Had the bullet fired into the again of a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy struck one inch larger, it will have missed his protecting vest and sure killed him, authorities mentioned Wednesday in asserting costs towards the person they are saying pulled the set off.
Raymundo Duran, 47, was charged with tried first-degree homicide within the assault. Prosecutors say he shot Deputy Samuel Aispuro in an “ambush” at Barranca Road and East Garvey Avenue in West Covina. After the capturing, Aispuro, 43, was in a position to radio for assist, which triggered an enormous manhunt for the shooter.
California Freeway Patrol officers arrested Duran on Monday night at a San Onofre inspection level on suspicion of driving below the affect and possession of a loaded firearm.
On Wednesday, Dist. Atty. George Gascón charged Duran with tried first-degree homicide of a police officer, assault on a police officer, being a felon in possession of a firearm and the particular allegation of intentional use of a firearm in the course of the fee of against the law.
Gascón mentioned Duran has a previous strike towards him, and had the deputy’s vest and the situation of the bullet not saved Aispuro’s life, this may have been a homicide cost.
“If convicted, Mr. Duran faces life in jail,” Gascón mentioned.
Sheriff Robert Luna mentioned throughout a information convention Tuesday that Duran is a documented gang member, related to a gang Luna declined to call.
“He has a really intensive prison historical past. He has a really violent historical past,” the sheriff mentioned. “He had no enterprise being within the possession of a firearm together with his prison historical past.”
Gascón mentioned throughout a Wednesday information convention that Duran had served time for incidents in 2019 and 2022.
“He has been charged accordingly,” Gascón mentioned.
Data present that Duran was charged in 2001 with homicide and pleaded responsible the next 12 months to voluntary manslaughter, receiving 11 years in jail, data present.
In July 2021, Duran — a parolee on the time — evaded a police officer after being concerned in a hit-and-run. The televised chase ended when Covina police had been in a position to cease his automobile utilizing a PIT maneuver.
Whereas on probation, he was arrested once more and charged with possession of a firearm by a narcotics addict and possession of ammunition. In April 2022, he pleaded responsible and obtained 16 months in state jail for that offense plus a further 16 months for the 2021 evading incident, data present.
A choose ordered these sentences to be served concurrently. By July 1, 2023, he was out of jail and arrested once more for driving below the affect. That case was dismissed final month, court docket data present.
Investigators linked Duran to the sheriff’s deputy capturing after initially reserving him as a suspected drunk driver, Luna mentioned.
“Based mostly on statements, safety digital camera video in West Covina, witness statements and the firearm recovered by CHP, detectives strongly consider Raymundo Duran is the suspect within the capturing of our deputy,” Luna mentioned.
Duran is being held within the San Diego County jail in lieu of simply over $1 million bail.
Luna mentioned the weapon recovered by the California Freeway Patrol, which is investigating the capturing, is being examined for forensic proof.
Aispuro, a married father of two, has been launched from the hospital and is recovering together with his household at dwelling, Luna mentioned, including that his bulletproof vest “saved his life.”
