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These didn't occur on Valentine's Day, but they hit the Homicide Report en masse. Got my attention.
Athens: Antwan Cole, a 19-year-old young black man, was shot multiple times at the intersection of Main and 135th streets in Athens at about 11:23 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8....Watts: Joe Beck, a 17-year-old black youth, was shot in the chest during a robbery attempt in the 1200 block of 104th Street at about 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 9....
Palmdale: Gerardo Salazar, 22, a young Latino man, was shot in the head at 5105 Katrina Place in Palmdale at about 1 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 10....
Pomona: Alfredo Avina, 27, a Latino man, was shot multiple times in the 800 block of Hyde Avenue in Pomona at about 3:22 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10. According to Pomona Police Department, Avina was standing in his driveway when another man approached and shot him....
Two more homicides, at least three hours apart from one another, followed Avina's death Sunday:
Jose Lopez, a 20-year-old Latino man, was stabbed inside his mobile home at 402 E. Foothill Blvd. at about 6:05 p.m....At 9:25 p.m., patrol officers were driving near the intersection of Orange Grove and Glen Avenues when they heard gunfire. Two men with handguns were seen running west on Orange Grove; a patrol officer then chased them on foot. Meanwhile, police dispatchers were receiving calls about a shooting in the 900 block of Ericksen Drive, which is off Orange Grove Avenue. Upon arrival, officers discovered Artugo Rodriguez, a 27-year-old Latino man, with gunshot wounds. Paramedics declared him dead at the scene.
Jefferson Park: Craig Cooper, a 53-year-old black man, was killed in a drive-by shooting at 1926 W. Jefferson Blvd at about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12. According to police, Cooper was walking on the sidewalk when a white vehicle heading eastbound on Jefferson Boulevard pulled up next to him.
Here's the latest LAT homicide map, with 77 entries for 2008.