responded to a business in the area of Colorado Boulevard and Pasadena Avenue regarding a commercial burglary in progress. Upon arrival, officers immediately determined the suspect(s) entry point and realized the suspect(s) were still inside the business. Additional officers arrived to assist and a homeless suspect was taken into custody a short time later. The suspect was transported and booked at the Pasadena City Jail for burglary and vandalism. While inside the business, the suspect had allegedly caused a significant amount of damage.

Nov, 3, 4:37 p.m.: Officers responded to the 1000 block of East Colorado Boulevard regarding an assault that occurred in a retail business. The suspect had entered the store and attempted to steal snack items. Store employees confronted the suspect and he subsequently left the store after returning the snacks. Moments later, the suspect returned, made verbal threats to the employees and began throwing miscellaneous items, including an opened soda can which struck an employee/victim in the head. The suspect left and was later located by arriving officers, at which time he was detained and eventually arrested for the assault. The victim sustained only minor injuries as a result of being struck by the can.

Nov. 4, 6:44 p.m.: Officers responded to the 100 block of West Hammond Street after several residents reported hearing multiple shots fired in the area. Officers did not locate any victims or suspects but discovered evidence of a shooting in the parking lot of a nearby housing development. Detectives are conducting additional investigation into this incident.

Nov. 6, 8:25 a.m.: Members of the Police Department’s Traffic Enforcement Section were conducting a traffic enforcement program during which one of the Traffic Officers made a stop of a vehicle in the area of Orange Grove Boulevard and Rosemont Street for a traffic violation. After the officer’s initial contact with the driver, the suspect put his vehicle in reverse and rammed the motorcycle, narrowly missing the officer. The suspect fled at a high rate of speed and assisting officers searched the area, but the suspect was not located. The officer was not injured and there was evidence that the vehicle the suspect was driving had recently been stolen. As the investigation continued, officers were able to identify the suspect and eventually arrested him for assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer.

Nov. 6, 7:58 p.m.: Officers were called to the area of Oak Knoll Avenue and Colorado Boulevard regarding a robbery that had occurred. The suspect approached the victim, who was standing near his vehicle at the time of the incident. When he was in close proximity, the suspect approached the victim and displayed a gun while demanding the victim’s wallet. The victim complied by handing his wallet to the suspect. After rifling through the wallet, the suspect discarded it and walked away. Since the wallet was void of any money, there was no loss and the victim was not injured.

Nov. 6, 10:08 p.m.: The Pasadena Police Department received a call regarding a person who had been dropped off at a local hospital after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds. Although serious, the victim’s injuries were not expected to be life-threatening. The investigation determined the shooting had occurred in the 1200 block of North Los Robles Avenue, as officers were able to find evidence consistent with a shooting. Detectives are investigating the incident.

Nov. 7, 8:47 a.m.: A mother and her three small children were walking in the area of South Lake Avenue and Del Mar Boulevard when a female transient approached them. As the female passed the mother and children, she suddenly picked up one of the small children and began to walk away. The mother yelled at the transient and the suspect released the child. When officers arrived, the suspect was located in the immediate area and officers were able to detain her. The suspect was arrested for kidnapping and it was apparent she suffered from some mental issues.

Nov. 8, 2:05 a.m.: Officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in the 400 block of North Fair Oaks Avenue for a traffic violation. During the officer’s contact, they discovered the driver was on active parole. One condition of the driver’s parole is he is subject to search and seizure by any law enforcement officer. Officers conducted a search of the vehicle and located a semi-auto handgun inside the vehicle. Both the driver and front passenger (verified to be on probation), were arrested and booked at the Pasadena City Jail.

Nov. 8, 7:42 p.m.: Pasadena Police Officers and personnel from the Pasadena Fire Department responded to a call of a vehicle burning in the 1000 block of Summit Avenue. Upon extinguishing the fire, Fire Department investigators determined the fire had been caused by arson. Video evidence was located, which captured the incident, showing a female suspect around the vehicle at the moment it burst into flames. Arson investigators are working to identify the female suspect seen in the video.

Nov. 8, 8:32 p.m.: Officers responded to a call of a gunshot coming from within a residence in the 300 block of Adena Street. When officers arrived, it was determined the suspect had an argument with family members inside the house and was asked to leave. While being escorted out, the suspect produced a concealed handgun. Family members immediately grabbed the suspect and a struggle for the gun ensued at which time the gun went off. There were no injuries and officers arrested the suspect for assault with a deadly weapon.

Nov. 9, 9:42 a.m.: Officers were on patrol in the area near Los Robles Avenue and Union Street when they noticed a pedestrian unsafely walking into the middle of the street. Officers instructed the individual to utilize a crosswalk if he intended to walk in the street which caused the suspect to slam the shopping cart he was pushing, into the marked police car. Officers exited their vehicle to contact the individual, who began kicking at the officers without provocation. Officers quickly took the suspect into custody and arrested the suspect for assaulting a peace officer.

Nov. 10, 11:10 p.m.: Pasadena Police Officers assigned to patrol conducted a traffic stop in the area of Washington Boulevard and North Fair Oaks Avenue for a vehicle code violation. The driver admitted to being on probation for narcotics and informed officers he had a BB gun in the vehicle. Officers conducted a probation search of the vehicle and located large amounts of methamphetamine as well as indicia used to facilitate the sales of narcotics. Officers recovered the BB gun and both occupants were arrested for narcotic violations.

Nov. 13, 8:09 p.m.: Pasadena Police Department’s Dispatch Center received numerous calls of “shots fired” in the area of Los Robles Avenue and Orange Grove Boulevard. Officers arrived and located a deceased male victim down on the sidewalk in the 200 block of Parke Street. The victim had sustained several gunshot wounds. Detectives responded and their investigation into this murder is ongoing.

Nov. 13, 9:01 p.m.: While officers investigated the previously mentioned murder, less than two blocks away a pedestrian was struck while crossing at the intersection of Marengo Avenue and Orange Grove Boulevard. The driver of the vehicle that struck the pedestrian failed to stop as required by the California Vehicle Code. Pasadena paramedics responded to the collision scene and pronounced the victim deceased at the scene. Pasadena police traffic investigators responded. Hours later, The California Highway Patrol (CHP) detained a subject in a neighboring city and linked the driver they had stopped, to the fatal collision in Pasadena. The suspect was subsequently arrested and booked at the Pasadena City Jail.

Nov. 15, 2:59 a.m.: Police and fire personnel responded to a solo vehicle collision in the 2100 block of East Orange Grove Boulevard. The involved vehicle had collided into a cement light pole. The Pasadena Fire Department extricated and transported the passenger to a local hospital and pronounced the driver deceased at the scene. The Pasadena Police Department’s Major Accident Investigation Team responded to the investigation.

Nov. 16, 10:45 a.m.: Officers responded to a residence in the 200 block of South Oak Knoll Avenue regarding a call of a person brandishing a firearm. The adult suspect and his mother had been involved in an argument, which escalated and the son allegedly grabbed a firearm and pointed it at the mother. Officers arrived on scene and were able to safely detain the suspect and secure the firearm.

Nov. 16, 11:14 p.m.: Officers responded to a business in the 400 block of East Orange Grove Boulevard regarding an assault. When officers arrived, they found the victim suffering from multiple head wounds and determined he had been struck in the head with a glass bottle. Apparently, the victim and suspect had an argument over alcohol, which resulted in the suspect assaulting the victim. The suspect fled prior to officers arriving and the victim was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment of his injuries.

Nov. 17, 6:53 p.m.: A resident in the 100 block of West Hammond Street reported to the Pasadena Police Department that her residence had been struck with gunfire. Officers responded and their investigation revealed a bullet had penetrated the residence through an exterior wall and traveled down a hallway, striking a door and causing minor damage. Fortunately, none of the occupants were injured. Detectives are continuing this investigation.

Nov. 19, 2:46 p.m.: A shooting victim walked into a local hospital and reported he had been struck by gunfire while in the area of Foothill and Rosemead boulevards. The victim would not provide details of how or where the shooting occurred but would only state it occurred near a parking lot of a marijuana dispensary. Officers searched for evidence of a shooting near the mentioned area, but could not locate any evidence or additional witnesses.

Nov 20, 6:37 a.m.: The Pasadena Police Department received a call of multiple subjects who were using a ladder to steal bicycles from the balconies of a multistory apartment complex located in the 200 block of East Del Mar Boulevard. Officers arrived and found the subjects in the immediate area. One of the subjects was riding the bicycle, which was reported stolen from the apartment complex. The suspects left the tall ladder leaning against the complex and officers were able to determine the bike had been stolen from a balcony on the fourth floor. The two suspects were arrested for residential burglary.

Nov. 21, 12:56 p.m.: The Pasadena Police Department’s Dispatch Center received a call from a person who stated he intended to harm himself with a handgun. Despite efforts to keep the victim on the phone, the victim disconnected and would not answer repeated calls back. A coordinated and tactical approach was developed to safely respond to the 1600 block of East Walnut Street in order to contact the victim, who was in a parked vehicle. Upon contact, it was confirmed the victim was deceased.

Nov. 23, 8:01 a.m.: Officers responded to the 4000 block of Oak Grove Drive regarding an assault with a Taser gun. The victim was a freelance camera operator who was hired for a film shoot. The victim, the person who hired him and an acquaintance of this person, all met at the local nature park. As the victim was setting up for the film shoot, he was struck with darts from a Taser device, which was deployed by the acquaintance. The victim ran to call police and the suspects fled in a vehicle. Detectives are conducting further follow up to the incident in an attempt to identify the suspects.

Nov. 24, 7:52 a.m.: Pasadena Police Department received a phone call from a citizen regarding an unresponsive female in a local park in the 4000 block of Oak Grove Drive. Responding officers located the female victim and immediately realized she was deceased. Pasadena Police Department’s homicide detectives responded for the investigation. Foul play was initially suspected as the victim sustained multiple stab wounds. The victim was eventually identified by the Coroner’s Office, which led to the identification of a possible suspect. Two days after the murder, the suspect was apprehended near Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he awaits extradition.

Nov. 25, 3:04 p.m.: Two victims were walking in the area of Los Robles Avenue and Orange Grove Boulevard when they reported being shot by unknown suspect(s) with BB pellets. One of the victims was struck in the leg and arm but required no medical attention.

Nov. 28, 6:08 a.m.: Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle after observing it speeding and running red lights. The driver did not stop and a pursuit was initiated. The pursuit lasted for approximately two minutes and ended when the suspect vehicle crashed into a light pole in the area of Oakland Avenue and Colorado Boulevard. The driver was taken into custody and initially it appeared he was possibly under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.

Nov. 28, 3:49 p.m.: Officers were dispatched to the area of Lincoln Avenue and Washington Boulevard regarding a report of shots fired. It was discovered a victim was walking in the area when an unknown suspect in a vehicle pulled up alongside the victim and fired several rounds. The victim was not struck by the gunfire and was able to escape. The motive for the shooting was unknown and detectives are investigating.

Nov. 28, 5:16 p.m.: Officers were dispatched to a business in the 400 block of North Lake Avenue regarding a robbery that had occurred. The victim, who was a customer at the business, had property and money forcibly removed from his hand by the suspect, who then fled in a vehicle, immediately after the theft. The following day, officers located both the suspect and his vehicle in the same area of the robbery and he was taken into custody without incident.

Nov. 29, 1:37 a.m.: Two victims reported to the Pasadena Police Department that they had been robbed while sitting in their parked vehicle, in the 1300 block of East Washington Boulevard. The victims had recently left a house party in the immediate area. The suspect approached the vehicle, displayed a firearm and demanded money. He then reached into the vehicle, removed the victims’ property and fled the area in a vehicle. It is possible the suspect was in attendance at the abovementioned, house party.

City Leaders React to Local ‘Epidemic of Violence’

2 Pasadena Men Killed in Shooting at Villa Parke Identified

Loved Ones Mourn Pasadena Shooting Victim, Seek Answers

Suspect in Fatal Stabbing of Woman in Pasadena Arrested in New Mexico