Ever wonder what Angelenos are curious about? Wonder no more! Google compiles a list each year of the top searches by city. Let's analyze what local inquiring minds turned to the internet to research over the last 12 months ::Spoiler alert:: crime and sports (and crime IN sports) are major themes.
10. Mayweather vs Canelo
image via wikimedia
This fight was one of the most popular ever–with $20 million made in ticket sales and at least another $100 million made in pay-per-view sales. Tickets were so hot that some were being offered online for as much as $29,000.
Mayweather made $41.5 million to just show up to the fight, while his competitor, Canelo, was only guaranteed $5 million. Both competitors, however, helped to draw such huge crowds.
9. Amber Alert
image via dallascityhall.com
According to the Department of Justice, “The AMBER Alert™ Program is a voluntary partnership between law-enforcement agencies, broadcasters, transportation agencies, and the wireless industry, to activate an urgent bulletin in the most serious child-abduction cases. The goal of an AMBER Alert is to instantly galvanize the entire community to assist in the search for and the safe recovery of the child.”
So far, there have been 40 in California this year, including national headline-grabbing alerts such as that of Hannah Anderson, who was abducted by a family friend.
8. Government Shutdown
Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com
Gandofini was an American actor best known for his role as mafia crime boss, Tony Soprano. He won numerous awards for the show including 3 Emmy Awards, 3 Screen Actors Guild Awards, and 1 Golden Globe.
Gandolfini died on June 19, 2013, aged 51, during a brief vacation in Italy. An autopsy confirmed that he died of a heart attack–shocking fans and co-workers.
6. Aaron Hernandez
Aaron Hernandez is arraigned on charges of murder and weapons violations in Attleborough, Massachusetts, after being arrested, June 26, 2013. Reuters/Mike George/Pool
Hernandez, who was a tight end for the New England Patriots, was charged with murder and weapons violations in connection with the killing of Odin Lloyd, a semi-pro football player from Boston.
Lloyd was found dead of multiple gunshot wounds to the back and chest in an industrial park one mile from Hernandez's house. Lloyd and Hernandez had gotten into a dispute earlier in the week at a nightclub.
Subsequent to his arrest, Hernandez was released from his contract with the Patriots.
5. Boston Marathon
An explosion erupts near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, one of two explosions in an attack in Boston Monday. Photo by Dan Lampariello/Reuters
During the Boston Marathon on April 15, two pressure cooker bombs exploded near the finish line killing three people and injuring over 250 others on Boylan Street. On April 19th, an enormous manhunt throughout Watertown ended in the arrest of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, one of the two suspects (the other being his deceased brother), who was injured, but survived.
At the hospital, Tsarnaev was formally charged with the use of a weapon of mass destruction and malicious destruction of poverty resulting in death. He has pleaded not guilty to 30 charges.
4. Christopher Dorner
Christopher Dorner, realizing he left his key at the front desk. Photo by Irvine Police Department/REUTERS.
Dorner, who was terminated from his job with the LAPD in 2009, went on a killing rampage. On February 3rd, he killed the daughter of former LAPD Captain Randal Quan as well as her fiance.
On February 11th, Dorner was formally charged with the murder of a police officer and the attempted murder of three others.
On the 12th, Dorner tied up a couple who discovered him in their Big Bear residence. He then fled the scene. In the ensuing chase and gunfight with two San Bernardino County Sheriff's deputies, he killed one and wounded the other.
Eventually, Dorner barricaded himself in a cabin which police deliberately set on fire. Although Dorner never made it out alive, it wasn't the fire that killed him–it was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
3. Cory Monteith
DFree / Shutterstock.com
Monteith was a Canadian actor and musician who was best known for his role as Finn Hudson on the hit Fox series, Glee.
Despite Monteith's squeaky-clean image on the show, the 30 year old had suffered from trouble with substance abuse since age 12. In March of 2013, he went into treatment once again for his addiction.
At the time, his girlfriend, Lea Michelle (his co-star on Glee) thought it was the best course of action. When he emerged, they both said he seemed to be on the up-and-up.
Sadly, on July 13th, he died of an overdose of heroin and alcohol in a Vancouver hotel room.
2. Dodgers
Ffooter / Shutterstock.com
On September 19th, the Dodgers clinched the Western Division title as well as overcoming the largest deficit they had ever faced while still winning the title. They ended up advancing to the National League Championship Series. However, they lost to the Cardinals in six games.
1. Paul Walker
Featureflash / Shutterstock.com
Walker was an American actor who was most well-known for his role as Brian O'Conner in The Fast and the Furious film series.
In the middle of filming the 7th installment of the series, Walker was the passenger in a car with his friend, Roger Rodas (a former professional racer) when the car crashed into a light pole and tree as the two were leaving a charity event on November 30th.
The car burst into flames. Both Rodas and Walker were killed in the crash–Walker, from a combination of traumatic and thermal injuries.
Although filming was temporarily suspended, Walkers look-alike brother, Cody, was asked to complete the film in his brother's place.
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