Community vigil held for 5 victims of Chatsworth tragedies

LOS ANGELES - A federal investigation continues in the Chatsworth area after Edy Fernando Gutiérrez Mejía, as well as aerial reporter Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw, were killed in a helicopter crash on Tuesday evening.

Family, friends, and community members showed up in numbers to pay their respects and honor the five people killed in both the bus and helicopter crash. The vigil was held at St. John Eudes Church, just eight blocks from where the helicopter crashed. 

The backstory:

Moreno, 38, and Marciniw, 70, were aboard a Eurocopter AS350 B2 helicopter covering a fatal Metro bus crash near the intersection of Nordhoff Street and De Soto Avenue when the aircraft went down into a parking lot between two industrial buildings and burst into flames. Mejía, who was a pedestrian on the ground, was struck and killed by the falling helicopter.

Mejía was visiting Los Angeles from Guatemala and had only been in the area for two days.

The aircraft was operated by Angel City Air, which provides local aerial news coverage for Spanish-language sister station Telemundo 52.

Eliana Moreno's Family Issues a Statement

As her family continues with unimaginable grief, Moreno's family issued a statement on Thursday.

"Since she was 11 years old, Eliana dreamed of becoming a news reporter. Through hard work and courage, she turned that dream into a reality.

So much of that journey was made possible by all of you who welcomed her into your homes and onto your screens.

Your support meant more to her than you may ever know.

We find comfort in knowing that Eliana left this world doing the very thing she loved, pursuing the passion she carried with her since she was a little girl.

On behalf of her parents, siblings, fiancé, stepsons, and beloved dogs, we want to thank everyone for the overwhelming love you have shown our beautiful Eliana.

We are infinitely proud of her and feel incredibly blessed to have had the privilege of loving her and calling her ours.

Please continue to keep Eliana, her pilot George, Edy Gutierrez Mejia, and the souls lost in the bus collision in your thoughts and prayers.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts."

What we know:

Personnel with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), who are leading the investigation, arrived in Southern California on Wednesday.

The NTSB held a news briefing on Wednesday, stating that audio from the news chopper is now a major part of the investigation. In the chilling recording, Moreno is heard saying, "Can you pull, can you pull up?"—which also picked up sounds from the aircraft before the video shows violent shaking.

"That video is probably the most important evidence that we have discovered so far. In that recording, we are clearly hearing sounds that are consistent with the engine changing its speed, and we're also hearing tones that are being generated that are likely advisories to the pilot," Senior Air Safety Investigator Fabian Salazar said.

The wreckage is now at a secure facility where it will be examined as investigators work to determine a probable cause of the tragic crash. The probe could take up to a year and a half, officials said.

RELATED COVERAGE:

• Woman arrested in Chatsworth bus crash that left 2 dead, 6 injured
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• Retired pilot who flew for LA news stations says Chatsworth helicopter appeared too low to recover

Local perspective:

The Los Angeles Police Department arrested 36-year-old Bailee Rios on suspicion of murder in the deadly Metro bus crash. Investigators said she was behind the wheel of a 2004 Ford Expedition when it slammed into the bus at the busy intersection Nordhoff Street and De Soto Avenue. Her bail was set at $4 million.

Her arraignment is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 18. 

The bus crash victims were identified by the LA County Medical Examiner's Office as 31-year-old Gage Weida and 46-year-old Daniel Castillo. 

The NTSB is joining the Los Angeles Police Department with the investigation. 

What you can do:

Federal authorities are also gathering nearby surveillance video and asking witnesses for any cell phone or dashcam video that could show the helicopter’s final descent.

Those who have information or footage are asked to email witness@ntsb.gov.

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