A 22-year-old man who fatally shot a Baldwin Park police officer after allegedly killing his neighbor on Saturday night will face multiple murder charges, officials announced Tuesday.
Eduardo Medina-Berumen was charged with two charges of murder under extraordinary circumstances, two counts of attempted murder, and possession of an assault weapon in connection with the shootings that killed Baldwin Park Police Officer Samuel Riveros and Darius Wong. If convicted as charged, he risks life without parole.
A rifle and up to 60 expended shot shells were discovered at the scene, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a news conference Tuesday.
Sheriff Robert Luna stated at the news conference that Baldwin Park Police Officers Anthony Pimentel and Alfredo Leal were responding to reports of a shooting in the 4200 block of Filhurst Avenue immediately after Medina-Berumen allegedly shot and killed Wong. The 22-year-old opened fire on both cops, Luna stated. Although Leal was unharmed, Pimentel was cut by glass pieces after gunfire impacted his patrol car window.
Riveros began sprinting toward the bullets to help his fellow police when Medina-Berumen reportedly shot him in the head, according to two law enforcement sources familiar with the case. The sources sought anonymity to discuss the ongoing inquiry.
“Officer Riveros … was entering effectively an open shooting environment when he decided to put the safety of his community ahead of his own safety,” according to Hochman. “When the bullets were flying, he ran into those bullets … and in doing so, he made the ultimate sacrifice.”
Pimentel was released from the hospital and attended the press conference.