DA lists charges against man accused of killing Palm Springs police officers
UPDATE: 6:58 p.m.
Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin said Wednesday marked the beginning of a journey, as nine charges were officially filed against John Hernandez Felix. Felix, the man accused of killing Palm Springs Police officers Jose ‘Gil’ Vega and Lesley Zerebny, was charged with two counts of first degree murder, and three counts of attempted murder. “My dad was a Palm Springs Police officer back in the 1960s and ’70s,” Hestrin said. “I was born in Palm Springs. It’s my hometown. Yeah, I’m heartbroken. Like everybody in law enforcement, we’re heartbroken.” Felix was also charged with possession of a stolen AR-15 assault rifle, and armor-piercing ammunition. “We want to know everything there is to know about this individual,” Hestrin said. “His background, where he grew up, everything. So, it’s an exhaustive investigation.” Hestrin also pointed out the murder charges came with special circumstance allegations attached, including multiple murders, the murder of a law enforcement officer and lying in wait, referring to Felix’s intent to kill police officers. “He armed himself with a weapon to kill police officers,” Hestrin said. “He put on a vest so he could be protected so he could kill police officers. That’s the motive. He wanted to gun down police officers because they wore the uniform.” As fellow officers continue to mourn two colleagues who made the ultimate sacrifice, Hestrin said he and his team are ready for a long road ahead, hoping to protect those who protect us. “The lesson that I take away from this is that there’s an element in our society that is bent on killing police officers,” Hestrin said. “Because they represent law and order, and I think that it’s time that everybody in law enforcement and the public spoke up against that.” According to this charges, those three attempted murder charges are in regards to the officer who’s recovering from non-life injuries, and two other officers who were shot at. Although those names are listed in these chrages, they are not being released at this time at the request of Palm Springs Police. Felix is set to be arraigned at the Larson Justice Center in Indio Thursday. Hestrin said the special circumstance allegations will make Felix eligible for the death penalty. He said the prosecution will make a decision on whether to pursue the death penalty against Felix within the next three weeks.
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ORIGINAL STORY: 11:06 a.m.
On Wednesday at 11 a.m., Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin announced the charges being filed against the man accused of killing two Palm Springs police officers over the weekend.
John Felix, a 26-year-old Palm Springs resident, is suspected of shooting and killing Officer Jose Gilbert Vega and Officer Lesley Zerebny and wounding another Palm Springs police officer last Saturday. The officers were responding to a domestic call that day.
The DA listed the following alleged charges against Felix:
2 counts of 1st degree murder 3 special circumstance allegations: murder of a police officer in the line of duty, multiple murder and for lying in wait 3 counts of attempted murder for trying to kill three other officers, one officer was wounded and two were shot at but not hit To the first 5 charges, attached are alleged enhancements: defendant personally used a firearm and possessed armor-piercing ammunition and was wearing a vest Unlawfully possessing an assault weapon (AR-15) and ammunition after committing a felony, Prior strike allegation involved felony assault with a fire arm which occurred in 2010, and for active street gang activity which occurred in 2010 as well Based on these charges, Felix will be eligible for the death penalty, but that determination hasn’t been made at this time and will be decided in three weeks
Palm Springs Police Chief Bryan Reyes spoke following the charges and thanked the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department and surrounding police agencies for working hard through such a troubling time for all law enforcement officers.
