DeGuzman, a San Diego police gang- enforcement officer fatally wounded last week during a shootout in a Southcrest- area neighborhood.
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Jesse Gomez, 53, pleaded not guilty to charges filed against him by the San Diego District Attorney’s office on Tuesday, August 2 at UC San Diego Medical Center. Gomez fled but was eventually found in a nearby ravine by police. Gomez, 52, is accused of shooting Irwin and then went to an open passenger door to fire several times into the auto, killing De Guzman.
About 11 p.m. Thursday, Gomez and another man had been walking and split up when they saw the officers, Deputy Dist. Atty. Police say a second man arrested on an unrelated search warrant may have also been involved. San Diego police Chief Shelley Zimmerman said Saturday said she has seen body camera footage captured during the incident, but wouldn’t say more.
“The DeGuzman family appreciates the efforts of the media to share the life and heroism of their son, husband and father but requests all media remain outside while the funeral Mass is performed, ” according to a statement from the San Diego Police Officers Association. Irwin was struck in the throat, but he was able to fire back at the shooter. Officer Wade Irwin, 32, was shot in the throat but was expected to recover.
Runyon said Irwin has identified Gomez as the shooter from a series of photographs.
Gomez’s family members maintain his innocence and told the San Diego Tribune they have received little information from law enforcement.
The elder Gomez possesses a criminal record that goes as far back as 1983, which included several gun-related convictions. He was convicted of firearm charges in 1992, and again in 2002, for carrying firearms while under the influence of methamphetamine. San Diego SWAT surrounded the house of one individual Friday morning thought to be linked to the shooting, but that person was later cleared.
San Diego Police Department pictures show Officer Jonathan DeGuzman (l.), who was killed, and Officer Wade Irwin (r.), who was injured.. Marquez described him as “a multi-talented worker who is considered to be a great asset to all construction projects”.
Gomez’s son, Daniel Gomez, told the San Diego Union-Tribune that he believes his father is innocent. “I know he’s been in trouble, like when I was a baby, but after that nothing”. “He stayed out of trouble and was about his family”. De Guzman, a 16-year veteran, is survived by a wife and two young children.
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Motorists are advised to expect delays on San Diego freeways Friday during the funeral procession for fallen San Diego police Officer Jonathan “JD” DeGuzman.
