4 Homicides Reported in Rampart Division in November So Far

A Rampart homicide detective told us recently that violence was in the Rampart area was at a level he had not seen since the mid-1990s.

He mentioned the divison's population density (perhaps the highest in the country) as one factor, along with the economy.

We were both at a press conference a day after Andres Ordonez, a 25-year-old Guatemalan immigrant, was shot on after trying to stop a woman tagging his church wall.

The shooter and one other possible suspect remains at large. The woman thought to be the tagger is in custody.

According to the Rampart Facebook page, the Ordonez killing is just one of four that has taken place in Rampart this month.

Most recently, a man died early Sunday, Nov. 18 at 324 Witmer Street near Downtown Los Angeles. He was shot several times and died from the gun shot wounds.

Witmer Street, especially the 300 block, has long been a troubled stretch. Two buildings at 311 and 325 are thought to be gang-controlled, generating a lot of gang-related crime along the stretch.

Witmer is also where an innocent father was killed in the 400 block last December as he sat on his stoop.  Many suspected he was mistaken for another man at the time.

Rampart's Facebook page also reports another homicide on Nov. 4, a stabbing death near MacArthur Park, at Seventh and Alvarado streets.

Two men, known to each other, became involved in an argument. One man stabbed the other resulting in his death. The suspect was taken into custody when Rampart officers arrived at scene.

The page also mentions a third shooting, on Nov. 16  just after 9 p.m., near the 101 Freeway at 17th and Union Street.

Anyone with information about the above is asked to contact Rampart homicide detectives at 213-484-3650.

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