CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
June 20, 2001 | From Times Staff and Wire Reports
An elderly laborer and an accused marijuana grower were sentenced to consecutive life terms in prison for shooting an 8-year-old boy and his father. Luis Lopez Arriaga, 78, opened fire on the two on Oct. 8 to protect a marijuana garden allegedly grown by Silvestre Gonzalez, 39, while William Hunt and his son, Matthew, were walking near the garden. Both were seriously wounded. El Dorado Superior Court Judge Thomas A.
NEWS
April 21, 2000 | From Associated Press
A woman suspected of shooting her new daughter-in-law in the head one day after the victim's wedding was being held Thursday in lieu of $1-million bail. The shooting occurred at a funeral wake Saturday in the remote Shasta County town of Hat Creek. A sheriff's deputy said it was precipitated by the younger woman's refusal to allow her mother-in-law to use a truck belonging to the suspect's son. Yvonne Ann Elmore, 30, is in critical condition, Deputy Dist. Atty. Stew Jankowitz said.
NEWS
August 14, 1999 | From Associated Press
A man shot his wife and three young daughters, then set a fire that blew up their house Thursday night. The bodies of all five were found in the ruins, burned beyond recognition, said Porterville Fire Chief Frank Guyton. Autopsies were to be completed today. The man spread a flammable liquid around the house in this small Tulare County town, then lit it, according to federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms spokeswoman Marti McKee. The house exploded when the fumes ignited.
CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
January 24, 1999 | GREG KRIKORIAN, TIMES STAFF WRITER
Galvanized by tragic stories and sobering statistics of gun violence, a coalition of state and local lawmakers pledged Saturday to work for tougher firearms laws throughout California. "We can't do anything about those who we have already lost. But we can save lives, we can prevent injuries," Assemblyman Jack Scott (D-Pasadena) told about 100 elected officials, public health experts, community organizers and victims of gun violence.
NEWS
May 29, 1998 | From Associated Press
The crowd gathered for the opening night of "I Got the Hook Up" was so rowdy that a dozen or so moviegoers got up and left, complaining that there was too much beer-swilling, smoking and boisterousness. Then an even more chaotic scenario ensued once the film ended late Wednesday. A handful of youths donned blue masks, and one pulled out a semiautomatic handgun and fired at patrons in the lobby. Eight people were hit, although none were seriously injured.
NEWS
December 27, 1997 | MYRON LEVIN, TIMES STAFF WRITER
Jim Waldorf only made it to 11th grade, but there is no disputing his success. He is chief executive of Lorcin Engineering Co., which, despite its name, is a leading maker of the cheap handguns known as Saturday night specials. He has made up to $900,000 per year and has a multimillion-dollar net worth. He has also written a book, "Landing on Your Feet," that is an evangelical appeal to victims of corporate downsizing to pursue the entrepreneurial path.