List of All Articles with Tag 'us crime news'

Prosecutors said new DNA results are expected in just a matter of weeks in their case against a Massachusetts man accused of murdering his wife, Ana Walshe. Ms Walshe, 39, was last seen at her home just after midnight on New Year’s Day. Her body has not been found, but prosecutors are trying to prove that her husband, Brian Walshe, murdered and dismembered the mother-of-three. In a court appearance on Tuesday, prosecutors said they are awaiting the results of DNA testing as they continue to build their case against Mr Walshe, WHDH reported. The convicted art fraudster was arrested on 8 January on charges for hindering the police investigation after prosecutors said that traces of blood and a knife were found in the basement of her family home. On 17 January, he was charged with his wife’s murder. While court proceedings continued on Tuesday, another search for Ms Walshe was conducted in a wooded area of Peabody, Massachusetts. The search location was less than a mile from the Peabody Transfer Station where investigators said they found evidence in this case back in January. But the search yielded nothing, according to Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrisey’s office. “Two persons in the Peabody community unconnected to the prosecution of Brian Walshe contacted State Police investigators with their belief that an area of that community may be of investigative interest in that matter,” spokesman David Traub said in a statement. “A search of that area by the Massachusetts State Police SERT team yielded nothing.” Police in Cohasset first announced that Ms Walshe was missing in a statement on 5 January and asked for the public’s help in finding her. Authorities said that she was last seen at her home shortly after midnight on New Year’s Day, and described her as being 5 feet 2 inches tall, 115 pounds, with brown hair, brown eyes and an olive complexion. They state that she speaks with an Eastern European accent. She had been due to take a ride-share car from her home to Boston’s Logan Airport to take a flight to Washington DC, where she works in real estate, police said. Tishman Speyer reported her missing on 4 January, and police in Cohasset performed a welfare check at the family home. A criminal affidavit in the case states that Mr Walshe told police that he last saw his wife at their home early on 1 January when she took an Uber or Lyft to the airport. He also told authorities that he went to a Whole Foods and a CVS in Swampscott, Massachusetts, 40 miles away, on 1 January and took his child to get ice cream the following day. The affidavit states that police did not find that any Uber or Lyft ride had taken place on New Year’s Day, and Ms Walshe never took a flight to DC or arrived in the city by any other means of transport. Prosecutors also say they reviewed video footage of Whole Foods and CVS and did not see Mr Walshe at either location. The search for Ms Walshe initially focused on wooded areas near the family’s home. Officials said that 20 troopers from a specialised search and rescue were joined by three police K9 teams and a police helicopter in the search. State police divers also searched a small stream and drained the home’s swimming pool. Ms Walshe lived with her family in Cohasset, Massachusetts, but worked in real estate in Washington DC during the week. Ms Walshe was born in Belgrade, Serbia, and was working at the Wheatleigh Hotel in Lenox when she met Mr Walshe in 2008. After their 2015 marriage, they had three sons between two and six years old. The couple’s three young boys were placed in the care of the Department of Children and Families following Mr Walshe’s first arrest. Read More Ana Walshe: Timeline of missing Massachusetts mother’s disappearance Desperate searches for two missing women who vanished days apart in Colorado resort town

It began just like any other Wednesday night at the popular biker bar. Motorcycle riders and enthusiasts had gathered for drinks, food and fun with friends at Cook’s Corner, one of the most famous biker bars and restaurants in southern California. But, this one night took a devastating turn when a gunman opened fire, leaving at least three people dead and many others injured. The mass shooting suspect – identified by authorities as retired police officer John Snowling– was then shot and killed by responding officers. Reports suggest that Snowling’s wife Marie Snowling, who is being treated in hospital for gunshot wounds, was the target of the attack. Now, the southern California biker community has been left reeling, as the latest community rocked by the effects of gun violence in America. Cook’s Corner has been met with an outpouring of love and support on its Instagram account in the wake of the mass shooting. “I’m still trying to process what happened tonight,” Diana Simon, who works at Cook’s Corner, wrote on Facebook. “The loss and what it has done to all I care about. We are a family at Cook’s Corner. Marie lights up every room she walks in. Her smile and enthusiasm for life… it’s just so wrong. It all doesn’t feel real.” Here’s what we know so far about the shooting: The deadly shooting At around 7.04pm on Wednesday 23 August, authorities received a 911 call about a shooting at Cook’s Corner biker bar in California’s Orange County. Police said that the gunman opened fire at the bar, killing at least three people. Another six victims were injured including five who were hospitalised with gunshot wounds. Witnesses told CBS and KCAL News that the gunfire began in the picnic area. They said they initially heard about five or six shots before a brief pause. Shortly after, the shooting continued with an increased volley of fire. One witness told the outlet that he and a cook barricaded themselves in the kitchen to hide from the gunman. They armed themselves with a frying pan and waited until it was safe to come out, he said. The cook had been shot in the arm during the encounter. The witness also claimed that a pregnant woman had begged the gunman to spare her, saying “please don’t shoot me, I’m five months pregnant”. The gunman allegedly told her to “get out of here” and let her leave. Another man was not so fortunate, however, with the witness saying his friend was fatally shot in the back by the gunman. Police said that officers arrived on the scene of the shooting around two minutes after the 911 call came in. There, they encountered the gunman who was fatally shot at the scene. Six victims were taken to Providence Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo for treatment. Two are in critical condition while four others are in stable condition. The suspect The suspected gunman was identified on Thursday as retired police officer John Snowling. The Orange County District Attorney’s Office said that Snwoling had been employed by the Ventura Police Department from 1984 until his retirement in 2014. According to an article published in 2012, Snowling led a patrol task force within the agency. Local media reports said that the incident began as a domestic dispute between the shooter and his wife, Marie Snowling. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department said it was looking into reports that the suspect first shot his wife at the bar. Despite earlier reports that Ms Snowling had not survived, her father William Mosby told The Orange County on Thursday that she is recovering from her injuries at Providence Mission Hospital Mission Viejo. “Her friend in the bar said she was shot in the lower jaw,” Mr Mosby told the outlet. “I’m extremely relieved, what I heard was the worst.” Mr Mosby described Snowling as a “crazy husband” who couldn’t cope with Ms Snowling’s request for a divorce. Ms Snowling’s friend Betty Fruichantie also told NBC that the two were enjoying a live performance at the popular biker’s bar when the gunman entered the establishment. “We were sitting there listening to the band and all of sudden, from behind us, we hear shooting. A bunch of shooting,” Ms Fruichantie said. “I thought it was just firecrackers, she didn’t say anything. People were getting shot. People were getting shot.” Ms Fruichantie said that Ms Snowling had recently filed for divorce and was staying with friends. The reaction The devasting shooting has left many in shock, including community members, gun control groups and lawmakers. In a press conference, undersheriff Jeff Hallock described the night as “difficult” for everyone involved and for the community. “I want to start off by offering condolences to the families of the victims and to the entire Trabuco Canyon community,” he said. California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that he was monitoring the shooting “and coordinating with local officials as more details become available”. Orange County supervisor Katrina Foley tweeted: “We must do more to protect survivors. Another domestic dispute led to another mass shooting. This as US v. Rahimi, being heard by SCOTUS following Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal decision ruling this lifesaving federal ‘red flag’ law unconstitutional. We must do more to protect survivors.” Senator Dave Min from Orange County said he was "devastated" by the news. “Our district is one of the safest areas in the country, and yet we too are repeatedly afflicted with the scourge of mass shootings,” he said. “An office park in Orange, a church in Laguna Woods, a bar in Trabuco Canyon. There is no place in America that is safe from the scourge of gun violence. There is no community not affected.” There have been more than 400 mass shootings in the US so far in 2023, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Read More Cook’s Corner shooting – live: Ex-cop John Snowling named as suspect who killed three in California biker bar Gunman in Cook’s Corner shooting identified as retired police officer John Snowling At least four dead in shooting at historic California biker bar

A three-year-old was struck by a stray bullet while jumping on a couch in New York on Monday night. Lovely Toney was at home in an apartment complex in the hamlet of Ridge, Long Island, when police arrived looking for murder suspect Gary Jones. Detectives were in the building to interview Jones’s friend, who is a resident in the same complex, and soon found that the suspect was there at that moment too. They subsequently instructed everyone to leave the apartment, before Jones came out of another room and began shooting. Of the multiple shots fired, three rounds went through the wall into the apartment next door and a bullet struck Lovely, causing her to bleed heavily. Describing the harrowing scene to CBS, Lovely’s father James Toney said: “No three-year-old, any child, should experience anything inside their home. She was fresh out of the tub, dripping wet from getting out of the bath.” “She just jumped on the couch, and she must have had her hand up, because the shot went through the hand, through the stomach,” he added, explaining: “I turned around and my daughter was standing there with blood running.” Lovely was rushed to hospital and underwent life-saving surgery. At a press conference Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison released bodycam footage of the incident and praised the “heroism” of apartment residents and the “quick action” of police officers and detectives at the scene, without whom the incident could have resulted in “horrific tragedy.” Mr Harrison explained that the “timely manoeuvre of getting that three-year-old child into a vehicle, rushing to a hospital” were what saved Lovely’s life. Referring to the family’s trauma, he said: “I have a grandson who is three years old. I can’t imagine going through that same situation.” “But I will say thank God for the men and women of this department,” Mr Harrison finished. Jones was found dead in the neighbouring apartment later, as a result of self-inflicted gunshot wounds. The murder suspect was wanted by police for allegedly killing his girlfriend in Central Islip in June. Read More Woman arrested and charged with threatening to kill judge presiding over Trump’s Jan 6 case Cook’s Corner shooting – live: Four killed, including gunman, and 6 injured at California biker bar Philadelphia officer to be fired over shooting death of Black man as new video contradicts police account Will Donald Trump go to prison?

Newly-released bodycam footage shows the dramatic moment police arrested Jared Bridegan’s ex-wife for the Microsoft executive’s murder. Shanna Gardner-Fernandez, 36, was taken into custody in front of the couple’s children at her Washington state home just before 9am on 17 August 2023 after a year-long investigation. Bridegan, who was a father of four and a software developer at Microsoft, was ambushed and shot dead in Jacksonville Beach in February 2022 after driving his children home. More than a year later, half-a-dozen police officers descended on the ex-wife’s home and could be heard yelling “Warrant! Police,” as seen in a bodycam video obtained by Fox News. A frazzled-looking Gardner-Fernandez is handcuffed and brought out onto the porch in a black t-shirt and pink printed pajama shorts. Someone is heard asking if they should get her pants while the woman’s mother cries while waiting outside. She can be heard asking police about her 12-year-old twin grandchildren, “Can I be with the kids, or can you at least bring the kids out to me?” One of Gardner-Fernandez’s children can be heard asking her mother, “Where are your jeans, mom?” Another child responds, “I know where they are.” Gardner-Fernandez reappears in pants and is heard on the video telling her children “I love you” before she is escorted to the police car. The footage also shows Gardner-Fernandez to a police interview room. She later extradited to Jacksonville where she faces charges of first degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, solicitation to commit a capital felony and child abuse. Gardner-Fernandez, her husband Mario Fernandez Saldana and Henry Tenon have all been charged in the death of the Microsoft executive. State Attorney Mellisa Nelson said the couple will be prosecuted together. They are seeking the death penalty. “Shanna’s arrest ends one horrific chapter of our pursuit for justice for Jared and now we opened a new one. This next chapter will be excruciating. We are confident in the ability of the State’s Attorney’s Office and law enforcement to bring truth to light we expect to see justice carried out to the fullest extent of the law.” Read More Jared Bridegan’s widow reveals last time she saw him alive as ex-wife fights extradition over murder – latest Microsoft exec Jared Bridegan was shot dead in a chilling ambush. Did his ex wife arrange it?

The suspected gunman in Wednesday night’s shooting at a biker’s bar in California has been identified as retired police officer John Snowling. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said Snowling, a former officer from the City of Ventura, died during a confrontation with law enforcement. Undersheriff Jeff Hallock said he couldn’t confirm whether Snowling was killed by deputies but said it was “safe to assume” so, local news station KTLA reports. The violence broke out around 7pm at the Cook’s Corner bar. Four people, including the suspected gunman and his wife, were killed. Six others were wounded. This is a developing story ... check again for updates.

Elon Musk’s rebranded social media platform X took two days to suspend the account of a gunman identified by authorities as Laura Carleton’s killer. Travis Ikeguchi, 27, posted hate-filled screeds about the LGBTQ+ community and threatened law enforcement officers on the platform formerly known as Twitter. On 18 August, Ikeguchi fatally shot Carleton, 66, after yelling homophobic slurs about a Pride flag hanging outside her Mag.Pi fashion store in Glen Cedar, California. He was identified as the killer by San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office on 21 August, when a spokesperson said a review of his social media accounts on X and Gab showed extremist anti-LGBTQ+ views and intense hatred for law enforcement. Ikeguchi had pinned an image of a burning Pride flag to the top of his X account. After numerous users reported him for violating the platform’s safety standards, X finally suspended his account on Wednesday (23 August). CNN reported that the account was suspended 30 minutes after it contacted the platform seeking comment. After Mr Musk purchased the platform last year, he fired roughly 80 per cent of its employees including most of its content moderators and compliance team. Under previous management, accounts associated with violent incidents were typically suspended straight away. On X, Ikeguchi posted anti-semitic statements, followed and boosted rightwing personalities Jordan Peterson and Matt Walsh, and expressed support for anti-vaxx presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr X did not immediately respond to a request for comment by The Independent. Carleton, a fierce LGBTQ+ ally and mother of nine, had faced repeated threats for displaying a Pride flag from her clothing store, family say. The Lauri Carleton Memorial Fund has been set up to support community projects she was involved in in the Lake Arrowhead area. Read More Laura Carleton memorial fund set up to keep LGBTQ+ ally’s ‘spirit alive’ Laura Carleton’s murder over Pride flag captured on store surveillance camera Laura Carleton’s killer was the son of a decorated police officer

At least four people have been killed and others are being treated for gunshot wounds after a mass shooting at a popular bikers’ bar in California’s Orange County. The Orange County sheriff said those killed included the suspected gunman, with local TV station KCAL News reporting that the incident began with a domestic dispute between the gunman and his wife. Local media reports described the shooter as a retired law enforcement officer. California governor Gavin Newsom was monitoring the shooting “and coordinating with local officials as more details become available,” his office tweeted. Cook’s Corner is a popular, longtime watering hole for the biker community in Southern California. Many motorcycle riders and enthusiasts gather there on weeknights and during the weekend for live music, open-mic nights or just a cold beer after a long ride. Hours before the shooting, customers were stopping by for an afternoon drink and meal. Rows of motorcycles and bikes framed the gravel entrance as plaques described the storied history of the bar built in 1884.

A mother was killed and her two children critically injured after they were attacked with a hammer in their apartment in New York city. The police responded to a report of an assault in progress around 3pm on Wednesday, where they found the mother and her children in critical condition. The 43-year-old was pronounced dead after being shifted to NYU Langone hospital, said New York city police department chief of patrol John Chell. “The incident I’m about to describe to you is a horrific and senseless act of violence which took the life of a married mother of two,” Mr Chell told reporters. “I think I can speak for all New Yorkers when I say our community, all our prayers are with this family at this time.” “The 5-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter are fighting for their lives,” he said, without publicly divulging the identity of the people involved in the incident. “On behalf of New York City, everyone here, our hearts go out to this family.” While the suspect, a 47-year-old man, was arrested as he tried to leave the building at 52nd Street near 5th Avenue, it isn’t clear what charges he may face. Describing the accommodation as “tight quarters”, Mr Chell said: “Don’t know what the dispute was about but we’ll figure it out.” The victim along with her two children occupied a room in the three-bedroom apartment that she shared with the suspect and his nine-year-old son. The third room is occupied by a single person, said Mr Chell. Read More Police investigating claim that missing South Carolina woman was last seen with Gilgo Beach murders suspect Betty Tyson dies at 75, spent 25 years in New York prison before murder conviction was overturned Woman, 28, pleads guilty to fatally shoving Broadway singing coach, 87, avoiding long prison stay

At least five people have been killed and six others wounded in a mass shooting at a well-known bikers’ bar in Trabuco Canyon, California. More follows

A memorial fund for has been set up to champion LGBTQ+ causes in honour of murdered California store owner Lauri Carleton. The Lauri Carleton Memorial Fund “aims to keep her spirit alive” by supporting community groups and sustainability causes in her adopted home of Lake Arrowhead, California, and is endorsed by Carleton’s husband Bort and nine children. “Lauri was a pillar in our community, an unwavering champion of values that sought to break down barriers and build bridges,” organisers from the Mountain Provision Cooperative said on social media. “Her dedication to equality and her courage in flying the LGBTQ+ flag exemplify her commitment to creating a world where love knows no boundaries.” Funds will go towards several community groups including Lake Arrowhead LGBTQ+, who described Carleton as a “fierce advocate for love, equality, and human rights”. “We will work closely with Lauri’s family in partnership with Lake Arrowhead LGBTQ+ and broader ally community to develop and amplify resources that promote LGBTQ+ awareness, equality, and inclusion,” it said in an Instrgam post. Carleton was a founding member of the Mountain Provisions Cooperative, which was set up earlier this year to help residents in the San Bernardino Mountains after a winter blizzard dumped 110 inches of snow in the area in a few days. The 66-year-old turned her store into an emergency relief centre and handed out supplies to local residents with her husband Bort during the severe snow dump, which cut off some areas for weeks. Authorities say Travis Ikechugi, 27, shot Carleton on 18 August after shouting homophobic insults at her over a Pride flag which was displayed outside of her Mag.Pi fashion store in Cedar Glen. Many of Carleton’s famous friends and acquaintances, including Hollywood director Paul Feig and comedian Bridget Everett, have condemned widespread “anti-gay and trans rhetoric” since her death. The organisers of the fund did not immediately respond to questions from The Independent about how much had been raised. * Anyone wishing to make a donation or find out more information can do so here. Read More Laura Carleton’s murder captured on store camera as Travis Ikeguchi’s family history revealed - latest Laura Carleton’s murder over Pride flag captured on store surveillance camera Laura Carleton’s killer was the son of a decorated police officer

William Hardison Sr had been due to be evicted from his home in the Pittsburgh suburb of Garfield on Wednesday 23 August. When sheriff’s deputies showed up at around 11am to serve the eviction order, the 63-year-old opened fire sparking an hours-long lockdown of the neighbourhood. Armed officers from the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office, Pittsburgh police, the FBI and SWAT crews descended on the densely populated area in the northeast of the city. Hundreds of shots were fired across several hours in exchanges between Hardison and law enforcement officers, as neighbours’ homes were peppered with bullets. The dramatic stand-off ended just after 5pm, when Pittsburgh Public Safety announced the gunman had been pronounced dead. Police later confirmed they had killed him with “deadly force”. According to family members, Hardison had believed he owned the house at the centre of the eviction order. It had previously belonged to his brother, who died recently, and been sold to a private firm, family said. Hardison was reportedly also a so-called “sovereign citizen”, who believed that he was not bound by federal or state laws. What we know about the shooting At a press conference after on Wednesday afternoon, Allegheny County Sheriff Kevin Kraus said that seven deputies had gone to serve the eviction notice at a property on the 4800 block of Broad Street and North Mathilda Street. The deputies tried to talk to Hardison to bring him out of the house, but he refused, according to the sheriff. “We tried to make contact, we were outside the house, called for him, tried to bring him out peacefully to execute the order but clearly that was not on the cards today.” Mr Kraus said the suspect had fired from first and second floor windows, and through walls at the deputies. “It was a pretty lengthy gun battle,” Mr Kraus said. “We certainly did not expect this, we had no information that this individual was this dangerous.” Authorities declared an “active shooter” situation. Neighbours barricaded themselves in their homes as shots rang out around the street. One told CBS News that shots had came through her living room window and bathroom, leaving shattered glass “everywhere”. Police repeatedly shot tear gas into the home, and placed drones above the property, but two or three were shot down by the suspect, Mr Kraus said. “He had a lot of ammunition in that house, we were all strapped with ammunition but all had to call for more ammunition. We tried to give him every opportunity to come out but it elevated to the SWAT team’s response.” Shortly before 5pm, CBS News reported that the gunman had been spotted injured in the house by a drone. Hardison was pronounced dead at 5.08pm, according to Pittsburgh Public Safety. The shooting forced the postponement of Pittsburgh’s City in the Streets event. The White House said President Biden had been briefed on the shooting. What his family are saying A family member was called to the scene of the shooting by police at about 3pm in an attempt to negotiate with Hardison, CBS News reported. He returned about an hour later in tears looking “devastated”, according to witnesses. William Hardison Sr’s son, who is also called William Hardison, had earlier pleaded with his father to “stand down”. William Hardison Jr told WTAE he and his family had been trying to get hold of his father all day. Addressing his father directly as the stand-off was unfolding, he said: “Hey dad please surrender, please give up. You have children and grandchildren who love you dearly. Please stand down.” He described his father as “a very stern individual”. “He’s a man’s man. When he believes in something, he’s going to fight tooth and nail for something.” Mr Hardison Jr said his father believed he owned the house. “My uncle passed away, he only had a few more years left to pay on the house. So why would they close on something for $25,000 when hundreds of thousands of dollars had been put into the house?” According to Action News, the property was sold to a company called 907 East Street. A judge issued an eviction notice for it last week. What we know about the suspect Hardison Sr had a lengthy criminal past. Public records show he had been convicted of carrying a firearm without a licence, forgery, harassment, and an accident involving death or injury. Sources told WTAE he identified as a “sovereign citizen”, which meant he did not believe he had to respect laws or pay taxes. Sovereign citizens are extremists who have been linked to the murder of police officers, fraud, and ant-government scams, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. “Sovereigns hold truly bizarre, complex, antigovernment beliefs that are rooted in racism and anti-Semitism,” the watchdog group states. “They believe they get to decide which laws to obey and which to ignore, and they don’t think they should have to pay taxes. They participate in protests against governments or use ‘paper terrorism’ – filing bogus lawsuits and fake liens on properties – to carry out their mission of disorder. Sometimes, they get violent.” Pittsburgh Police Chief Larry Scirotto addressed the suspect’s links to the movement during Wednesday’s press conference. He said police do not have any information about Hardison Sr being a sovereign citizen “but I’m sure we will uncover a lot about the suspect and his associations as we move forward.” Read More Pittsburgh shooting suspect dead after police shootout over eviction notice in Garfield neighbourhood: Live updates Police defend ‘deadly force’ as Pittsburgh active shooter is killed during hours-long standoff Police respond to ‘active shooter’ in Pittsburgh as ‘hundreds of rounds’ fired in Garfield neighbourhood

It was a Sunday night and a young couple were sitting together in a car at a park near Los Angeles. What happened next was something straight out of a horror movie – except this was real life. A gunman suddenly opened fire on the couple before pulling 19-year-old Andrea Vazquez from the car. Vazquez’s boyfriend escaped the gunfire but returned to the vehicle to find she had been kidnapped. After an intensive one-day search, the harrowing incident culminated in despair as Vazquez’s body was found in a field and a suspect – who has no known connection to the couple – was arrested for her murder. Heartbroken relatives described Vazquez as a “beautiful person” as they have been left struggling to understand what happened and why. Here’s everything we know so far about her abduction and death: A chilling abduction The horror unfolded just after midnight on Sunday 20 August when Vazquez and her boyfriend were sitting in a car at Penn Park in Whittier, police said. Her boyfriend told police that an armed suspect then approached their vehicle and “fired a weapon in their direction,” police said. Vazquez’s boyfriend fled the scene and when he returned he discovered blood near his car and his girlfriend missing. Vazquez has been kidnapped from the scene. Officers were alerted to a shooting and kidnapping incident located at the “parking stalls area” at 13950 Penn Street in Whittier. In a statement following her kidnapping, police said that Vazquez was last seen wearing a black long-sleeve crop top, khaki pants, and black low-top Converse shoes. “She has a tattoo of ‘Edlyn’ on the back of the neck, Aries constellation on the top of her right hand and a belly button piercing,” the statement read. Vasquez’s sister, Edlyn, with whom she lives in Los Angeles, put out a plea on Facebook for the public’s help in finding her. “My sister was shot and kidnapped at Penn Park,” she wrote. “Her last location shows Moreno Valley. We don’t know her condition. Please I am begging, if anyone has information, or the heart to share this, please please contact me and repost.” Another relative Emily Martinez told Fox News Digital that Vasquez’s phone last pinged in the Moreno Valley area. “We’re scared for her, but I’m hopeful, very hopeful that we’ll find her,” she said. “We just want to know she’s OK.” Tragic discovery Following the horror kidnapping, a huge search was launched to try to find the missing 19-year-old. That search ended in tragedy on Monday 21 August when, at around 11.50pm local time, authorities combing the area of Moreno Valley made a gruesome discovery. Police said that the teen’s body had been found in a vegetation field off Alessandro Boulevard and Merwin Street in Moreno Valley. It is currently unclear how she died or the nature of the scene where her body was found. The investigation remains ongoing but police said that it appears that the attack on Vazquez and her boyfriend was “randomly targeted”. The ‘random’ suspect On Tuesday 22 August, police announced an update on the case as a suspect was taken into custody. Detectives from the Whittier Police Department and the LADA Community Violence Reduction Team arrested Gabriel Esparza, a 20-year-old man and Whittier resident, in connection with the kidnapping and shooting of Vazquez. Mr Esparza was taken into custody at his workplace in the city of Lakewood and booked into the Whittier Police Department jail on charges of murder and kidnapping. He is being held without bail. During his arrest, officers recovered a weapon and Esparza’s White Toyota Tacoma truck – which are believed to have been used at the time of the shooting. “This relentless investigation and yesterday’s arrest were made possible by the dedication and commitment of our investigations division, with the assistance of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Downey Police Department, La Habra Police Department and the LADA Investigations Bureau Community Violence Reduction Team,” police said in a statement. The case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office on Wednesday 23 August. Suspect pleads not guilty in first court appearance Gabriel Sean Esparza, the 20-year-old son of a Los Angeles County fire captain, has been charged with multiple felonies including murder, kidnapping and attempted rape of 19-year-old Andrea Vazquez. Mr Esparza entered a not-guilty plea when he made his first court appearance for the brutal slaying on Wednesday afternoon. Prosecutors have formally filed seven charges against the suspect, according to a criminal complaint submitted in Los Angeles Superior Court. These also include attempted murder, kidnapping to commit another crime, assault with intent to commit a felony, and two counts of attempted forcible rape. Tributes pour in Vasquez attended Fullerton College and was a fashion design student as well as an employee at a shopping mall in Cerritos. Ms Martinez told Fox News Digital before her body was found that the 19-year-old had also been working with her sister Edlyn, who is a lash artist. She described Vazquez as the “funniest person ever” and a “beautiful person” who was liked by everyone who met her. Read More Andrea Vazquez – latest: Gabriel Esparza arrested for murder after kidnapping teen on date with boyfriend Andrea Vazquez: California woman shot and kidnapped from boyfriend’s car found dead