News
Two additional suspects accused in killings in southeast L.A. County
Two more suspects have been arrested and charged with murder in connection with a series of deadly drive-by shootings in southeast L.A. County, adding to the already apprehended individuals in custody. The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office announced the charges against an 18-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy, who are now facing serious allegations.
The alleged shootings took place across a five-mile radius in the cities of Cudahy, Huntington Park, Bell, and unincorporated Los Angeles County, resulting in the deaths of four individuals on February 11 and 12. Law enforcement acted swiftly, arresting 42-year-old Gary Garcia Jr. and 20-year-old Timberland Wayne McKneely within 24 hours of the tragic incidents. Shortly after, 17-year-old Deair Fleming Delerence was taken into custody as the third suspect, according to a news release from the district attorney’s office.
The latest developments in the case reveal that 18-year-old Joseivan Mendoza is now the fourth suspect charged in the February shootings. Additionally, two new murder charges have been filed for the shootings of two men in an unincorporated area of the county on November 24, with McKneely and Mendoza identified as the alleged perpetrators.
According to prosecutors, a total of six individuals lost their lives at the hands of the suspects. Among the victims were 14-year-old Javier Pedraza Jr., who was tragically shot outside his elementary school in Cudahy during the early hours of February 12, along with 24-year-old Kevin Parada, 27-year-old Josue Ramirez, and 43-year-old Omar Mara.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón commented on the case, stating, “Last week, our office charged two men in the murders of four innocent people, including a child. This week, we have charged a juvenile in connection with those four murders, and filed additional charges against Mr. McKneely and another man for the tragic murders of two additional men.”
As the legal proceedings continue, Delerence is set to appear in court in late March to face four counts of murder and two counts of attempted willful, deliberate, and premeditated murder. Two other individuals were injured during the February shootings, including a 13-year-old boy. Mendoza, on the other hand, is facing two counts of murder for his alleged involvement in the incidents.
News
Is now the right time to invest in gold as prices have cooled?
The price of gold has climbed to record highs recently and has remained strong through much of April. And, that growth continued until the precious metal traded at around $2,390 per ounce on April 19, 2024. But since, growth in the price of the precious metal has cooled, with gold’s price now hovering around $2,300 per ounce.
This lull in gold’s price may represent an investment opportunity.
In general, investing is centered around buying assets when prices are low and selling them when prices are high – generating a profit on the difference between the two. So, considering the declines in gold’s price over the past few days, now may be the time to make your investment. But is buying gold during this lull in prices really a good idea?
Compare your gold investment options among leading brokers now.
Gold prices have cooled. Should you buy in now?
With gold’s price down from recent highs, you may be wondering if now is the right time to buy in. There are several reasons the dip in gold’s price may represent an opportunity to buy. Here are some of the biggest:
Prices may rise again
If looking at a gold price chart shows anything for certain, it shows that changes in the overall growth of the medal come in fits and spurts. Periods of price growth are typically followed by periods of declines and vice versa.
But with inflation rising in recent months – and with gold’s reputation as a safe-haven asset that can hedge against inflation – it only makes sense that the price of the precious metal will eventually start to head up again in the future. While attempting to time that directional change may be tricky, buying the precious metal while the price is down gives you the opportunity to take advantage of any upward movement that may be ahead.
Add gold to your portfolio now before prices have a chance to rise.
You may be able to make a quick profit
Gold isn’t known as an asset in which you can earn a quick return, but in today’s market, that may be the case. Don’t forget that in January, gold was trading at just $2,000 per ounce. And, by mid-April, the commodity’s price had climbed to around $2,400 per ounce. That’s about 20% growth in a matter of months, much of which happened since March 1 – an impressive climb for any investment asset.
Perhaps more importantly, gold’s price growth through the beginning of 2024 shows that the commodity doesn’t have to be a buy and hold style investment that you keep in a safety deposit box or precious metal depository for years to come. There’s also the possibility that the commodity’s price could climb further ahead, making it a compelling way to potentially generate a quick profit.
There are other benefits of investing in gold
There are other benefits of investing in gold that have little to do with the price growth seen thus far in 2024 – or the lull in prices seen over the past couple of days. Those benefits include:
- Inflation protection: Gold has long been considered an inflation hedge, and for good reason. When inflation drives the prices of consumer goods and services up – and the value of the dollar down – gold’s price tends to rise. So, it could be used to maintain the value of your portfolio during inflationary economic conditions. That’s important in today’s economic environment as stubborn inflation continues to weigh on the value of the dollar.
- Portfolio diversification: Gold’s price doesn’t always move in the same pattern that bonds or stocks do. So, mixing a reasonable amount of gold into your portfolio (up to 10% of your portfolio assets) as a diversifier could protect you from losses should one or more of your traditional portfolio assets fall in value. “If you have less than 5% – 10% of your net worth in commodities & FX (forex), you should absolutely consider adding exposure to gold and other precious metals,” says Vijay Marolia, money manager and managing partner at the wealth management firm, Regal Point Capital.
The bottom line
Gold’s price has fallen from recent highs – which may represent an opportunity to tap into growth ahead. However, gold isn’t simply a “buy while it’s low and sell while it’s a high” kind of investment opportunity. The commodity can also protect your portfolio from the stubborn inflation we’ve seen thus far in 2024 while acting as a diversification tool that could increase your risk-adjusted portfolio returns. So, consider adding gold to your portfolio today while it has the potential to grow in value.
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