Brentwood Weekly Crime Report: July 7, 2025
July 27, 2025
LAPD Confirms Fatal Stabbing Among 12 Reported Incidents
Senior Lead Officer Matthew Kirk has resumed crime reporting duties following a brief hiatus, releasing Brentwood’s first crime update in three weeks. While the report includes 12 incidents, authorities emphasize that the data covers a longerthan-usual time frame and does not reflect a sudden spike in crime.
Among the incidents reported, a homicide on San Vicente Boulevard stands out as the most serious case in the neighborhood during this period.
Homicide
• July 22, 8:45 p.m., 11700 block of San Vicente Boulevard
A verbal altercation between two unhoused individuals escalated when one produced a knife and fatally stabbed the other in the upper body. The suspect fled westbound on San Vicente. The victim was transported to a hospital, where he later died. LAPD patrol officers arrested the suspect on July 24. He has been charged with murder.
Residential Burglaries
• July 17, 10:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m., 11600 block of Montana Avenue
Suspect(s) entered an apartment through the front door by unknown means and removed a small safe.
• July 22, 2:55 a.m., 900 block of S. Carmelina Avenue
Suspect broke a garage window and used the emergency release to enter. Two bicycles were stolen.
• July 26, 8:00 p.m. – July 27, 12:05 a.m., 900 block of Granville Avenue
Suspect(s) forced open a rear window to enter a residence and stole a watch.
Theft from Motor Vehicles (BFMV/ TFMV)
• July 16, 4:00 p.m. – July 17, 10:00 a.m., 11900 block of Darlington Avenue
Suspect(s) accessed an apartment garage and ransacked a parked vehicle. No items were taken.
• July 17, 10:15 p.m., 12000 block of San Vicente Boulevard
Suspect removed a paper license plate from a vehicle parked on the street.
• July 18, 6:00 p.m. – July 19, 7:55 a.m., 11600 block of Darlington Avenue
Suspect(s) entered a garage and broke a car’s rear window, stealing two pairs of shoes.
Grand Theft Auto (GTA)
• July 11, 9:00 p.m. – July 13, 1:00 p.m., 11700 block of Darlington Avenue
• July 11, 12:30 a.m., 100 block of S. Woodburn Drive
A 2025 Cadillac Escalade was stolen from the street.
• July 17, 7:30 p.m., San Vicente Boulevard and Gorham Avenue
A 2006 Lexus RX SUV was taken from the street.
• July 25, 10:30 p.m. – July 26, 7:30 a.m., 11800 block of Kiowa Avenue
A Chevy Silverado was reported stolen from the street.
Theft
• July 11, 7:20 a.m., 11900 block of Goshen Avenue
Suspect(s) entered a secured parking garage and removed unsecured camping equipment.
Robbery and Assault with a Deadly Weapon
• No incidents were reported during this period.
Los Angeles Fire Department Airlifts Two From
Brentwood Trails in Same-Day Rescues
Two Were Hoisted in Back-To-Back
Emergencies From Rugged Terrain
Two individuals were airlifted to safety Saturday afternoon in separate incidents on remote Brentwood trails, prompting emergency response from the Los Angeles Fire Department ground and air units.
The first rescue occurred around 1:35 p.m. in Mandeville Canyon, where a hiker suffered a medical emergency along a steep, hard-to-reach trail near the 12700 block of West Chalon Road.
Fire officials said a flight paramedic was lowered to the location to administer aid before air crews hoisted the individual out of the canyon and transported the patient to a nearby hospital for further evaluation. No updates on the hiker’s condition were immediately available. Later the same afternoon, LAFD crews responded to a second call, this time in Sullivan Canyon near Queensferry Road. A woman had reportedly fallen while mountain biking on an isolated trail and was unable to continue.
Due to the rugged location, a helicopter hoist operation was again deployed. Flight paramedics stabilized the cyclist before airlifting her to an area hospital for treatment. Her current condition has not been released.
Suspect Arrested in Fatal Brentwood Whole Foods Stabbing, Area to See Increased Police Presence
The
suspect, initially described as a man in his early 20s wearing dark clothing, fled the scene on foot.
A man was fatally stabbed Tuesday night outside a Whole Foods Market in Brentwood during an altercation that witnesses described as escalating rapidly. The suspect, who fled the scene, was later arrested, according to Los Angeles police and City Councilmember Traci Park.
The incident occurred shortly before 9 p.m. on the 11700 block of San Vicente Boulevard, near South Barrington Avenue, while the grocery store was still open. Responding officers found a 39-year-old man suffering from multiple stab wounds. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police told local media outlets he may have been a veteran and possibly unhoused. Detectives were seen examining an SUV at the scene believed to have belonged to the victim, according to KTLA.
Witnesses said the altercation appeared to have started earlier in the evening. “I couldn’t really make out what they were arguing about,” said Arash Naghdi, who works nearby. “It was definitely getting contentious.”
Investigators believe both men may have been armed. FOX11 reported that a screwdriver and crowbar may have been used in the fight, though police have not confirmed what weapons were recovered.
The suspect, initially described as a man in his early 20s wearing dark clothing, fled the scene on foot.
On Thursday, Councilmember Park announced that the suspect had been taken into custody.
“I’m very grateful for [LAPD’s] swift response in making the arrest happen,” Park said in a video update. She added that additional patrols had been deployed in the Brentwood area following the incident.
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The Getty Unveils Trellis Bar & Lounge: Sip
Art-Inspired Cocktails with a Gorgeous View
New Alfresco Experience Offers Seasonal Drinks, Light Bites, and Stunning Architecture
Visitors to the Getty Center can now unwind with a cocktail and panoramic views at the museum’s newest addition: Trellis Bar & Lounge, an outdoor venue designed to blend artful elegance with laid-back hospitality.
The lounge, which officially opened this week, is located just beyond the entrance hall and welcomes guests Tuesday through Sunday from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., with extended hours until 8:30 p.m. on Saturdays. Reservations are not required.
Trellis reimagines a previously neutral terrace space into a colorful, welcoming retreat inspired by the Getty’s architecture and gardens. A lavendercovered trellis anchors the design, complemented by a palette of cobalt
blue, yellow, and soft purple. Striped graphic elements evoke the shifting light patterns cast by the overhead structure, lending a sense of coastal ease to the museum’s modernist setting.
The menu, crafted by Bon Appétit, features a curated selection of wine, mocktails, and cocktails named for iconic works of art. Highlights include
“Monet’s Mojito,” a rum-based refresher with mint and elderflower; “Irises,” a non-alcoholic homage to Van Gogh made with butterfly pea tea
and lavender; and “Bougainvillea,” a spicy-sweet tequila blend inspired by the blooms in the museum’s Central Garden.
Guests can also choose from a variety of light bites including sliders, taquitos, tostadas, and fries. Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options are available.
The new space aims to offer a relaxing, social setting for museumgoers to enjoy conversation and refreshments before or after viewing exhibitions.
More information is available at getty.edu.
Ben Affleck Spotted House-Hunting in Brentwood: Actor Tours Homes Near Garner’s Neighborhood
The Oscar Winner Was Seen Leaving His Office and Then Checking Out Luxury Listings
Ben Affleck was seen appearing tense while speaking on the phone as he departed the Los Angeles office of Artists Equity, his production company, last week, as reported by Marca. The sighting comes as the actor and director, who turns 53 next month, reportedly continues his search for a new residence in Brentwood.
Affleck spent Sunday touring potential bachelor-style homes in the upscale Westside neighborhood, located
near the $7.8 million Brentwood Park property owned by his ex-wife, actress Jennifer Garner. The former couple, who divorced in 2018 after a decade of marriage, share joint custody of their three children: Violet, 19; Fin, 16; and Samuel, 13.
The move marks another chapter in Affleck’s shifting personal life. In June 2024, he purchased a $20.5 million, five-bedroom home in Brentwood, which followed his separation from Jennifer Lopez. The pair—who wed in 2022 after rekindling their early 2000s romance—reportedly finalized their divorce on February 21, 2025.
Affleck and Lopez are currently attempting to sell their shared Beverly Hills estate, a $59.9 million mansion acquired during their marriage.
The Third Place Reinvented: Why Kavahana Is Becoming LA’s New Favorite Hangout Spot
In a city full of coffee shops that close too early and bars that don’t cater to the sober (or sober-curious) crowd, Kavahana is carving out something new: a place to be. More than just a spot for drinks, work, or weekends, Kavahana is quickly becoming Santa Monica's go-to "third place" for any occasion—from morning coffee to date nights.
Tucked on Pico Boulevard just blocks from the beach, Kavahana blends cozy café comfort with the spark of a community hub. It opens early, stays open late, and draws everyone from sunrise surfers to midnight creatives. But it’s not just the hours that make it special.
Kava Nectar: The Tingly Drink That Actually “Works”
At the center of the Kavahana experience is Kava Nectar, a natural, non-alcoholic beverage made from the root of the kava plant. Long used in ceremonial settings across the South Pacific Islands and Hawaii, kava is a family drink known for its relaxing, smile-inducing properties. Kavahana’s version, Kava Nectar, is cold-pressed, potent, and one-of-a-kind in the United States.
You’ll feel it. Most people notice a gentle tingle on the tongue, followed by a wave of relaxed energy and ease. Some describe it as “a mental massage” or “a hot tub for your mind.” Others just say it helps them feel genuinely happy, social, and present without alcohol or anything synthetic. Whether it’s your first time or your fiftieth, the feeling doesn’t fade.
Kavahana’s signature cocktails showcase kava nectar with real, natural ingredients like mango, ginger, spirulina, and coconut cream. They’re delicious, effective, and zero-proof. This is one wellness drink you can actually feel working.
Not Into Kava Nectar Yet? No Problem. Kava not your thing (yet)? Kavahana’s menu goes beyond. Their Hawaiian-sourced Kona coffee is low-acid, smooth, and bold without bitterness. Or try hojicha, a roasted green tea from Japan that’s rich, nutty, and
naturally low in caffeine.
The team is friendly and happy to walk you through the options. You’ll probably try something new, and you’ll probably love it.
Food-wise, Kavahana offers island-inspired snacks that hit the sweet spot between satisfying and light.
Where You Can Hang Past 5 PM
With plenty of seating, fast Wi-Fi, and an unusual abundance of power outlets, it’s ideal for remote work, studying, or just posting up with a book. The vibe is welcoming and relaxed, with just the right level of background buzz. And unlike most cafés that close by late afternoon, Kavahana stays open late, often until 1 AM on weekends. It’s one of the only places on the Westside where you can hang out after dark without
drinking alcohol.
Every week, Kavahana hosts free events like Open Mic Night (Tuesdays) and Comedy Night (Wednesdays). Regulars say it’s one of the most welcoming crowds in town.
Whether you’re there to perform, support a friend, or just unwind after work, there’s a sense of shared energy and presence that’s hard to find elsewhere.
Visit Kavahana
306 Pico Blvd Santa Monica, CA 90405
Open daily (morning to late night)
Tuesdays: Open Mic Night
Wednesdays: Comedy Night
Website: Kavahana.com
Instagram: @kavahanabar
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UCLA Agrees to $6.1 Million Settlement Over Alleged Discrimination During Campus Protests
Faculty Group Argued Protest Wasn’t Antisemitic; Judge Approval Still Pending
UCLA will pay more than $6 million to settle a lawsuit that accused the university of enabling discrimination against Jewish students and faculty during proPalestinian demonstrations on campus last year, officials announced Tuesday. This agreement would be subject to the approval of U.S. District Judge Mark Scarsi, and it would remain in force for 15 years.
The settlement resolves a complaint filed in June 2024 by two law students and one undergraduate who alleged they were physically blocked from accessing campus facilities, including classrooms and the library, by participants in a pro-Palestinian encampment.
The group, Faculty for Justice in Palestine, at UCLA filed an amicus brief
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opposing the plaintiffs’ original request for an injunction that the encampment was not antisemitic. The brief noted that Jewish people were part of the encampment and that protesters held Seder and Shabbat ceremonies in the encampment, as reported by the Daily Bruin.
The lawsuit claimed the university not only allowed the encampment to form but also reinforced its perimeter with metal barriers and failed to intervene as protesters restricted access for Jewish individuals.
According to court filings, the plaintiffs stated that UCLA took no effective action to ensure their safety and, at times, directed them away from the encampment instead of upholding their right to access the campus.
The university initially denied having a legal duty to protect Jewish students in that context, the complaint noted.
Under the terms of the agreement, UCLA will pay $6.13 million. That includes monetary damages to the individual plaintiffs, $2.33 million in donations to eight Jewish organizations, and attorneys’ fees and costs.
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Let’s Get Practical
Do you ever spend time on NextDoor?
It’s a local online bulletin board. I check it out maybe twice a week.
Some practically live on the site, it’s clear.
For the most part, it seems like the site attracts people who seem acutely worried about minor things. A trash can is full and overflowing. A helicopter overhead is making noise. A dog will soon be put to sleep if it isn’t rescued today. A homeless guy someone just saw looks kinda creepy.
I don’t mean to minimize such concerns; in the aggregate, they all add up and diminish our quality of life. But I’m not sure anyone is really paying attention or is in a position to do much about most of this.
Then there are the online political battles carried out on NextDoor. Republicans don’t like Democrats. Democrats don’t like Republicans. Many from both parties are mad at Karen Bass.
I’m not sure anyone is actually changing anyone else’s mind with all the back-andforth. If anything, I think all the “I’m right and you’re an idiot” postings just cause people on the other side to dig in.
Years ago, I posted in the Brentwood News a “22 Point Plan” to end homelessness in LA. I then posted a link to this article on NextDoor and was amazed by all the comments this article drew, from all across the Westside.
One person wrote something like, “These are all great ideas, Jeff, but none of this will ever happen. You are making too much sense.”
I think that’s the source of so much frustration in Los Angeles, expressed regularly on NextDoor: that is, even the simplest things are viewed as really hard to do. Bureaucracy, politics, inefficiency, and red tape get in the way. This causes people to give in and lose hope.
A guy named Mark Patel, who lives in Santa Monica, recently suggested on NextDoor that those in power take a common-sense approach to problemsolving, starting with cleaning up streets,
sidewalks, alleyways, and other public spaces.
He followed with another article about how these conversations don’t have to be political. Let’s focus on common-sense solutions instead, he argued. If you are on NextDoor, look for Mark Patel, from Sunset Park in Santa Monica. You can find his writings there.
Both articles are generating quite a response.
I posted a comment congratulating Mark on his clarity of thinking. He and I started exchanging DMs, and we just met for breakfast at the Country Mart.
He understands all the frustration and is giving voice to it. If you like his message, DM him on NextDoor. Mark told me he wants to “make a lot of noise.”
So here’s my practical idea for the day: Let’s have a big party one weekend and everyone in Brentwood can go out and fix a cracked sidewalk near his or her residence, using concrete or blacktop to smooth over dangerous ridges.
The city pays way too much to settle cases brought by those who stumble and fall, injuring themselves. Shouldn’t all that settlement money instead go toward fixing sidewalks, vastly reducing the risk of injury in the first place?
We can all chip in and do this at our own expense. We can all just worry about sidewalks in our immediate neighborhood. Getting together to work on this could be fun, and if we wait for the city to act, we might be waiting a very long time.
Here’s another idea: Let’s start an LAbased online think tank devoted not to griping, but to actual problem-solving.
It would be a place to discuss issues with the Mark Patels of the world instead of having to sift through tons and tons of whiny complaints before you get to an
occasional nugget of gold.
I just registered a domain name, LAthinkTank.org. I can’t do anything with this just yet, but if there’s support, we can talk about building a simple site where problem-solvers can hang out.
If you like these ideas – or have another suggestion of your own – send me an email: jeffhall@mirrormediagroupla.com.
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Going for the throat
Coach Bill
Schuman
expects protégé Golda Zahra to hold back nothing
By Linda Chase
World famous competitors hire special coaches to make sure they are ready for critical events. These experts concentrate on specific muscles that are vital for success.
Bill Schuman focuses on “two pieces of gristle in the throat.”
That’s how Schuman described vocal cords in a recent interview. For his young client, Golda Zahra, they aren’t for chatting on her phone or making Tik-Tok videos. She will need them to be flexible and powerful for her performance in Puccini’s Turandot in Disney Hall on Aug. 16.
Zahra is playing the role of Liu in a concert version of the opera being presented by Pacific Music Festival. The cast also features Nina Warren in the title role, Alfred Kim as Calaf and Andrew Potter as Timur, plus the Opera Chorus of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Dream Orchestra, conducted by Daniel Suk.
Schuman looks at Zahra’s voice as an instrument she plays, but which she can never put away. “She carries that Stradivarius around with her all day,” he said.
Nedra Zachary, who runs the prestigious Loren L. Zachary National Vocal Competition, introduced Zahra to Schuman, and he discovered, “Her voice was beautiful.”
But that’s just the beginning for an aspiring performer, according to Schuman, a vocal coach who’s worked with opera stars Marcello Giordani, Lisette Oropesa, Stephen Costello, Michael Fabiano and Angela Meade -- and also with singers from the worlds of Broadway and pop music, such as Judy McLane, Anne Crumb, Michael Jackson and Michael Bolton.
Did Zahra have the three essential qualities that he knows are the keys to success — humility, discipline, and curiosity? “Not everyone has the openness to learn,” he noted. As he began to work with her, he found that Zahra was willing to put in the work and make the necessary sacrifices.
“Bill cleaned up the rough edges,” Zahra said in an interview. “He has the magic touch.”
Schuman’s approach asks the singer to seek out the emotion in music and make each aria unique. For Turandot, he’s preparing her for a role that requires fragility as well as vocal beauty. “She will be stunning as Liu,” he asserted.
The story of Turandot’s first performance is as dramatic as the opera itself. Puccini was interested in Asian motifs – one of his most famous operas is Madame Butterfly –and he chose a play with a Chinese setting by German writer Friedrich Schiller to set to music. “I have placed, in this opera, all my soul,” he told a friend, and then he died
of throat cancer before he could finish it.
Another composer was hired to fill in the missing work, but on opening night at La Scala in 1926, conductor Arturo Toscanini dropped the baton in the final act and turned to the audience, announcing, “This is the end of the opera, because the Maestro died here.”
The version at Disney Hall will be minus elaborate opera sets and stage effects, but the unamplified singers will have the benefit of the venue’s world-renowned acoustics.
Curved walls of vertical-grain Douglas fir and terraced vineyard-style seating create a space where someone sitting in the top row can hear a pin drop on stage.
It will be the third time Zahra has appeared at Disney Hall. In 2015, she sang there in the Spotlight Awards competition and became the youngest winner in the Classical Voice category. In 2024, she performed Liu there in a different production of Turandot.
Schuman supports Zahra’s goal of bringing new audiences to opera. “The music world has changed,” he asserts. “Opera needs to be made more accessible, especially for the younger generation.”
Recalling the great tenor Luciano Pavarotti being criticized for singing in different genres before wider audiences, Schuman notes that “he helped to increase the popularity of opera.” It was Pavarotti who popularized the aria “Nessun Dorma” (none shall sleep), which will be sung by Alfred Kim as Calaf in the third act.
Even though there isn’t a lot of action in a concert presentation of an opera, audiences can expect Zahra, who is a huge fan of horror films, to come up with something special when she sacrifices herself to love. It’s probably not exactly what Schuman has in mind when he tells his singers to “bring the drama.”
He has high hopes for his protégé. “She can go to the very top, if she wants it,” he said, because “that mystical thing that we call charisma: Golda has it.”
Linda Chase is a freelance writer based in Santa Barbara specializing in the arts, travel and lifestyle. This feature is produced by the Journalism Arts Initiative, which
is underwritten by donations from arts organizations and others interested in supporting excellence in arts journalism.
INFO BOX
“Turandot in Concert,” presented by Pacific Festival, Aug. 16 at 7 p.m. at Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. Ages 9 and older. Tickets, $33 to $105, including all fees, are available at www.TurandotConcert.com
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