GUILTY CA - Officers Gil Vega, 63, & Lesley Zerebny, 29, slain, Palm Springs, 8 Oct 2016

[0101ABA]

Prosecutors say they'll seek the death penalty against a man charged with the shooting deaths of two Palm Springs police officers in an ambush earlier this month.

The Riverside County District Attorney on Wednesday announced his intention to seek the death penalty against 26-year-old John Felix.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/10/2...ested-in-killing-2-palm-springs-officers.html

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Will the Palm Springs cop killing suspect go to trial? This court hearing will decide.

http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/crime_courts/2017/09/25/palm-springs-cop-killing-suspect-go-trial-court-hearing-decide/694874001/

A mental competency hearing will begin Monday for a suspect in the murder of two Palm Springs police officers who were gunned down in an ambush-style shooting nearly one year ago.

John Hernandez Felix, 27, is facing the death penalty for the deaths of Palm Springs Police Officers Jose ‘Gil’ Vega and Lesley Zerebny.

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Judge rejects ‘traumatic amnesia’ argument, finds Palms Springs police shooting suspect competent

http://www.pe.com/2017/09/28/suspect-in-palm-springs-officers-killings-found-competent-to-stand-trial/

A 27-year-old ex-con charged with the ambush killings of two Palm Springs police officers who went to his home on a family disturbance call almost a year ago is mentally competent to stand trial, a judge ruled Thursday, Sept. 28.

John Hernandez Felix, who is accused of fatally shooting veteran training Officer Jose “Gil” Vega, 63, of Cathedral City, and rookie Officer Lesley Zerebny, 27, of Hemet, faces murder and other charges that could lead to the death penalty if he is convicted.

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Family of officer Lesley Zerebny grapples with loss a year after deadly shooting - October

The family said the past 12 months have been constant grief and that the approaching one-year anniversary has amplified the feeling of loss.

Cora has started to walk, and Zack Zerebny continues to work as a deputy with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department. Zack has done few interviews out of a desire to maintain some privacy for him and Cora, said his father, Matt Zerebny.

"We're just taking every day moment by moment," Matt said. "It's so hard looking forward or looking back, because you look forward and you look at all the milestones that Cora's going to have that her mom's not here to experience. That's going to be the rest of their lives."

She was a new mom. He was a 'legendary' cop. One year later, Palm Springs memorializes them both. - October

“She loved the city of Palm Springs. She loved this police department,” David Kling, Zerebny’s father, told the crowd. “And the fact that you are showing up here, on this hot day, standing out here, shows her that you love her too.”

After Kling spoke, the Vega family took a turn. Ivette Vega, one of Gil Vega’s eight children, began to cry almost immediately.

“My sweet dad,” she said, taking quick gasps between sobs. “We miss him so very much. We are so proud of him. Proud of the man he stood for, for the lessons he taught us, for his bravery and his courage. … We are forever grateful to God to have been blessed with the time that we had with him."

Man Accused in Palm Springs Police Killings Faces Trial on Murder Charges - December

Riverside County Superior Court Judge Anthony R. Villalobos, following a two-hour preliminary hearing, ordered Felix to proceed to trial on two counts of murder, six counts of attempted murder -- three of which were newly added and pertain to officers who were fired on in front of the defendant's Cypress Avenue home -- and special circumstance allegations of killing a peace officer and committing multiple murders.

Testimony detailed the shootings of Vega, Zerebny and Officer Jeffrey Burton, who was hit in the hip and leg. Sheriff's Investigator Alberto Loureiro testified that Burton stated Felix screamed "Don't do it!" several times before firing on them through the metal screen door of his home with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle.

Accused Palm Springs cop killer pleads not guilty to additional charges

The man accused of killing two Palm Springs Police officers pled not guilty to additional charges filed against him at a hearing Friday.

27-year-old John Hernandez Felix faces three additional charges of attempted murder, bringing the total attempted murder counts to six. That's on top of two counts of first degree murder, and special circumstance allegations of killing a peace officer and committing multiple murders.

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Death penalty hearing set for man accused of killing Palm Springs police officers

https://www.pe.com/2018/03/16/accused-palm-springs-cop-killer-to-undergo-hearing-regarding-execution/

A 27-year-old ex-con facing the death penalty for the slayings of two Palm Springs police officers at his home will undergo a hearing later this year to determine whether he is intellectually fit to be executed.

On Friday, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Anthony R. Villalobos tentatively set dates this fall for Felix’s trial and an Atkins hearing, which determines whether a defendant is considered too intellectually incapacitated to be executed. The 2002 Atkins v. Virginia case led to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling saying it’s cruel and unusual punishment to execute a defendant who has intellectual disabilities, such as the mentally retarded.

Mental health professionals are expected to testify at Felix’s Atkins hearing, set for Oct. 9. A tentative trial date was set for Oct. 23.

 

[JerseyGirl]

The decision on whether or not John Hernandez Felix could be sentenced to death now sits in the hands of a judge.

Testimony ends in execution eligibility trial for alleged cop-killer - KESQ

 

[JerseyGirl]

Trial underway for man charged with killing two Palm Springs police officers in 2016

 

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Jury recommends death sentence for convicted cop killer John Hernandez Felix

Sentencing is set for Aug. 30.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Death penalty for Palm Springs cop killer John Hernandez Felix