Carjacking Suspect Gustavo Aranda Arrested

SHERMAN OAKS—Los Angeles Police Department’s Van Nuys officers arrested Gustavo Aranda, 25, of Chatsworth in Sherman Oaks in connection to a robbery and carjacking that occurred near the 144000 block of Gilmore Street.

According to the LAPD, the incident transpired on Wednesday, January 31 at 8:25 a.m. The suspect approached the victim from behind and shouted obscenities at the victim, prompting the victim to run away. Aranda chased the victim and hit him repeatedly causing him to fall to the ground. The suspect forcefully removed the victim’s vehicle keys from his pocket and fled in the victim’s vehicle, a 2007 gray Toyota 4 Runner. Authorities still have not located the vehicle.

On January 31, at 10:00 a.m., Aranda entered a nail salon near the 13600 block of Burbank Blvd and began hitting three women inside for no reason. The victims were involved in an intense fight for their life with the suspect. He punched the victims several times and swung a chair and hit the victim until employees from a neighboring business arrived and apprehended the suspect.

Detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Van Nuys Area are also seeking the public’s assistance in identifying additional victims and to locate the stolen vehicle taken by the suspect.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Detective Barba or Detective Cheun, Van Nuys Area Detectives at 818 374-0081. During non-business hours or on weekends, please contact 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org.

Tipsters may also visit www.lapdonline.org, and click on “Anonymous Web Tips” under the “Get Involved-Crime Stoppers” menu to submit an online tip. Lastly, tipsters may also download the “P3 Tips” mobile application and select the LA Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.