Suspect Arrested In South Bay Murder Spree: Police

LOS ANGELES, CA —A man believed to have gone on a killing spree across the South Bay is behind bars today, authorities announced.

Dion Johnson, 20, is suspected of killing three people and wounding five others, according to the Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles District Attorney's Office. Among those killed were a young couple, whose 1-year-old boy was also wounded, according to police.

Johnson was arrested last week, according to Los Angeles Police Department Capt. Jamie Bennett. At a news conference Thursday at the Los Angeles Police Department's Harbor Area Station authorities announced charges of murder and attempted murder against Johns, urging witnesses to come forward.

Police did not announce a motive for the killing spree.

According to police, Johnson is the gunman who shot and killed Carlos Loera, 21, and Ashley Guzman, 18, at 6:37 p.m. on Sept. 4 as they sat in their parked car in the 1000 block of 253rd Street in Harbor City, leaving their one-year-old son orphaned and suffering from a bullet wound. The couple was parked outside Loera's home when a gunman approached and opened fire on them.

Police believe their killer approached the vehicle and fired several gunshots, killing Loera at the scene. Guzman was rushed to a nearby hospital where she died, according to Los Angeles Police Department. Their baby boy was taken to a hospital, treated and then released to family, police said.

The shooting was shattering to the community, which held a candlelight vigil for the slain couple.

"Whoever did this it's just a senseless act, how can you do that to a family, it's just not fair," one neighbor told NBC Los Angeles at the time.

A few weeks later, police believe Johnson struck again. On Sept. 30, 2023, Joseph Saldana, 17, was similarly shot and killed outside a home in the 1200 block of North Park Western Drive in San Pedro. According to police, Saldana was shot about 11:30 p.m. that day outside a house party at the residence.

Saldana was with three other people when one or more suspects approached them on foot and opened fire, the LAPD reported.

Saldana was pronounced dead at the scene. The other victims, apparently in their early 20s, were hospitalized in stable condition, according to police. Johnson has been charged with Saldana's murder.

Lastly, on Oct. 2, 2023, a man was shot and seriously wounded in Wilmington, and Johnson faces an attempted murder charge in the case.

The slayings contributed to an unusual spike in homicides in the LAPD's Harbor Division in 2023. At a recent community meeting, the department addressed the spike.

"Unfortunately, we did have a very violent — which is odd — September and October," said LAPD Capt. Brent McGuyre "With that we ended up the year with 13 homicides. So again those are 13 lives that were lost 13 families that were torn apart. "

Anyone with information about the shootings is urged to call LAPD South Bureau Homicide Division detectives at 323-786-5100, or 877-LAPD-247 or send tips to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS, www.lacrimestoppers.org.