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pasadenaindependent.com
Volume 19, No. 28
Triple homicide suspect faces multiple murder charges and attempted murder of police officer and others By Terry Miller On Monday morning Pasadena city officials held a news conference on the shooting rampage that occurred Saturday afternoon in which five people were shot and three people were killed at the hands of a gunman armed with semiautomatic weapons and lots of ammunition. The suspect in Saturday’s triple homicide has been charged with three counts of murder and three counts attempted murder, including the attempted murder of a police officer. John Izeal Smith, 44, was arraigned Tuesday in Pasadena Superior Court. The charges also carry the special circumstance of multiple murders and the special allegation he intentionally discharged a rifle. Prosecutors are not yet certain if they will seek the Please see page 31
Pasadena Police Chief Phillip Sanchez held a press conference Monday morning following Saturday’s triple homicide in NW Pasadena. Sanchez advised the media that the suspect will be charged with three counts of murder and additional counts of attempted murder including that of a of a police officer. -Photo by Terry Miller
Emergency regulation Passionists say moratorium approved to ensure state on building doesn’t “kill the residents increase water project” in Sierra Madre By SHEL SEGAL conservation $500 a day fines possible for offenders In response to the ongoing severe drought, on Tuesday the State Water Resources Control Board approved an emergency regulation to ensure water agencies, their customers and state residents increase water conservation in urban settings or face possible fines or other enforcement. The new conservation regulation is intended to reduce outdoor urban water use. The regulation, adopted by the State Water Board,
mandates minimum actions to conserve water supplies both for this year and into 2015. Most Californians use more water outdoors than indoors. In some areas, 50 percent or more of daily water use is for lawns and outdoor landscaping. Many communities and water suppliers have taken bold steps over the years and in this year to reduce water use; however, many have not and much more can and Please see page 18
As the Sierra Madre City Council passed a moratorium on new construction requiring a water connection at its July 9 meeting, the proposed development of a portion of open space at the Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center in the north part of the city is met with new challenges. And as the passionists are preparing to sell that land for the construction of approximately 50 new homes, Cameron Thornton, spokesman for the group, said the
Local realtor lends a helping hand to special needs adults By SHEL SEGAL
moratorium doesn’t exactly kill the project. “The short answer is nothing,” said Thornton in response to the question what does the moratorium do to the proposed sale. “My expectation is that the moratorium will allow for more civil conversations and honest exchanges of information without emotion being tossed into the mix.” Thornton added the passionists are in this challenge for the long haul and are hoping the
No one ever said family had to be blood related. For brothers Roy and Robert Lewis of Monrovia, their family has come in the form of Nancy McSween, a real estate agent with Podley Properties in Pasadena. McSween has become the brothers’ “godmother” of sorts as she has helped them find housing in Monrovia and is even trying to see if she can find them some work. “They are basically low-functioning,” McSween said of the Lewis brothers, who are both around age
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