los angeles
Asian elder scared of stepping outside after seeing his arrested attacker in the same spot days later
An elderly Asian American man is fearful of going out after seeing the person who viciously assaulted him in Los Angeles’ Koreatown just a few days later.
What happened: Samuel Kang, 70, was waiting for a bus at the corner of 5th Street and Western Avenue on Sept. 20 when he first came across Cartrell Smith, who, after walking by, allegedly turned around and hit Kang in the face.
Koreatown mural redone after three-year-long community backlash accusing of it being like a swastika
After three years of arguing, petitioning and back-and-forth conversations, a mural in Los Angeles’ Koreatown was redone and unveiled last Wednesday.
The controversy: In 2016, a mural was put up on a wall of the Robert F. Kennedy Community School in Los Angeles honoring Hollywood icon and actress Ava Gardner. There were no qualms about the actress herself, but in 2018, Korean community groups and protestors took issue with the massive crimson sun rays emanating from her face, comparing them to a swastika or a burning cross, according to the Los Angeles Times.
LA Angels’ Shohei Ohtani takes the high road after commentator’s ‘racist’ Asian accent
Los Angeles Angels pitcher Shohei Ohtani reportedly takes no offense in Detroit Tigers analyst Jack Morris’ use of a mock Asian accent while talking about him.
The backlash: Jack Morris, 66, a National Baseball Hall of Famer, used the problematic accent while referencing Ohtani during a game between the Angels and Tigers on Tuesday. The incident resulted in his indefinite suspension at Bally Sports Detroit.
Detroit Tigers broadcaster suspended for using mock Asian accent on Shohei Ohtani
Detroit Tigers game analyst Jack Morris has been suspended indefinitely by Bally Sports Detroit following his apology for using a mock Asian accent when broadcasting about Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani during a match Tuesday night.
What happened: Morris, a former Tigers pitcher inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018, was asked to comment about Ohtani during the game’s sixth inning. At the time, Tigers pitcher Joe Jimenez had just struck out Juan Lagares and Ohtani was coming up to bat.
Dominic Choi makes history as LAPD’s first Asian American assistant chief
Korean American officer Dominic Choi made history as the first Asian American assistant chief of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).
The promotion: Choi’s promotion to assistant chief now gives him the second-highest ranking in the department. He is one of three assistant chiefs, according to CBS Los Angeles.
‘She Rates Dogs’ podcast co-host Mat George dies at 26 after hit-and-run in LA
Mat George, the co-host of the “She Rates Dogs” podcast, died after being struck by a vehicle in Los Angeles on July 17.
What happened: George was walking southbound on Croft Avenue around 2:20 a.m. when a white BMW traveling eastbound on Beverly Boulevard hit the comedian, according to the LAPD.
Inmate Brutally Punches Asian American Custody Assistant, Could Face Hate Crime Charges
An inmate in Los Angeles could face assault and hate crime charges after attacking an Asian American custody assistant last week.
The incident, which was caught on a security camera, occurred at the Inmate Reception Center (IRC) on May 5 at around 10:45 a.m.
LA Street Renamed in Honor of Activist Rose Ochi
An intersection in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo was renamed Rose Ochi Square on Tuesday in honor of the esteemed activist, with a celebration attended by her widower, Thomas Ochi.
Remembering an activist: The renamed area, located at First and Judge John Aiso streets, was requested by City Hall lobbyist Darlene Kuba to honor Ochi’s work, reported the Los Angeles Daily News.
Community Raises Over $200K for Father of Two Killed in LA Shooting Spree
A 42-year-old Asian American father of two young children is one of two victims killed in a series of shootings in Los Angeles early Tuesday morning.
The incident: A man in a Jeep Cherokee, identified as Carlos Lopez-Melendez, 50, went on five separate drive-by shootings in and around downtown LA in the span of thirty minutes, reports ABC7. He killed two men and injured a third.
Business Owner’s New Studio Vandalized With ‘Ch*nk’ Two Weeks After Opening in Pasadena
An Asian business owner has revealed that her studio in Pasadena, Calif., was allegedly vandalized within two weeks of its opening.
Scratched onto the windows of Jellylab was the word “Ch*nk,” owner Connie explained in a recent Instagram post. While getting bubble tea with her two friends on Wednesday, one of them pointed out the vandalism, Connie told NextShark.
Anti-Asian Hate Crimes in LA More Than Doubled in 2020, LAPD Report Reveals
A report prepared by the Los Angeles Police Department found that hate crimes against Asian Americans in LA more than doubled compared to past years.
Significant increase: The analysis, submitted to the Police Commission last week, noted there were 15 documented cases of hate crimes against the Asian American and Pacific Islander community in 2020 compared to seven in 2019 and nine in 2018, reports the Los Angeles Times.
LA Pawnshop Returns $16K Rolex Taken From Asian Family in Violent Robbery
A Los Angeles-based pawnshop has decided to return a 24-karat Rolex watch pawned by a thief who violently robbed an Asian man in 2019 to its original owner.
The violent roadside beating and robbery occurred in Henderson, Nevada, on Oct. 19, 2019, when the suspect, Robert E. Pearce, 39, struck Hasin Oh on the head, arms and body, according to NBC Los Angeles‘ Eric Leonard.