LAPD Blog

Husband Wanted for Questioning in Wife’s Murder

Los Angeles:  Detectives are asking for the public’s help to locate Dejame Oree Henderson, wanted for questioning in the shooting death of his wife, Shavonna Jones.

On Saturday, May 22, 2010, at about 8:30 a.m., 30-year-old Shavonna Jones’ 14-year-old son awoke to find Jones shot and lying on the living room floor.  Los Angeles City Fire Department Personnel were called and pronounced Jones dead at scene.

Jones 2-year-old son was also present in the apartment, but neither child was injured.  Investigators discovered that neighbors had heard a gunshot between midnight and 12:30 a.m., but did not call police.  

Police have not been able to locate Henderson and they are considering him a person of interest in her murder.  Henderson is described as a Black man, 30-years of age, 5’09” tall, 190 lbs, black hair, and brown eyes.  He is believed to be driving a 1992, white Cadillac Deville, 4-door, license plate number 3CWK822.

Anyone with information on this crime is asked to call Criminal Gang Homicide Division Detective Nate Kouri or Thomas Eiman at 213-485-4341.  During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7.   Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).  Tipsters may also contact Crimestoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.

Man Fatally Shot after Party in Boyle Heights

Los Angeles: Los Angeles police are searching for a suspect who shot and killed a man early this morning after he left a party in Boyle Heights.

Twenty-eight-year-old Robert Naranjo of South Los Angeles was at a birthday celebration with a group of family members and friends at a nightclub in the 1000 block of Cesar Chavez Avenue.  At about 2 a.m., Naranjo left the party to walk to his parked car near Cesar Chavez Avenue and Gallardo Street when a gunman confronted and shot him.

Detectives said the group became suspicious when the victim didn’t return to the party in a timely manner.  Several individuals went to go look for Naranjo and found him lying in the parking lot behind his vehicle suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to his upper body.  

Paramedics rushed the victim to University of Southern California Medical Center where he died several hours later.

There is no suspect description.  It is unclear if the motive of the shooting is robbery or gang related.

The investigation is on-going.

Anyone with information about this murder is asked to call Hollenbeck Division homicide detectives at 323-342-4100. During non-business hours or weekends, calls may be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS 800-222-8477. Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most key pads) using a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”  Tipsters can also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on “web tips” and follow the prompts.

Temporary Closures of Area Property Sections

Los Angeles:  Effective Sunday, May 23, 2010, the property rooms at Newton, Wilshire, West Valley, and North Hollywood Community Police Stations will be temporarily closed, making it necessary for officers and community members to access property from other nearby police facilities.

In addition to the closure of select property rooms, some off-hour and weekend coverage in other property-related functions will be temporarily eliminated.  The specific shifts to be eliminated at Property Division are Valley Property Section PM Watch and Weekends, Evidence Control Section AM Watch, and Forensic Science Center PM Watch.

Chief Beck said, “These closures and service reductions are a part of our shared sacrifice in very difficult staffing conditions.”   He added, “Consolidating functions and limiting service is a balancing act that takes into account not only public safety, officer safety and legal mandates, but also goals for efficiency and effectiveness.  Staffing 24 separate property locations, many with extended hours of service, with only 58 property officers was unsustainable. ”    

The Los Angeles Police Department’s Property Division, along with most of the LAPD civilian workforce has been subject to a mandatory hiring freeze since early 2008.  As a result of normal attrition and the early retirement incentive program (ERIP), Property Division is currently working with a vacancy rate of over 18 percent.  This does not take into account the fact that property officers are civilians subject to furlough.   

Property Division’s Commanding Officer Mrs. Terry Carter said, “The decision on which property rooms and shifts to close was based on an examination of workflow histories and proximity to other property rooms.”  Mrs. Carter added, “An effective, efficient and well supervised property function is crucial to several Department mandates, including the successful prosecution of criminals and the expeditious return of property to rightful owners.”

While not permanent, beginning on May 23, 2010, officers assigned to the impacted geographic Areas will be required to book and access property at the nearby property rooms or at Central Property Section.  In certain situations, secure interim storage lockers and refrigerators may be used.  The most significant impact to field operations will be that officers may have to drive to an adjacent Area to access property.  No police officers will be deployed in property officer assignments.     

Protocols for booking, retrieving, and releasing evidence will be developed, including a way for officers to make an appointment to help eliminate unnecessary delays.  Effective planning on the part of the officers and detectives will minimize the impact to field operations.

Service to the community will be minimally impacted.  Currently, property owners are required to make an appointment after they are notified that their property is available for release from LAPD custody.  Those who would normally receive their property at Newton or Wilshire Area will be directed to Central Property Section and those who would normally receive their property at North Hollywood or West Valley Areas will be directed to Valley Property Section.  Each notification will now include the phone number to the appropriate property room.    

As with the decisions related to property rooms, all staffing and service decision will be made by the Chief of Police after considering the public safety, officer safety and legal mandates, and goals for efficiency and effectiveness.  

Inquiries about this News Release should be directed to Media Relations Section at 213-486-5910.