Botched Robbery in Upscale L.A. Neighborhood Leaves Suspect Dead, Victim Critical

If you think crime doesn’t touch the wealthy, think again: a man was shot in the head in West L.A., and the criminals couldn’t even get away clean.

At a glance:

  • A violent robbery in an upscale Los Angeles neighborhood on September 13 left one victim critically injured and a suspect dead.
  • Three suspects were arrested in Northern California almost a month later, facing multiple felony charges, including murder and attempted robbery.
  • The victim, identified only as Aguilar, remains in critical condition after being shot in the head by the fleeing robbers.

Three men have been arrested following a botched robbery in West Los Angeles that resulted in one suspect dead and a victim in critical condition. The robbery took place on September 13 in the 11400 block of North Thurston Circle, an affluent area in the hills of Los Angeles. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the victim, identified as Aguilar, and his wife were ambushed by at least four suspects in their driveway, who demanded their property at gunpoint.

While details of the robbery remain scarce, police confirmed that Aguilar was shot in the head during the altercation. The suspects then fled in a getaway vehicle. Aguilar was rushed to the hospital, where he remains in critical condition. One of the suspects, Mario Melara, was also injured during the robbery and later died in the hospital from his wounds.

On October 10, three other suspects—Jason Melara, Daymonee Johnson, and Mahki Taylor—were arrested in Northern California. They were charged with multiple felonies by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, including murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, and assault with a deadly weapon.

Authorities continue to investigate the crime and urge anyone with information to contact LAPD detectives or submit anonymous tips via the Crime Stoppers Hotline.