EDITOR'S NOTE: Multimedia journalist Taylor Torregano spoke with a mental health counselor about the health crisis taking over LA County. Click the arrow above to watch the video.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A man suspected of attacking and killing a 70-year-old woman at a Los Angeles bus stop was charged Tuesday with murder, while LA officials offered a $250,000 reward in the unrelated stabbing death of a 24-year-old woman across town.
Sandra Shells was attacked last Thursday at a downtown bus stop near Union Station while on her way to work as a nurse at LA County-USC Medical Center, the district attorney's office said in a statement.
Shells fell backward and hit her head on the ground. She died Sunday at a hospital.
The Los Angeles Times reported that a homeless man was arrested not far from the station and booked for investigation of attempted murder.
Kerry Bell, 48, was charged with murder in Shells' death. It wasn't immediately known if he has an attorney.
Meanwhile a $250,000 reward was offered for information leading to the arrest of a man suspected of stabbing Brianna Kupfer while she worked at a furniture store.
A customer found Kupfer, 24, dead on the floor Thursday afternoon, Los Angeles police said in a statement.
The suspect, wearing all black clothing and a face mask, was last seen walking in the alley behind the store in the Hancock Park neighborhood.
“Detectives have determined the suspect was not known to the victim and was a random walk-in to the store,” police said. “The suspect attacked the victim with a knife and fled the scene through the back door.”
Police late Tuesday said they were looking for 31-year-old Shawn Laval Smith, a transient who has been seen in several Southern California cities along with San Diego and San Francisco.
“He should be considered armed and dangerous," an LAPD community alert said. “If seen do not approach call 911."