Gang member with ‘violent criminal history’ shot deputy, sheriff says
An arrest has been made in the shooting of a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy on Monday.
KTLA reporter Sara Welch learned of the arrest late Tuesday morning, and a little after 1 p.m., Sheriff Robert Luna confirmed that Raymundo Duran had been identified as the suspected shooter.
Duran had been detained in San Diego County by California Highway Patrol officers on DUI and weapons charges, and L.A. County detectives interviewed Duran while he was in custody, which helped confirm him as the suspected shooter.
“At the end of the day, we believe we have the suspect responsible for shooting our deputy in custody,” Sheriff Robert Luna said.
L.A. deputy shot in back saved by bulletproof vest
That motorcycle deputy, identified as Deputy Samuel Aispuro, 43, was shot in the back near the area of Barranca and Garvey avenues in West Covina Monday afternoon, though a bulletproof vest stopped the bullet.
Luna said Monday that Aispuro was stopped at a red light at the time.
“What kind of person shoots another person in the back? I can think of a lot of names for that. I won’t describe them right now, but if you’re shooting at a deputy sheriff that’s sitting on a motorcycle, waiting at a red light, to me that’s the worst of the worst,” the sheriff added Monday.
Some details of the shooting and arrest remain undisclosed, as officials plan to release them leading up to and during the coming trial.
Luna did reveal, however, that Duran, a gang member, is believed to have acted alone, and this isn’t his first encounter with law enforcement.
“He has a very extensive criminal history, a violent criminal history … He had no business having a firearm in his possession with this criminal history,” Luna said.
As for Aispuro, he has sustained visible injuries from the attack, but he is expected to recover and will return to work when he’s able, Luna said.
“We’ll continue to support him and support his family through this difficult stage of getting him back to work,” Luna said.
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