Two Charged in Fatal Shooting of Double Amputee in Wheelchair in South LA

A woman and a man were charged today with murder in connection with the shooting of a homeless double-amputee in a wheelchair outside a McDonald's restaurant in South Los Angeles. 

Ruby Salazar, 37, of Los Angeles, is charged with one count each of murder and attempted murder, along with two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. 

The charges include allegations of use of a firearm, infliction of great bodily injury and use of a firearm during a specified offense, according to the District Attorney's Office.

Co-defendant Raymundo Hernandez, 34, of Los Angeles, is charged with one count of murder.

Police allege that Salazar walked up to Gerold Lipeles and shot him May 17 as the 69-year-old man was asleep in his wheelchair outside a McDonald's in the 1700 block of West Century Boulevard. 

Police did not disclose Hernandez's alleged involvement in Lipeles' killing.

Detectives also linked Salazar to an attempted murder four days later in which a 67-year-old homeless woman, Stella Polly, was shot in the back as she walked away from a bus stop in the 1600 block of West Manchester Avenue after Salazar allegedly initiated a conversation, according to police. 

Salazar has been behind bars since her May 22 arrest by Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies, according to jail records. Police said she has been re-arrested on suspicion of murder.

Hernandez was arrested Tuesday by Los Angeles police, along with a second man, Blas Canche, 32, of Los Angeles, according to police. 

The District Attorney's Office asked for further investigation involving a potential case against Canche, police said. 

In a statement announcing the filing, District Attorney George Gascón called it an “unthinkable crime.”

“The murder of this victim -- who was unhoused and a double amputee asleep in his wheelchair -- is disturbingly brutal and callous,” Gascón said.