US, Los Angeles: Chatsworth Vigil Honors Victims of Bus and Helicopter Crashes With Sound On Tape.

Los Angeles, United States - September 18, 2026 09/17/2026 08:07 pm GMT-0700 CHATSWORTH, LOS ANGELES, Calif. – A vigil was held Thursday evening in Chatsworth to honor the lives of five individuals who died in tragic incidents earlier this week. The event took place at St. John Eudes Parish on the 9900 block of Mason Avenue from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The community gathered to commemorate the victims and pay their respects. Among those attending were family members, Mayor Karen Bass, and an NBC 4 news crew. Los Angeles City Councilmember John Lee had invited residents to join the vigil in a Facebook post, urging them to “come together as a community to honor and remember the lives lost… and stand in support of their families, loved ones, and all those impacted.” The five individuals who were honored at the vigil were Eliana Moreno, George Marciniw, Edy Gutierrez Mejia, Daniel Castillo, and Gage Weida. They were victims of two connected disasters that occurred this past Tuesday night. First, a fatal crash involving an LA Metro bus, followed by the crash of a news helicopter covering the scene for NBC Los Angeles. The helicopter went down in a parking lot near a self-storage facility and burst into flames upon impact, leading to the deaths of reporter Eliana Moreno, pilot George Marciniw, and a third person, Edy Gutierrez Mejia, who was on the ground. A memorial has also surfaced outside Whiteman Airport, where mourners have left flowers and photos in tribute to the victims. The National Transportation Safety Board is currently investigating the helicopter crash, examining the wreckage and flight audio. A preliminary report is expected to be released in about 30 days.