With four killings in February, San Bernardino's 2008 total stands at nine.
The first thing I noticed when recapping the incidents is that there was not one fatal shooting. Through two months last year, there had been seven homicides by gunfire — including one by police and one accidental shooting.
Thus far in 2008: two fatal shootings, both occurring in January.
San Bernardino police's collaboration with the U.S Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, launched last July, has been touted as successful in reducing the number of illegal firearms on city streets. While I don't have the detailed statistics to draw my own opinion, the reduction in fatal shootings thus far in 2008 is nonetheless noticeable.
This year's biggest spike, however, is in stabbing cases. Five of the nine homicides have been stabbings, and it accounted for three of the four cases in February.
Here is the recap.
Roy Sciortino1. On Feb. 6, 38-year-old Roy Sciortino was stabbed during a fight under the 3rd Street overpass of Interstate 215. Sciortino was a transient police say got into a fight with another homeless man, possibly over a cart.
The fight came days after San Bernardino city leaders pledged to join a countywide homeless task force. The killing got the attention of Mayor Pat Morris, who cited it to stress the need for such a partnership. Frederick Woodard, the 61-year-old transient who often slept under the overpass, was charged with murder.
James Houston2. Shortly before 4 a.m. on Feb. 9, James Rico Houston was found in his North Sepulveda Avenue living room with a stab wound to the chest. He died within the hour.
Police said that Houston's longtime partner and mother to his child, Shamika Holmes, fatally stabbed him during a fight. Holmes, a certified nurse's assistant, was charged with murder. She originally told detectives that Houston had collapsed after coming home from a nightclub, police said.
Storma Del' Andrae3. On Feb. 12, Storma Del' Andrae, an 87-year-old Highland woman, was beaten with hammers during a robbery of her mobile home. A neighbor found the victim several hours later inside her ransacked trailer, with numerous pieces of her jewelry missing.
Del' Andrae remained in a coma for more than two weeks before dying Feb. 29.
Two teens — one who had pulled weeds at Del' Andrae's garden — were charged as adults in connection with the attack. Friends described the victim as a unique and strong-willed woman who spoke four languages and was once married to an Italian count.
Tyrane Thomas
4. On Feb. 29,, Tyrane Thomas was found stabbed inside his apartment complex on North Guthrie Street. The 30-year-old victim was fighting with his live-in girlfriend when she stabbed him, police said.
Sequoia Gaines, 25, of San Bernardino, was arrested on suspicion of murder. Court records show that she had requested a temporary restraining order against Thomas – who had a prior domestic violence conviction – last month.
All four February homicides resulted in arrests. But anyone with additional information on any of these cases can call a police tip line at 909-384-5656.
As the year goes on, we will continue this monthly recap. January's can be read here. And as always, any reader who wants to bring additional details to light can email me by clicking on my name below.
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