Riverside County Sheriff’s Department says felon used assault rifle to kill PSPD officers

On Tuesday morning,The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has released some new information about the deadly shooting of two Palm Springs police officers over the weekend. Officials said the suspect used an assault rifle to fire on the officers in an unprovoked attack as they were talking to him through a metal screen door in attempt to get him to step outside of the house. The officers were wearing ballistic vests at the time; a requirement for PSPD officers while on duty. Sheriff’s deputies said Felix is a convicted felon and cannot legally own or possess any firearm under California law. Further information regarding the firerarm used by Felix isn’t available for release at this time as police continue to investigate. Sunday morning’s press conference The city of Palm Springs continues to mourn the deaths of two Palm Springs police officers, Lesley Zerebny and Jose Gilbert Vega. At a press conference on Sunday morning, officials said the community is one step closer to justice. Palm Springs police Chief, Bryan Reyes started the press conference with this statement: “As you can imagine, this is a very difficult time for our family and our community. I want to let you know there has been an arrest made in this investigation”. The suspected shooter, John Hernadez Felix, a Palm Springs resident, was flushed out of his home at 1 a.m. Sunday, after a 12-hour standoff. Chief Deputy Ray Wood, of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department walked us through the arrest of Felix.

“We deployed chemical agents into the residence. Almost immediately after introducing chemical agents inside the residence, the suspect emerged out the back door. After stepping out, we had perimeter SWAT units make contact with him, give him commands to comply and surrender. The gentleman did not. We had to utilize some less lethal munitions to subdue him and to get him to comply, and shortly there after we had the suspect in custody.” Police say Felix was wearing body armor and carrying multiple high-capacity magazines. The shooter has a lengthy criminal history. In 2009, Felix was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon and sentenced to two years in prison. He was charged with being a member of a criminal gang. He was later accused of resisting arrest by the PSPD on the very same street he allegedly shot and killed Zerebny and Vega. On Tuesday Riverside County homicide will file two counts each of first degree murder, multiple murder and murder of a police officer in the line of duty. “Mr. Felix’s arraignment will happen either Wednesday or Thursday where those charges will be read aloud in court…and then going forward because of the special circumstances that we will be filing Mr. Felix will be eligible for the death penalty,” said Mike Hestrin, Riverside County district attorney. The Palm Springs Police Department continues to stand strong with the continuous support from the community. “Just your mere thank yous, your social media platforms reaching out to us, our officers see that, they feed off that, it gives them strength to push forward, and go out and answer that next call,” Reyes said.