UPDATE: PALM SPRINGS: Two officers slain, third injured, suspect in custody
An officer prepares to head towards the shooting that has reportedly killed 2 officers and wounded a third. Screenshot from KMIR
UPDATE: 10/09/2016 6 a.m.
“Today, Palms Springs lost two brave officers. They go out every day and put the boots on the ground for everybody in this community,” Palm Springs Chief of Police Reyes emotionally said, his voice cracking. “They gave it all for you.”
Jose “Gil” Vega and Lesley Zerebny were both killed in an exchange of gunfire with John Felix, who is now in custody.
Countless officers from numerous surrounding agencies responded to the reports of 3 officers who had been shot. John Stangis photo
PALM SPRINGS – The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has released an official press release regarding the shooting of three Palm Springs police officers. The shooting resulted in the deaths of two of those officers. The third officers is reportedly alert, conscious and doing well, Palm Springs Chief of Police Reyes said during an earlier press conference.
The suspect has been apprehended and identified as John Felix, 26, of Palm Springs. Felix received non-life threatening injuries during this incident and was treated at a local hospital.
After he is medically cleared, Felix will be booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center on two counts of murder on a peace officer, according to Riverside County Sheriff’s Public Information Officer Deputy Mike Vasquez.
“Felix’s booking photograph is not available at this time,” Vasquez wrote in the press release.
Officers from every surrounding agency responded to the report of shots fired and officers down. John Stangis photo
The deadly incident began when four officers from the Palm Springs Police Department responded to the 2700 block of North Cypress Road in Palm Springs, after receiving a 911 report of a family disturbance at the location.
“At approximately 12:10 p.m., Palm Springs officers arrived and attempted to have a male step out of the residence. During this initial contact, officers were met with gunfire through the closed front door and an officer involved shooting occurred,” Vasquez explained. “During the exchange of gunfire, three officers were injured.”
Additional officers and deputies responded to the shooting scene and attempted to help the fallen officers, while still under fire from Felix.
Even as law enforcement officers administered CPR and life saving measures to the injured officers at great risk to their own lives, Felix refused to surrender.
A SWAT medic gathers medical supplies. John Stangis photo
Witnesses at the scene said while deputies and officers tried to save the mortally wounded officers Felix continued to exchange gunfire with officers trying to help their fallen comrades. He then barricaded himself in his residence.
The injured officers were transported to a local hospital. Two of the three officers, Officers Jose “Gil” Vega and Lesley Zerebny, were pronounced deceased at the hospital. The third officer, who has not been identified, was also struck by gunfire and is recovering from non-life threatening injuries.
Multiple law enforcement agencies from surrounding areas responded to the scene. The Coachella Valley Regional SWAT Team and the Hemet-Murrieta Regional SWAT Team arrived and secured the residence where the shooting occurred.
As a precautionary measure, residents in adjacent homes were evacuated.
The Palm Springs Police Department requested assistance from the Riverside County Sheriff Department’s SWAT Team to apprehend the suspect, and the Riverside County Sheriff Department’s Central Homicide Unit to conduct the criminal investigation.
Riverside County’s Aviation Unit “Star 9”, with assistance from Riverside PD’s “Air 1” provided air support during the entire hours-long ordeal. John Stangis photo
After a lengthy standoff, the suspect surrendered peacefully to Riverside County Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team (SWAT) members and was taken into custody.
The Palm Springs Police Department officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave per their department policy. The involved officers’ names will not be released at this time.
Anyone with information regarding the incident and investigation is encouraged to contact sheriff’s Central Homicide Investigator Loureiro at (760) 393-3524. Callers can refer to incident file number R162820001 and can remain anonymous Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s Homicide Tipline online form.
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UPDATE: 10/09/2016 1 a.m.
At 12:51 a.m. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department announced they had successfully apprehended the alleged suspect who shot three Palm Springs officers, killing two and wounding a third. The sheriff’s Media Information Bureau has stated a full press release will be issued shortly.
UPDATE: 10/08/2016 9:30 p.m.
A procession leading from DRMC to the county coroner’s office included dozens of official vehicles. William Hayes photo
A procession of marked and unmarked official law enforcement vehicle from countless agencies follow the vehicles carrying the two slain officers to the Riverside County Coroner’s office. Citizens lined the city streets and freeway overpasses to pay their respects for the entire length of the 25 mile drive. The procession grew as it traveled towards the coroner’s office.
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UPDATE: 10/08/2016 5:32 p.m.
Palm Springs Chief of Police Bryan Reyes speaks at a press conference to discuss his fallen officers. William Hayes photo
During a press conference, Palm Springs Chief of Police Bryan Reyes gave a brief explanation of what happened during today’s deadly shooting in Palm Springs. He also confirmed the identities of the two Palm Springs officers who were killed during the shooting.
“On Oct. 8, at approximately 12:18 p.m. Palm Springs police officers were dispatched to the 2700 block of Cypress Road,” Palm Springs Chief of Police Bryan Reyes said during an emotional press conference. “A female caller reported that her adult son was causing a disturbance at the residence.”
“Three officers attempt to make contact with the male subject at the front door,” Reyes said. “The male refused to open the door and threatened to shoot the officers through the closed door.”
“The officers were at the subjects front door just trying to get the subject to comply,” Reyes stated.
“It was a simple family disturbance,” Reyes emotionally explained. “And he elected to open fire on the guardians of this city.”
Before night fell, people had already begun to place flowers, cards, and candles at a memorial for fallen officers in Palm Springs. William Hayes photo
“Approximately ten minutes after the first two officers arrived at the scene, a request for emergency assistance was broadcast and they announced that shots had been fired,” Reyes continued. “Three officers were injured in the gunfire. All of these officers were transported to a local hospital.”
Reyes confirmed the alleged shooting suspect is still at large.
“We do not know his exact whereabouts at this time,” Reyes said. “We are pursuing a number of different leads.”
Reyes then went on to identify and briefly describe both of the two officers killed in the line of duty.
Officer Jose “Gil” Gilbert Vega was a 35-year veteran with the Palm Springs Police Department. Vega was expecting to retire from the department in two months, in December.
A Palm Springs police officer wipes his eyes while talking on his cell phone shortly after hearing of the deadly shooting. William Hayes photo
“He was working on a shift he wasn’t even scheduled to work on,” Reyes explained. “He chose to work overtime today.”
“The second officer killed was Lesley Zerebny, 27-years old. She has been on our police department for a year and a half,” Reyes said. “She just gave birth (four months ago,) She had just returned to duty recently.”
“Our third officer who was wounded is alert, he is doing well and he is providing investigators with pertinent information,” Reyes said.
“We have turned over the investigation to the Central Homicide Unit of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department,” Reyes explained. “They have taken the lead in this investigation. The fluid situation in regards to the surrounded house is being handled by the (sheriff’s) SWAT team.”
Officers Jose “Gil” Gilbert Vega and Lesley Zerebny seen in images provided by the Palm Springs Police Department.
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UPDATE: 10/08/2016 4:20 p.m.
Family, friends and co-workers console each other after the shooting. William Hayes photo
Shortly before 4 p.m. the Palm Springs Police Officers Association confirmed via Twitter that two of their officers had died.
After the shooting, the three officers were taken to Desert Regional Medical Center where two of them have died. A crowd of emotional officers, deputies and other officials could be seen outside the hospital. Some cried quietly to themselves, others hugged and comforted each other.
The suspect remains at large.
No updates have been provided regarding the third injured officer and no further information was immediately available.
UPDATE: 10/08/2016 3:35 p.m.
Several media outlets are reporting that two of the officers shot this afternoon in Palm Springs have died from their injuries.
“The officers had responded to the location regarding some sort of unknown family disturbance,” Palm Springs Public Information Officer Sergeant William Hutchinson said. He described there being one shooter involved in the incident.
The search for the sole shooter is ongoing. It was not known if after the shooting he barricaded himself inside his residence or fled on foot to another location.
ORIGINAL STORY
Numerous officers from surrounding allied agencies converged on the scene of the officer involved shooting. Screenshot from KMIR
PALM SPRINGS – Countless law enforcement officers from numerous surrounding agencies are on scene of an officer-involved shooting, where as many three Palm Springs officers have reportedly been shot.
The shooting was reported in the area of N. Cypress and E. Del Lago Roads in Palm Springs.
The shooting happened shortly after 1 p.m. when Palm Springs officers put out the first emergency call for assistance, reporting multiple officers down.
The three injured officers were evacuated from the area where the shooting occurred and taken to local hospitals.
Witnesses have reported hearing from 10-20 to as many as 30 gunshots being fired. One witness, Gerardo Barrera, told the Desert Sun “I saw a person on the ground…someone kept pumping her chest but she wasn’t moving.”
Riverside County sheriff’s deputies and other officers could be seen at every corner in the neighborhood. John Strangis photo
Officers and deputies from as far away as Hemet, San Jacinto, Lake Elsinore and other southwest Riverside County agencies have already converged on the scene. Many others continue to arrive in the area. Their main focus appears to be on one or more residences on N. Cypress Street.
Most residents have been ordered to stay inside their homes and shelter in place during the emergency, while others closer to the home are being evacuated from the area.
Several Bearcat armored rescue vehicles are already on scene or are still en route to the location to assist.
Citizens have taken to social media and have been sharing pictures and video from the area, as more agencies and law enforcement officers continue to converge on the area.
One video showed firefighters wearing black tactical vests and kevlar helmets running while pushing a gurney towards a waiting ambulance. They were being escorted by a number of officers and deputies. The subject on the gurney appeared to be a male officer.
A Command Post has been established in the area at an undisclosed location and additional necessary equipment such as floodlights, and supplies such as water and other essentials are being brought to the location.
The suspect(s) in the shooting remain at large.
The Palm Springs Police Department has not commented yet on the active and ongoing situation.
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his is a developing story. More information will be provided as it becomes available.
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Trevor Montgomery spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg in an off-duty accident.
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including the Robert Presley Detention Center, the Southwest Station in Temecula, the Hemet Station, and the Lake Elsinore Station, along with many other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, Personnel and Background Investigations and he finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator.
Trevor has been married for more than 26 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and has 13 children and 12 – soon to be 13 – grandchildren.
I am heartbroken for these good people that make up the Palm Springs Police Department. I moved to the Coachella Valley 25 years ago and I have had the honor of knowing many great people in Law Enforcement. Police officer Bruce Lee was taken too long ago and it will always hurt when I think of him.
I hope we can unite against this. Set aside our petty differences and understand that it is us against them. This small percentage of obviously unloved walking instruments of destruction. These individuals have zero value to society. They are dumb disgusting animals. There are many examples of people who were raised in a bad environment that become good decent people. These takers cause unbelievable suffering and they have got to be removed from our society.