Region Glance

Cause of death released for former Arizona swimmer Ty Wells

TUCSON — Authorities have released the cause of death for former University of Arizona swimmer Ty Wells.

The Pima County Medical Examiner’s Office said the 23-year-old Well died Jan. 27 of natural causes “secondary to a disseminated streptococcal bacterial infection following a protracted upper respiratory tract infection.”

Authorities said the results came from a postmortem examination with subsequent laboratory testing.

Wells swam for the Wildcats from 2018-22 and specialized in the breaststroke.

The native of Manteca, California placed 12th in the 100 breast at the Pac-12 Championships last season.

University officials said Wells earned his bachelor’s degree in health science and physiology in May 2022.

3 killed in crash near LA involving driver fleeing police

SOUTH GATE, Calif. — Three people were killed and one person was injured in a crash involving a driver who was fleeing police near Los Angeles early Sunday, authorities said.

The two-vehicle collision occurred around 2 a.m. at an intersection in the city of South Gate, according to the LA County Sheriff’s Department.

Two people died at the scene and two others were taken to a hospital, where one died, officials said. The survivor’s condition wasn’t known.

Occupants of both vehicles were among the deceased, ABC 7 reported.

Officers were investigating a theft when they began following — and then chasing — a vehicle, the South Gate Police Department said.

Officials canceled the pursuit due to the suspect’s dangerous speeds and the crash occurred a short time later, police said.

Los Angeles man admits selling ghost guns, 17 pounds of meth

LOS ANGELES — A 27-year-old Los Angeles man has pleaded guilty to federal charges for selling 17 pounds (7.7 kilos) of methamphetamine and 89 firearms, including dozens of untraceable “ghost guns,” prosecutors said.

Julio Ernesto Lopez-menendez could face life in prison when he’s sentenced May 26, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

He entered guilty pleas on Friday to one count of distribution of meth and one count of engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license, the statement said.

He’s been in federal custody since his arrest last April.

In one deal in January 2022, Lopez-menendez sold a buyer a dozen firearms, including 10 semi-automatic pistols that were ghost guns lacking serial numbers, prosecutors said.

In another transaction a month later, he sold the same buyer 14 more guns and a pound (.45 kilos) of meth, according to the statement.