Man shot to death at North Hollywood strip club

Two people were taken into custody late Friday night in connection with the shooting death of a man inside a North Hollywood strip club, according to a Los Angeles Police Department statement. Officers responded around 10 p.m. to reports of a shooting at the VIP Showgirls Club in the 12100 block of Victory Boulevard. They found a man with multiple gunshot wounds, the statement said. He was identified as Thomas Valdez, 30, of Santa Clarita. Detectives believe Valdez was involved in a dispute with another man, who pulled a gun and shot Valdez multiple times. He was declared dead at the scene by fire paramedics. No other injuries were reported inside the club, according to police. The gunman ran from the scene with his girlfriend, an employee of the club, after the shooting, police said, and the couple were later detained by officers in a nearby park. Forte Ramonta, 30, of North Hollywood has been booked on suspicion of murder and is being held in lieu of $1-million bail. His girlfriend, Anna Baez, 22, was booked on suspicion of accessory to murder and is being held in lieu of $500,000 bail. Nine homicides have occurred since 2007 within a mile of Friday night's shooting, according to The Times' Homicide Report. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact LAPD Det. Mark O'Donnell or Det. Steve Castro at (818) 623-4075. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477. [view link]