Prosecutors charged a man with murder and attempted murder after allegedly killing one veteran police officer and wounding another during a gun battle in a San Diego neighborhood on Thursday, July 28. Gomez then allegedly moved to the open passenger door of the patrol vehicle and fired multiple shots at DeGuzman in the driver’s seat. His partner, Officer Wade Irwin, 32, also was seriously wounded but was able to return fire.
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De Guzman, 43, died on Friday, July 29 at Scripps Mercy Hospital as a result of wounds sustained while on duty.
“He came to work every single day wanting to just make a positive difference”, said Zimmerman during a press conference on Friday, and described De Guzman as a “loving, caring husband and father”.
San Diego Police Department pictures show Officer Jonathan DeGuzman (l.), who was killed, and Officer Wade Irwin (r.), who was injured..
The fatal bullet went through both of DeGuzman’s lungs and severed his spine, Runyon said.
He pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges of murder, attempted murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm and was ordered to remain in custody in lieu of $5 million bail.
Gomez was found unconscious in a ravine shortly after the shootings when officers followed a trail of blood, authorities said.
After being shot, Irwin fired back as Gomez fled, Runyon said.
Police say the shootings started during a traffic stop by the gang unit officers at about 11 p.m. Officials have not determined if the shootings were similar to targeted, premeditated attacks on police in other parts of the country. He is expected to recover.
Investigators have reviewed police body camera footage, though they said Tuesday that Irwin’s camera was not turned on until after he was shot.
Officials have released little information about Gomez. He has a criminal record stretching back to 1983, including a conviction for auto theft and drunken driving. A second person of interest was detained on unrelated warrants after evading police in two separate standoffs, but was eventually released.
Real estate broker Leonard A. Marquez wrote in a 2002 letter to a judge that Gomez had worked for him for eight years.
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”.
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Police officers from as far away as New York City, Chicago, Fort Worth, Texas, and Aurora, Colorado, attended the 90-minute Mass at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Bonita, where the slain officer, 43-year-old Jonathan De Guzman, worshipped with his family.
