Community reacts to guilty verdicts for cop killer

John Hernandez Felix, the man who murdered Palm Springs Police Officers Lesley Zerebny and Jose “Gil” Vega in 2016, was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and six counts of attempted murder today.

Felix, 28, shot and killed the two officers who responded to a domestic disturbance call on October, 8 2016 at the Felix family home on the 2700 block of Cypress Avenue.

“Oct. 8, 2016 was no doubt the darkest day in the history of Palm Springs,” said Palm Springs Mayor Robert Moon.

Moon was one of the first to arrive at Desert Regional Medical Center, where Vega and Zerebny were rushed to.

“I was in the hospital room with our murdered officers. I was there when their families arrived. I lived through this and it was hard. It was very hard, and finally this has come to a resolution where the jury has found the person. I don’t even want to say his name, [the] person, guilty of all charges, I really think is the fair verdict,” Moon said.

Moon says he admires the strength the officer’s families have had during the trial and as they prepare for the penalty phase.

“I’ve watched this family. They’ve been brave, they’ve been strong, they’ve been positive, but they’ve suffered incredible loss,” Moon said.

Other people in the community agree.

“They are incredible people and they’ve handled this with such dignity,” said Todd Flood, a co-owner of Maracas in Palm Springs.

Vega was a regular customer at Maracas.

“I’m happy for the family, I think this is the result they were hoping for it gives them a little bit of peace,” Flood said.

The trial will now enter the penalty phase. The jurors will return to the Larson Justice Center at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Attorneys will return at 9 a.m. for jury instructions.

Prosecutors said following the verdict-reading that they intended to call witnesses all day Tuesday and half of Wednesday. The defense plans to call witnesses for the remainder of Wednesday and all of Thursday.