Baldwin Park shooting suspect charged with murder in killing of police officer, bystander
BALDWIN PARK, Calif. (KABC) -- Murder charges have been filed against the 22-year-old suspect accused of killing a Baldwin Park police officer and a bystander in a shootout over the weekend, the Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced Tuesday.
Eduardo Roberto Medina-Berumen is accused of killing Officer Samuel Riveros and a bystander.
Hochman announced five charges against Medina-Berumen. They include murder, attempted murder and possession of an assault rifle.
If convicted of first-degree murder, Medina-Berumen could face life in prison or the death penalty.
L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna said an AR15 style weapon was recovered at the scene.
A procession honoring Officer Riveros was held Tuesday evening. Video from AIR7 showed crowds lining the streets to pay their respects to the fallen officer.
Hundreds gathered cheering with tears as the procession stopped in front of his station in Baldwin Park.
"My heart's completely broken. He served my community. I just felt I had to come pay my respects," said Luz Tamayo. "I can't imagine the pain the family is going through, you know."
Community members gathered for a prayer vigil before the procession.
"We're just here to honor his name and let him know that through this tragedy he brought unity to the city of Baldwin Park," said Robert Gonzalez with Victory Outreach International.
That unity lined the streets with residents, first responders and fellow law enforcement to pay their respects to the fallen officer as he was brought from the coroner's office to Forest lawn in Covina.
A Fund A Hero campaign was created to support Officer Riveros' family.
Officials identified 43-year-old Darius Wong, a father of two, as the second victim in Saturday's shooting.
Authorities are still trying to determine an official motive for the shooting, but family members say it unfolded after Wong dropped off his wife and kids at a gathering and left to find a parking spot in the area.
Video shows Wong walking along the sidewalk on Palm Avenue just after 7 p.m. In the footage, he walks out of the frame, where he turns the corner onto Filhurst Avenue.
About two minutes later, four gunshots can be heard in the video.
"We just heard, you know, three loud noises. We didn't know it was gunshots," said neighbor Tamara Ayala. "We pulled up the camera, and then my mom came outside, and then we saw him lying on the floor."
Wong's younger brother, Victor Vuong, organized a GoFundMe account to help his family with funeral expenses. He wrote on the page: "we won't stop until the truth is known and accountability is found."
The fundraiser account says Wong had two daughters, ages 3 and 5.
"It's just very sad how this devil killed him. It's just terrible how this unfolded," Vuong said.
What sparked the deadly Baldwin Park shooting?
Neighbors told Eyewitness News that the shooting may have stemmed from an argument over a parking spot.
"One of the neighbors was having a housewarming party. The new neighbors across the street," said Esther, who lives in the neighborhood. "So the guy, the shooter, came out and told, apparently, the guy that was parking there, 'You cannot park there.' And the guy still parked there, and that's what started the whole process."
Wong's family said he was not involved in that argument, but was caught in the crossfire.
In a Ring camera video obtained by ABC7, more than a dozen gunshots could be heard that went on for more than 10 seconds. Another Ring camera video shows the moments Wong ran for his life and was gunned down.
"I guess he ran through the middle and he came, worked his way over here, and he fell right there," said neighbor Norma Lemus. "So when I came over here to see, he was already on the ground, and that's all I saw."
The video then shows responding police officers returning shots with the 22-year-old gunman as Wong lies dying on the sidewalk. That's when Officer Riveros was fatally shot.
Officer Anthony Pimentel was injured in the shooting, but has since been released from the hospital.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger ordered all flags at all county facilities be lowered to half-staff in remembrance of Officer Riveros, who had been with the department since 2016.
A memorial has been placed where Wong died. Medina-Berumen is expected to face murder charges in both deaths.
Meanwhile, a vigil is expected to be held at the Baldwin Park Police Department on Friday night in honor of Riveros.
