Category: kyma-local-news

Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – A grand jury has indicted a young man charged with murdering his brother in a road rage fight Thursday.

19-year-old Juan Figueroa was indicted on one count of first degree murder and attempted first degree murder.

The indictment was announced late Thursday afternoon.

Meanwhile, the Yuma Police Department (YPD) is speaking out regarding the social media rumors that have sparked from this case.

People have been questioning why the 36-year-old man, who was questioned by police, is not facing any charges, some even questioning if he’s in law enforcement.

Police Chief Thomas Garrity says that the man is not affiliated or employed with any law enforcement in Yuma County.

They also say they have no relationship with the man.

“We are not trying to hide any information on the 36-year-old that’s involved in this case. Right now, there is still an on going investigation, so yes, all the names haven’t been released, but that’s because of certain rules and restrictions that we are required by,” said Chief Garrity.

YPD says the case is still under investigation.

They ask if you have any more information, including video or other forms of evidence, to please send it their way immediately.

You can contact them at 78-CRIME.

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Eduardo Morales

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – New details Friday on the road rage murder that claimed the life of a Yuma teen.

The probable cause statement KYMA obtained from court reveals the 36-year-old man who was released on scene claimed that 17-year-old Javier Figueroa stepped out of the vehicle allegedly threatening him with a knife.

Officers confirmed that a knife was found at the scene, but no information as to who the knife belonged to.  

The man says he and the teen then got into a physical fight, grabbing each other. 

Meanwhile, Juan, who is in custody, claims that Javier was hit in the face by the 36-year-old man.

That’s when Juan decided to hit the man with his car, running over his brother Javier in the process.

Figueroa’s father says his son was in shock and was not in the right head space when he spoke to police. 

“Well, I think his statement he was just saying what they were telling him…I know that on scene they kept on telling him that he killed his brother, he killed his brother, so he’s in a state of shock,” said Joseph Figueroa, the boys’ father.

Juan Figueroa is still in custody facing first degree murder and attempted murder charges. 

On Saturday night, the family will hold a vigil for Javier Figueroa on the corner of 16th Street and Fourth Avenue at 8 p.m.

 

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Pet lovers across Yuma County attended the Humane Society of Yuma’s (HSOY) 19th Annual Fur Ball event over the weekend.

The event took place Saturday at the Pivot Point Conference Center from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., and the theme was Whiskers in Wonderland.

Annette Lagunas, Executive Director for HSOY, shares how this event provided animal safety.

“This event really is all about saving lives. It’s about spaying and neutering, it’s about providing medical care that they need, and it’s about finding homes and putting animals in their forever loving home. That’s what it’s all about,” Lagunas explained.

The Yuma Orchestra Association served as the live entertainment during the event, and attendees participated in a live and silent auction for a variety of items, including an indoor smoker and a getaway to the Great Wolf Lodge.

According to Lagunas, this event raised $2 million for the past 19 years.

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Madeline Murray

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Family and friends of Javier Milo Figueroa gathered Saturday night to hold a vigil to remember him.

The vigil was held on the corner of Fourth Avenue and 16th Street, which is the same corner he died at last week.

According to YPD, Figueroa and his older brother, Juan Figueroa, were involved in a road rage fight with a 36-year-old man.

Carrie Matus, a friend of the family, shares what the vigil means to the family saying, “Friends, family, to have a place to, a safe spot for them to mourn and share stories, and share memories of Milo…we also really hope that this event would help bring awareness to this case, as well as hopefully any witnesses who would have seen would come forward and speak to Joseph the father, and help us out.”

If anyone would like to donate to the family, click here.

Juan Figueroa will be seen in court on Wednesday, September 24

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Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Locals across Yuma County attend a second vigil for the late Charlie Kirk in the Foothills Friday.

After the first one was held at the Yuma County Superior Court last week, Yumans came together to host the vigil at the Yuma Foothills Community Park at 7:00 p.m.

It has been more than 10 days since the conservative activist passed away and dozens of locals honored his life in the Foothills with the vigil.

A memorial service for Kirk took place Sunday at 11:00 a.m. at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

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Karina Bazarte

CALEXICO, Calif (KYMA) – The Calexico Police Department (CPD) is asking for the public’s help in identifying a man who attempted to rob a local clothing store.

KYMA obtained surveillance video from CPD, who say this is the man who attempted to rob “Melrose Family Fashions,” a clothing store located in the downtown area on Sunday.

CPD say the man entered through the back of the store and threatened a clerk with a broken glass bottle, demanding they open the cash register.

That’s when the clerk screamed and spooked the suspect away.

“When officers got on scene and learned that the suspect fled really quickly on foot, he ran most likely southbound towards the Port of Entry where nobody else saw him last,” said Sgt. Shaun Sundahl with CPD.

Officers say the suspect will be charged with attempted robbery once he is found.

If you have information about the suspect, contact CPD.

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Karina Bazarte

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – The City of El Centro Ice Cream and Pie Social is coming to the valley in less than one weeks.

This time, the city is adding a Julian pie-eating contest and pie raffles.

Mayor Pro-Tem Marty Ellett says about 3,000 people attended the last Ice Cream Social event and hopes more people can come and enjoy this year.

“We want to bring attention to downtown and we will have some fun and just bring people out like I said a lot of people came to our first ice cream social this is going to be bigger than that so invite everyone come out Saturday night,” said Ellett.

Ellett says the event take place at the El Centro Square next Saturday, September 27 from 6 to 9 p.m.

There will have food, vendors and music, and best of all, it’s free to attend.

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Paul Vozzella

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Dove hunting season is over, but the remains were still scattered across Yuma.

The Dove Hunting Cleanup, which took place from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Saturday and was sponsored by the Yuma Foothills Rotary, put together a group of close to 40 people to help clean hunting areas.

Volunteers were on the lookout for cans, shells and any other litter that infringed on farmland surrounding hunting spots.

The cleanup is a win-win scenario for both farmers and hunters.

“It’s very important…the farmers really appreciate it ’cause there’s always that conflict between the hunters and the farmers, and keeping them out of the fields, so if we can get the fields cleaned up, then the farmers are more happy with it, and they’ll let us continue to do our hunting that we love,” said Louis Scott, one of the organizers.

Volunteers were given burritos and water for their time and were entered into a drawing for prizes.

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Skylar Heisey

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The trial dates for a Yuma man accused of murder have been moved to next year.

40-year-old Nicholas Harder is accused of murdering 57-year-old Anthony Jordinelli back in May of 2023.

Harder is being charged with one count of first-degree murder with pre-mediation and four counts of aggravated assault.

The murder allegedly took place at a home east of Somerton, located on Avenue 3E and County 18th Street.

Harder rejected a plea deal in court last April, and his trial was supposed to begin next month, but will now be moved to April of next year.

Harder will be back in court December 4 for a status hearing.

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Skylar Heisey

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – The Yuma County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO) has issued a notification regarding a Level 3 sex offender in the Yuma community.

YCSO says 38-year-old Emerio Francisco Gutierrez Jr. told them he is living in the area near E. Saddle Drive, just south of Interstate 8, by the Yuma Foothills.

Gutierrez is described by YCSO as five-feet, three-inches tall, weighing 140 pounds, has black hair and brown eyes, and is not wanted by YCSO at this time.

In September of 2005, Gutierrez pled guilty to one count of attempted sexual conduct with a minor in the Yuma County Superior Court, YCSO says.

He was sentenced to 3.5 years in the Arizona Department of Corrections, with credit for 107 days served, and placed on lifetime supervised probation, according to YCSO.

In September of 2010, YCSO says Gutierrez was then convicted of failure to register as a sex offender in the Yuma County Superior Court.

“His probation was revoked and he was ordered to serve 7.5 years in the Arizona Department of Corrections, with credit for 267 days served prior to sentencing,” YCSO says.

Gutierrez is considered by YCSO as a Level 3 sex offender with a high risk to reoffend.

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