Two slain police officers identified in Palm Springs shooting
Brett Kelman , Gustavo Solis , Jill Castellano and Ian James
The Desert Sun 4:49 p.m. PDT October 8, 2016

Two police officers were killed and one was wounded in a shooting in Palm Springs on Saturday, plunging the city into mourning as police searched for the suspect.

Dozens of police massed outside a house where a suspect appeared to be holed up. Officers took defensive positions behind a patrol car and a concrete wall.

"Today Palm Springs lost two brave officers," Palm Springs Police Chief Bryan Reyes said at a news conference, his voice shaking with emotion. "I am awake in a nightmare right now."

The slain police were Lesley Zerebny and Jose Gilbert “Gil” Vega. Reyes said Vega was a 35-year veteran who was due to retire in December and had chosen to work overtime on Saturday. Zerebny is the mother of a 4-month-old baby, he said.

The officers were at the door of a house when the shooting began, Reyes said.

"It was a simple family disturbance and he elected to open fire," Reyes said.

...more at link
http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/cri ... /91797350/

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Link above is updated with specific details of 12-hr standoff and arrest.

Suspect in Palm Springs officers' slayings wanted to shoot police, father says
By CBS News/AP | Updated Oct 10, 2016 4:21AM ET



John Felix, 26, of the suspect in the Palm Springs shooting on October 8, 2016 is shown in this
photo released by Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, California, U.S. on October 9, 2016.
Riverside County Sheriff's Department/Handout via REUTERS

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. In the minutes before three Palm Springs officers were shot, two fatally, the suspected gunman’s father told a neighbor his son was armed, “acting crazy” and wanted to shoot police.

John Felix, 26, was apprehended early Sunday after a lengthy standoff and faces charges including two counts of murder on a peace officer.

Authorities said Felix emerged wearing soft body armor after police shot a chemical agent into the home where he was holed up for hours.

Chief Deputy Ray Wood of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department says John Felix was not carrying a gun but had several magazines of ammunition on his body when he exited through the back door early Sunday.

Wood says the 26-year-old was not cooperative and police shot him with non-lethal rounds before his arrest.

Prosecutors say Felix will be charged Tuesday with multiple counts including murder.

More at link: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/john-felix- ... ther-says/

New mom, dad of 8 identified as police officers killed on domestic disturbance call
By Crystal Bonvillian | WHIO | Monday, October 10, 2016


Palm Springs police Officers Jose Gilbert "Gil" Vega, left, and Lesley Zerebny were shot and killed Saturday,
Oct. 8, 2016, while responding to a call of a domestic disturbance. (Palm Springs Police Department)

A total of nine children, including a 4-month-old girl, lost a parent Saturday when two California police officers were gunned down while responding to a call about a domestic disturbance.

Rookie Palm Springs police Officer Lesley Zerebny had come back early from maternity leave “to help out,” Palm Springs police Chief Bryan Reyes told the Desert Sun. Zerebny, 27, and her 63-year-old colleague, Officer Jose Gilbert “Gil” Vega, were shot and killed as they approached the door of the home they were called to. A third officer was injured, but survived.

The officers were all shot through the door of the home, the newspaper reported.

Zerebny had been with the department for 18 months. Vega, a father of eight, was slated to retire in December after 35 years with the agency. He was working Saturday after volunteering for overtime, Reyes said.
[...]
Vega’s brother spoke of the longtime officer’s dedication Sunday at a candlelight vigil outside the Palm Springs Police Department.

"He was a really dedicated police officer,” the brother, also named Jose Vega, said. “He loved his job, he loved his fellow officers."

Reyes choked back tears as he talked about watching Zerebny’s husband say goodbye to his wife.

"To see her laying down with her eyes open and to witness her husband in full Riverside County sheriff's uniform, because he's a deputy sheriff, kiss her on the forehead for the last time -- it's tough. We’re going to rely on all of you to help us through this," the police chief said.

More at link: http://www.whio.com/news/crime--law/new ... 1x65hksVK/

3rd officer shot in Palm Springs released from hospital
By CBS News/AP | October 10, 2016, 11:44 AM

PALM SPRINGS — The Palm Springs police officer wounded in a weekend shooting that killed two other officers is out of the hospital.

A police statement says the officer, who has not been named, was released Sunday and is doing well.

The officer was wounded during a domestic disturbance call Saturday when a man suddenly pulled out a gun and opened fire at a home in the desert city east of Los Angeles.

More at link: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/3rd-officer ... -hospital/

It just won't stop. There are no words to describe what this country has turned into.

I agree, Showpoodles. After every senseless shooting or death, I hope and pray it is the last time. Divided is the only word I can think of to describe what has happened in our country, especially in the last two years.

At least Mr. Trump often recognizes and praises the LEO across the country - and has lifted their spirits up a bit. This is a big start to heal their hearts and give them hope for their future.

Suspect in Palm Springs police shooting killed victims with high-powered rifle, authorities say
By Richard Winton | Los Angeles Times | October 11, 2106, 1:35PM

The man accused of killing two Palm Springs police officers as they stood outside his door this weekend used a “high-powered” rifle with an extended magazine to fire on his victims through a metal security grate, according to authorities.

As the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office prepared to announce official charges Tuesday against John Felix, sheriff’s officials released new details in the investigation.

Among other findings, authorities said that Felix, 26, was prohibited from owning or possessing firearms because he was a convicted felon.

“There is ongoing investigation into how he got the rifle,” said Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputy Mike Vasquez. The department declined to specify the model or caliber of the rifle but described it as an “assault rifle.” Authorities previously said that Felix was wearing body armor and had high-capacity magazines in his possession when he was arrested.
[...]
Felix, an admitted gang member, spent 18 months in state prison after he was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon in 2010. He had been off parole since last year, according to officials.

Although Felix was scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday, prosecutors announced that the proceeding would be delayed instead until Thursday.

John Hall, a spokesman for the Riverside district attorney's office, said prosecutors still are finalizing details of the specific charges.

Felix is expected to be charged with two counts of first-degree murder with the special circumstances of multiple murder and murder of a police officer in the line of duty. Riverside County Dist. Atty. Michael Hestrin said Sunday that his office would decide whether to pursue the death penalty against Felix.

“I consider the brutal murder of a police officer to be a very heinous crime, so I will leave it at that,” he said.

More at link: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-m ... story.html

Murder Charges Filed Against Alleged Palm Springs Cop Killer
By Kara Finnstrom | CBSLA.com | October 12, 2016

RIVERSIDE (CBSLA.com) — Murder charges were filed Wednesday against a 26-year-old man who allegedly shot and killed two Palm Springs police officers.

At 11 a.m., Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin formally filed criminal charges against John Hernandez Felix during a news conference.

According to Hestrin, there is enough evidence for at least two special circumstance allegations — murder of a police officer and committing multiple murders — to be filed along with first-degree murder charges against Felix, which makes him eligible for the death penalty.

Other charges filed against Felix include unlawfully possessing an assault weapon after being convicted of a felony, unlawfully possessing ammunition after being convicted of a felony and possessing stolen property, which in this case was an AR-15 style gun.
[...]
The district attorney’s office will make a decision on whether to seek the death penalty within the two to three weeks.

More at link: http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2016/10/ ... op-killer/

Riverside DA Will Seek Death Penalty Against Man Accused of Killing 2 Palm Springs Police Officers
By Cindy Von Quednow | KTLA | October 26, 2016

The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday that it will be seeking the death penalty against a man who has been charged in connection with killing two Palm Springs Police officers earlier this month.

John Hernandez Felix, 26, faces two counts of murder, the murder of a law enforcement officer and lying in wait in connection with the shooting deaths of Jose “Gil” Vega, 63, and Lesley Zerebny, 27.

Felix has also been charged with three counts of attempted murder on three other Palm Springs police officers, as well as special allegations that he possessed armor-piercing ammunition, wore a body vest and unlawfully possessed weapons and ammunition while being a convicted felon, officials said.

DA officials said in a news release that Felix, described as a “self-admired” gang member, “ambushed” the officers on Oct. 8.

More at link: http://ktla.com/2016/10/26/riverside-da ... -officers/