The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office on Wednesday filed charges against a suspected gang member accused of shooting a motor deputy in the back who was waiting at a red light in West Covina.
In addition to attempted murder of a peace officer, Raymundo Duran, 47, of Covina was also charged with assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer and being a felon in possession of a firearm, District Attorney George Gascon said during a press conference in Los Angeles.
Duran was also charged with the allegation that he intentionally discharged a firearm. If convicted as charged, Gascon said, Duran faces life in prison.
Deputy Samuel Aispuro, who was on-duty, was stopped on southbound Barranca Avenue near East Garvey Avenue North around 2:40 p.m. on Monday.
Duran allegedly pulled up next to the deputy’s motorcycle, shot him in the back then fled, according to the DA’s Office.
The 43-year-old Aispuro’s bulletproof saved his life, Sheriff Robert Luna said.
Duran showed up at the San Onofre Inspection Facility in San Diego County where California Highway Patrol officers arrested him on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, driving with a blood-alcohol content of .08 percent or higher, being a felon carrying a loaded firearm, and carrying a loaded firearm while in public.
The CHP also found a pistol in Duran’s Camry, Luna said at a Tuesday press conference.
“The senseless and unprovoked shooting of Deputy Samuel Aispuro is a stark reminder of the dangers our law enforcement officers face daily,” Gascon said. “Our office is committed to vigorously prosecuting the offender to the fullest extent of the law. Our thoughts are with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Deputy Aispuro as he recovers from this tragic incident.”
Duran remained in custody at San Diego Central Jail as of Wednesday. It wasn’t clear when he will be brought back to Los Angeles County.
“We hope fairly soon,” Gascon said.
Duran has a prior strike and served time in prison for crimes in 2019 and 2022, according to Gascon. He didn’t release details.
Public records show Duran had lived in Covina, Pomona and Monrovia.
Covina Police had arrested Duran on July 1, 2023, Feb. 26, 2022 and July 8, 2021.
He was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and driving with a 0.08 percent blood alcohol content for the 2023 arrest but both charges were dismissed, according to court records.
In the 2022 case, court records show he pleaded no contest to possession of a firearm by a narcotic addict and was sentenced to 16 months in prison.
The 2021 arrest included a pursuit, Covina Police Lt. Ryan Davis said. At the time of this arrest, he said Duran had a warrant for violating his parole or probation.
Duran pleaded no contest to evading police. As part of the plea deal, the charges resisting an officer and hit-and-run causing property damage were dismissed. He was sentenced to 16 months in prison to run the same time as his 16-month sentence for the 2022 case, court records show.
Their last contact with Duran was August 2023 when he reported his car had been stolen, Davis said. Alhambra Police recovered the car three days later, the lieutenant said.
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