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Thread: John Hernandez Felix - California Death Row

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    John Hernandez Felix - California Death Row








    3 police officers shot in Palm Springs; one dead, another in critical condition; manhunt for shooter


    By By Ruben Vives, Matt Stevens, Brain van der Brug and Richard Winton
    The San Diego Union-Tribune

    Three Palm Springs police officers were shot Saturday, at least one fatally, while responding to a family disturbance, prompting a large manhunt for suspects.

    Palm Springs police have not released details on the officers’ conditions. But one law enforcement source told The Times that one officer had died and that a second was critically wounded. Families were being rushed to the hospital, the source said.

    Officials said they were dealing with “an active scene” but provided few additional details. Police said the active scene was unfolding near the corner of Racquet Club Road and Sunrise Way.

    Palm Spring Police Sergeant William Hutchinson said said someone opened fire on officers who were responding to a family disturbance call.

    Hutchinson said police don’t have a suspect in custody and have multiple SWAT teams combing the area. The department sent out a “code red alert” and people in several nearby blocks are being evacuated.

    “If you do live somewhere in the area, keep your doors locked,” Hutchinson said. “Please do not answer your doors for anybody.”

    The law enforcement source also said the original call for service was related to a family disturbance. An argument between a father and son had turned violent, according to the source.

    The source said SWAT officers are on scene looking for suspects. Photos on social media show a huge police presence in the area from numerous jurisdictions.

    Reached by phone just before 3 p.m., a manager of a nearby hotel said a helicopter had been circling overhead for the past hour-and-a-half.

    Alex Thomas, a manager at The Monkey Tree Hotel, which sits on Racquet Club Road, about half a mile east on the scene, estimated that about 10 squad cars had raced down the road, their sirens blaring, within the last hour.

    She said she did not hear or see any shots fired, or know why police were swarming the scene.

    But she described the areas as “real residential.”

    “There’s a little school next to us,” she said. “We’re about the only business.”

    So, she added, having helicopter buzzing about was “highly unusual.”

    The shooting comes four days after a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Sergeant was fatally shot during a burglary call in Lancaster. Authorities allege that the lawman was “executed” by the suspect, who was later captured.

    http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/...nap-story.html
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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    Update: 2 OFFICERS KILLED, 1 INJURED IN PALM SPRINGS SHOOTING, POLICE SAY

    PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KABC) -- Two officers died and one was injured after a shooting in Palm Springs Saturday afternoon, according to the Palm Springs Police Officers Association.

    Two officers dead, one injured in Palm Springs shooting; manhunt ongoing https://t.co/m181zP0RkB

    — Palm Springs POA (@PalmSpringsPOA)
    October 8, 2016

    Authorities said the shooting happened near East Del Lago Road and North Cypress Road. A local station in the area, KESQ-TV, reports that the Desert Regional Medical Center is on lockdown.

    No other information was immediately released.

    http://abc7.com/news/2-officers-kill...e-say/1546091/
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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    Two slain police officers identified in Palm Springs shooting


    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.

    Police were searching for the gunman in the area of Cypress and Del Lago roads and encouraged residents to stay indoors. Multiple officers in tactical gear were taking cover behind a four-foot wall.

    Several other officers stood close by an armored vehicle parked on Cypress Road a block south of Francis Road.

    http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/...vity/91797350/
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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    Suspect in custody over fatal shooting of two US police officers

    A suspect is in custody following the fatal shooting of two police officers at a home in Palm Springs, California. In a sheriff’s statement early Sunday, the suspect was identified as John Felix, 26, of Palm Springs, who was taken to a hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. The statement said he surrendered peacefully.

    Lesley Zerebny, a new recruit who had recently given birth, and Jose "Gil" Vega, a veteran officer due to retire, were responding with a third officer to a woman's call for help about her adult son causing a disturbance when they were all shot about 12.18pm (6.18am Sunday AEDT), Chief Bryan Reyes from the Palm Springs Police Department said.

    The man allegedly refused to let them enter the home and threatened to shoot them, Chief Reyes said.

    Mr Vega, a 35-year veteran of the police force, was due to end his official duties in December and was not supposed to be at work on Saturday, but chose to take on an overtime shift, Press Enterprise reports.

    "I'm awake in a nightmare right now," Chief Reyes said.

    "But as the chief of police I've got to step forward and stay focused."

    Palm Springs Mayor Rob Moon called the day "the worst day of his life".

    Authorities have not released the alleged offender's identity.

    http://www.9news.com.au/world/2016/1...ngs-california
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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    Palm Springs cop killer suspect had body armor, high-capacity magazines

    By Brett Kelman
    The Desert Sun

    A suspected Palm Springs cop killer was captured early Sunday morning after a SWAT team used tear gas to force him out of a barricaded house, then pelted him with non-lethal rounds until he surrendered and was taken into custody.

    John Felix, 26, was wearing a bulletproof vest and carrying several high capacity magazines – but did not have a firearm – when he was taken into custody, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

    Felix shot three police officers who came to his doorstep on Saturday afternoon, killing two. Felix then hid in his home for about 12 hours, ignoring officers demands to surrender. The suspect even managed to stay hidden when a remote-control robot pried open the front door and searched the house.

    Felix has been booked in the Riverside jail and will be charged with two counts of first-degree murder with several enhancements. He is eligible for the death penalty, but prosecutors have not yet decided if they will seek an execution, said District Attorney Mike Hestrin.

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

    A third officer, who was wounded in the shooting but hasn't been identified, was released from the hospital Sunday afternoon.

    "Our community will get us through this," said Palm Springs Police Chief Bryan Reyes.

    Felix, 26, was previously sentenced to four years in prison in an attempted gangland assassination. He was also the subject of a forceful arrest three years ago at the same doorstep where the Saturday shooting occurred. Investigators would not speak about Felix's criminal history during a press conference on Sunday, but confirmed he was "no stranger to the justice system."


    The attempted murder plot occurred in 2009, when Felix and another suspect managed to shoot their target but did not kill him. Court records don't provide details of the shooting, but they do show that Felix pleaded down to assault with a firearm and admitted a connection to a street gang. He was given a two year prison sentence for the assault and an additional two years for his gang ties. His prison term would have expired in 2013.

    Felix is now the suspect in the killing of two police officers – Jose Gilbert “Gil” Vega and Lesley Zerebny – who were gunned down on the 2700 block of Cypress Road on Saturday afternoon. The officers were responding to a domestic disturbance at what appears to be Felix’s father’s house. They were shot through the front door, police have said.

    Despite Felix’s arrest and the press conference, much of the basic information about the Saturday shooting has not been released. Authorities have not discussed Felix’s motive or any weapon that was used in the shooting.

    They have not said if Felix was alone in the house, or how he managed to hide in his house while it was being searched by a police robot. It is also unknown if the officers who responded to the initial domestic disturbance call were aware of Felix’s prior criminal history.

    Vega was a 35-year veteran with eight children. Zerebny was a rookie who had just given birth to a daughter. As of Sunday afternoon, a GoFundMe account set up for Zerebny's family had collected more than $25,000 in donations.

    FALLEN OFFICER: One was a 35-year veteran, close to retirement

    Reyes, the police chief, became choked up when he spoke about each of the fallen officers.

    “To see (Zerebny) 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,” Reyes said. “We’re going to rely on all of you to help us through this.”

    Toward the end of the news conference, as Reyes fought back tears, an equally emotional Palm Springs police Sgt. William Hutchinson tapped the poster bearing Felix’s photo, knocking it to the ground.

    SECOND VICTIM: The other was a new mom, still a rookie


    Felix's goal may have been to kill the officers all along. A neighbor, Frances Serrano, told The Desert Sun she spoke to Felix's father before the shooting, and he said his son had a gun and wanted to kill cops.

    Soon after, she heard the gunshots.

    Dozens of police then swarmed into the neighborhood, blockading the surrounding streets. Officers with tactical gear and military-style rifles took defensive positions around the house, and an armored vehicle and a bomb-disposal robot were also brought to the scene. Felix was captured alive at about 1 a.m.

    Despite the length of the standoff, police did not release any description of their suspect until after he was in custody. Vasquez said Sunday that authorities felt a such a release was unnecessary because the police perimeter was secure and investigators were "on the right track."

    PALM SPRINGS MOURNS: "You can't find a worse scenario"


    Felix is being held without bail at Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside on two counts of suspicion of murder on a police officer and one count of attempted murder on a police officer. He is due to appear in court on Wednesday or Thursday.

    Felix’s Facebook profile paints a disturbing picture. A photo on a public portion of his page shows a large gang tattoo on the back of his shaved head. In April, he posted a graphic video of a man shooting himself in the head while running from police officers. His last post came in June, when he posted a meme that takes on a whole new meaning after the shooting.

    “People push you to your limits,” the meme read. “But when you finally explode and fight back, you are the mean one!”

    Although Palm Springs has its own police department, the Riverside County sheriff’s Department has assisted heavily with both the SWAT standoff and the shooting investigation. Sheriff Stan Sniff said the agencies work together “almost seamlessly” in the face of an emergency, which is not the case everywhere.

    “I say that because many times in Riverside County people don’t understand how lucky you are,” Sniff said. “Not every community in California, not every county in California, is so gifted.”

    Three years ago, Felix was arrested by Palm Springs police in an event that began in an eerily similar manner to Saturday's shooting – a policeman on his doorstep.

    In that case, a Palm Springs police detective came to the house on Cypress Road looking for Felix's brother. Felix cracked open the front door, and the detective recognized him as a parolee, so he demanded Felix open the door fully so he could be searched. Felix refused.

    "I told John multiple times to open the door," wrote Detective Alberto Cantu in a court declaration. "I know that John is a member of a criminal street gang and has been involved in multiple shootings. Due to John's angry and agitated state, and history of violence, I requested dispatch to have an additional unit respond."

    As backup arrived, Felix opened the door. Cantu grabbed his wrist, planning to search him for weapons, but Felix tried to pull away. Cantu dragged Felix out of the house, then the detective and another officer got him down on a bench. They were eventually able to force Felix into handcuffs.

    He was booked for resisting arrest, but the charge was later dismissed and Felix was convicted of only a disturbance infraction.

    Felix has been convicted of disturbing the peace in 2009 and misdemeanor DUI in 2014.

    His co-defendant in the gang shooting case, Antonio Madrigal, was convicted of attempted murder at trial and is still in prison. Court documents suggest Madrigal was the actual shooter and Felix assisted.

    By 8 a.m. Sunday, police had withdrawn from much of the neighborhood around the shooting scene, and remained only on a short segment of Cypress Road close to the Felix home.

    The swarm of officers with assault rifles and tactical gear were gone, and all that was left was a few sheriff's department vehicles and a small road block manned by a lone deputy.

    Motorists idled by on Francis Drive, as slow as they could, straining to see inside the scene of the tragedy that had struck the day before. The patrol car driven by the two officers who were killed remained at the scene.

    There was no estimation for when the street may reopen.

    "It will be closed for a while," Vasquez said.

    A few blocks away from the shooting scene, Fred Elg, 93, was picking up handfuls of police tape left in his yard. Officers had put it up yesterday to rope off a perimeter, but now that the barricades had been pulled back, it was no longer necessary.

    Elg was anxious to have it gone.

    “Oh God, it’s terrible,” he said, when asked about the shooting. “I was a naval aviator in the war and I saw a lot of destruction. What else can you do besides go on with your business?”

    Elg said he had been watching college football Saturday afternoon when he heard several loud banging noises from somewhere outside his house. He opened his front door to investigate, but finding nothing, returned to watch the game. Hours later, his relatives called him – terrified.

    There was a police standoff down the street. Two officers were dead. The banging noises, it turned out, were gunshots.

    One of the first witnesses to report Saturday’s shooting was Mike Hill, 50, a former San Francisco Sheriff’s Department deputy whose home sits immediately behind the shooting scene. Hill said he heard the unmistakable sound of five or six gunshots, then immediately called 911.

    Soon, there was a cop at Hill's front door, asking for access to his backyard. Hill handed over the keys to his home, told the cops they were welcome to use his property however they needed, grabbed his two dogs and got out of the neighborhood. He came back Sunday morning, after Felix was caught.

    Hill said he knew early on that two police officers had been killed. An officer told him shortly after the shooting began, likely because they knew he was in law enforcement.

    “I've been to too many funerals,” Hill said, choking up as he spoke. “There was no reason for those two to die.”

    “People want to Monday morning quarterback the police so much, but they don’t understand the mental hell they go through,” he added. “It’s one thing to deal with a dead body, but when it’s your brother in blue … Excuse my language, but it just f**** you up.”

    http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/...lice/91814902/
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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    Senior Member CnCP Legend CharlesMartel's Avatar
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    Latest: Slain Northern California officers honored at vigil

    PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (AP) — The Latest on the shooting of three police officers in Palm Springs (all times local):
    9 p.m.
    A parade of mourners created a makeshift memorial for two slain Northern California police officers during an emotional vigil held outside the Palm Springs Police Department.

    The mourners laid bouquets, written messages and candles outside police headquarters Sunday night, honoring and remembering officers Jose "Gil" Gilbert Vega and Lesley Zerebny, local media reported. The two were shot dead Saturday responding to a domestic disturbance call and a third officer wounded.

    Police arrested 26-year-old John Felix after a lengthy standoff. He will be charged Tuesday with murder and could face the death penalty.

    Palm Springs is 100 miles east of Los Angeles.

    12:05 p.m.

    Palm Springs Police Chief Bryan Reyes says the officer wounded in a shooting that killed two other officers is alert and talking with investigators.

    Reyes said at a press conference that the male officer, who was not named, is likely to be released from the hospital Sunday.

    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.

    Officers Jose "Gil" Gilbert Vega, a 35-year police veteran, and Lesley Zerebny, who'd been on the force less than two years, were killed.

    Police arrested 26-year-old John Felix after a lengthy standoff. He will be charged Tuesday with murder and could face the death penalty.

    11:55 a.m.

    Authorities say the man suspected of fatally shooting two police officers in Palm Springs, California, 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.

    Two police officers responding to a family disturbance call were killed Saturday and a third was wounded but is expected to survive.

    8:35 a.m.

    Court records show the man suspected of fatally shooting two police officers and wounding another in Palm Springs, California, is a gang member who was previously sentenced to four years in prison in a failed murder plot.

    The Desert Sun newspaper (http://desert.sn/2dCyJV8) cites documents that show 26-year-old John Felix was also the subject of a forceful arrest three years ago at the same house where Saturday's shootings occurred.

    Felix was charged with attempted murder in a 2009 shooting. Records show Felix pleaded down to assault with a firearm and admitted his gang connection.

    A neighbor, Frances Serrano, tells The Associated Press she spoke to Felix's father before Saturday's shooting, and he said his son had a gun and wanted to shoot police officers.

    Felix was arrested early Sunday after a lengthy standoff.
    ___
    6:50 a.m.

    Authorities have identified the man suspected of fatally shooting two officers and wounding another in Palm Springs, California, and say he will be charged with two counts of murder on a peace officer.

    The Riverside County Sheriff's Department identified the man Sunday as John Felix.

    Officials say he surrendered after a lengthy standoff. He was injured and treated at a hospital.

    Palm Springs Police Chief Bryan Reyes identified the officers slain Saturday as Jose "Gil" Gilbert Vega and Lesley Zerebny.

    Twenty-seven-year-old Zerebny had been with the department for about 18 months and recently returned from maternity leave after giving birth to a daughter. Vega was a 35-year veteran who planned to retire in December.

    The wounded officer's name was not released.

    http://www.theeagle.com/news/nation/...b70c9d9ba.html

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    Senior Member CnCP Legend CharlesMartel's Avatar
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    Father: Suspect in officers’ killings wanted to shoot police

    One planned to retire in December; other recently returned from maternity leave.

    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 will be charged this week with murder.

    Police said Felix finally emerged wearing soft body armor and carrying ammunition but no weapon after police shot a chemical agent into the home where he had holed up. Investigators were trying to piece together what led up to a 911 call about a family disturbance that preceded the cold-blooded killings.

    A neighbor, Frances Serrano, told The Associated Press that the suspect's panicked father, Santos Felix, earlier said his son, an admitted gang member, had a gun.

    "My son is inside, and we're scared, he's acting crazy," Serrano said the father told her. When it was suggested they call the police he said, "Yeah, he already knows they are coming, and he is going to shoot them."

    Serrano said she went back inside her house and within minutes police cars arrived and gunfire erupted.

    Police said John Felix suddenly pulled out a gun and opened fire on the officers who had responded to a disturbance call Saturday afternoon at the home he shared with his parents in a quiet neighborhood of single-story ranch homes in this desert resort city.

    Palm Springs police Chief Bryan Reyes identified the slain officers as Jose "Gil" Gilbert Vega, 63, and Lesley Zerebny, 27. Zerebny had been with the department for about 18 months and recently returned early from maternity leave after giving birth to a daughter. Vega, a married father of eight, was a 35-year veteran who planned to retire in December. He had been working overtime Saturday on his scheduled day off.

    The wounded officer's name was not released, but Reyes said he was alert, speaking with investigators.

    Police arrested John Felix after shooting him with non-lethal rounds when he exited through the back door. SWAT officers using bullhorns and other methods had tried through the night to establish contact with him but got no response. He was taken to a hospital for treatment of injuries, which did not appear to be life-threatening.

    District Attorney Michael Hestrin said John Felix would be charged Tuesday with first-degree felony murder and several other felony counts. Prosecutors would decide within two weeks whether he could face the death penalty, Hestrin said. It wasn't known Sunday if John Felix has an attorney.

    Court records show John Felix is a gang member who was sentenced to four years in prison in a failed murder plot in 2009. Documents cited by the Desert Sun newspaper reveal he was charged with attempted murder but pleaded down to assault with a firearm and admitted his gang connection.

    Documents also show John Felix was the subject of a forceful arrest three years ago at the same house where Saturday's shootings occurred.

    Reyes indicated police had previous dealings with the suspect, but he declined to answer questions about whether responding officers were prepared to deal with someone with a violent criminal past. The chief would not characterize the content of the 911 call or say who made it.

    It had been 54 years since an on-duty uniformed police officer was killed in Palm Springs, a city of 45,000 residents about 100 miles east of Los Angeles, known for its desert views, boutique hotels and golf courses.

    In front of police headquarters, scores of local residents gathered to leave flowers, balloons and cards.

    Vega had submitted his paperwork to retire at the end of the year after a long and decorated career, Reyes said.

    "Here he is, 35 years in, still pushing a patrol car for our community to make it better — on a day he wasn't even scheduled to work," the chief said.

    https://shar.es/1ErJbj

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    Man Pleads Not Guilty to Murder in ‘Ambush’ Shooting of Palm Springs Officers

    By Christina Pascucci
    Los Angeles Times

    The man accused of killing two Palm Springs police officers in a planned attack last week pleaded not guilty Thursday afternoon after his attorney asked for a psychological evaluation to determine his mental competence.

    John Hernandez Felix was shackled and showed little emotion as he sat in an Indio courtroom just 10 feet from more than a dozen Palm Springs officers.

    The 26-year-old is charged with two counts of murder, with the special circumstances of multiple murders, murder of a police officer in the line of duty and lying in wait. Felix was ordered to be held without bail.

    His attorney, Michael Rowlands, requested a psychological examination to determine whether Felix is mentally competent. A judge will decide whether to grant the defense request and ultimately whether Felix is competent to stand trial.

    http://ktla.com/2016/10/13/man-charg...appearance-da/
    "I realize this may sound harsh, but as a father and former lawman, I really don't care if it's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine or being fed to the lions."
    - Oklahoma Rep. Mike Christian

    "There are some people who just do not deserve to live,"
    - Rev. Richard Hawke

    “There are lots of extremely smug and self-satisfied people in what would be deemed lower down in society, who also deserve to be pulled up. In a proper free society, you should be allowed to make jokes about absolutely anything.”
    - Rowan Atkinson

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    Funeral services for slain Palm Springs police officers to take place Tuesday

    Palm Springs Police Officer Lesley Zerebny was a new mom to a little girl, back on the job after maternity leave. Officer Jose “Gil” Vega was a 35-year department veteran planning to retire in December.

    When they were gunned down Oct. 8 in what authorities have called a planned attack, their deaths shook this small police department, which had not lost an officer in the line of duty in more than five decades.

    On Tuesday, hundreds of law enforcement officials from across the country are expected to pay their respects in a joint memorial service for Zerebny, 27, and Vega, 63, at the Palm Springs Convention Center at 277 N. Avenida Caballeros.

    The service is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. and is open to the public, according to the Palm Springs Police Department.

    Several roads surrounding the convention center — including Alejo Road, Hermosa Drive, Tahquitz Canyon Way and Calle Encilia — will be closed from approximately 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., the police department said in a statement.

    Public parking will be in the Palm Springs Mall parking lot at 2365 E. Tahquitz Canyon Drive. Shuttles will begin transporting the public at 9 a.m. and will run to and from the convention center.

    Graveside honors for Vega will immediately follow the memorial service at the Coachella Valley Public Cemetery at 82925 Avenue 52. Roads near the cemetery probably will be closed for several hours Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.

    An admitted gang member who previously spent 18 months in state prison after being convicted of assault with a deadly weapon has been accused of killing Zerebny and Vega.

    John Hernandez Felix, 26, is charged with two counts of murder, with special circumstances of multiple murders, murder of a police officer in the line of duty and lying in wait.

    Riverside County Dist. Atty. Mike Hestrin said Felix was “prepared” for the attack and that he set a trap and ambushed his victims as they stood outside his door after responding to a domestic disturbance call. He allegedly wore body armor and used armor-piercing bullets.

    “He wanted to gun down police officers because they wore the uniform,” Hestrin said. “He was deliberate in his actions. He attacked the officers for no reason other than they were officers coming to a call.”

    Hestrin will determine by Nov. 1 whether to seek the death penalty, said district attorney spokesman John Hall.

    Felix pleaded not guilty last week after his attorney asked for a psychological evaluation to determine his mental competence.

    He also has been charged with three counts of attempted murder. Authorities said he fired at three other officers, one of whom was wounded and survived.

    In addition, Felix, who was prohibited from owning or possessing firearms because he was a convicted felon, has been charged with possession of a stolen AR-15 assault-style rifle that officials say he used in the attack.

    http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/l...nap-story.html

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    Death penalty sought for man arrested in killing of 2 Palm Springs officers

    PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – Prosecutors say they'll seek the death penalty against a man charged with the shooting deaths of two Palm Springs police officers in an ambush earlier this month.

    The Riverside County District Attorney on Wednesday announced his intention to seek the death penalty against 26-year-old John Felix.

    He has pleaded not guilty to murder, attempted murder and weapons charges.

    He's being held without bail in the shooting deaths of 27-year-old Officer Lesley Zerebny and 63-year-old Officer Jose "Gil" Vega.

    Zerebny was a rookie officer just back from maternity leave. Vega was just months away from retirement.

    Prosecutors say the officers were responding to a domestic disturbance call on Oct. 8 when Felix opened fire through a metal screen door at his family's home.

    Prosecutors say Felix is a gang member

    http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/10/27...-officers.html

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