The South Los Angeles fatal hit-and-run

Update 1 of 1LatestNov 9, 9:46 AM UTCDay 1

Murder charge reported in hit-and-run that killed South LA’s “Bird”

Akil Saud Batanikhalfani, 83, died on Central Avenue. An October charging report names three felony counts against John Anthony Cardenas, but the case’s progress remains unverified.

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Earliest sourceTelemundo 52Oct 20, 11:34 PM UTC

What we knew first

• October 20, 2026Central Traffic Division detectives arrest Cardenas near his workplace in Carson.
• October 22, 2026MyNewsLA reports the murder, vehicular-manslaughter and hit-and-run charges.