Man convicted of shooting 2 California cops in ambush

A gunman who ambushed two Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies in 2020, shooting them at point blank range as they sat in their cruiser at the Compton Metro station, was found guilty Thursday, Sept. 28 of attempted murder and other counts.

Jurors convicted Deonte Lee Murray, 39, of all charges against him after deliberating for days, according to Deputy District Attorney Stephen Lonseth.

Two counts of attempted murder were filed against him for shooting Deputies Claudia Apolinar and Emmanuel Perez-Perez on September 12, 2020. A nearby security camera captured Murray calmly approaching the deputies in their SUV, then opening fire before fleeing.

Murray was also found guilty of one count each of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, carjacking, and robbery, as well as four counts of felon in possession of a firearm.

Murray could face life in prison, according to Lonseth.

“Today, justice has been served,” said L.A. County District Attorney George Gascón in a statement following the jury’s decision. “This verdict reaffirms our commitment to protecting those who serve and sends a clear message that acts of violence will not go unpunished.”

During the trial, Lonseth told jurors that Murray shot four people over the course of nearly two weeks, which was sparked in part by Sheriff’s deputies shooting Murray’s best friend to death while serving a search warrant at his home.

Lonseth, on the other hand, argued that Murray’s actions were not truly impulsive. Investigators learned Murray told a friend after the shooting that he was surprised the deputies hadn’t died.

Murray’s actions “did everything he could to end the lives of Claudia Apolinar and Emmanuel Perez-Perez,” Lonseth stated.

“They’re alive because of frankly a miracle,” he stated. He noted that Apolinar, despite being shot in the jaw and having both arms broken by gunfire, attempted to help Perez-Perez.

Despite testimony that Murray’s later shootings were motivated by a desire for vengeance, his first attack on September 1, 2020 appeared to be random. Murray shot a man in the leg with a rifle that day, then carjacked his Mercedes-Benz.

Murray would later use the luxury vehicle in all three attacks.

Earlier in the trial, Lonseth stated that following Herrera’s death, Murray “lost it” and “sought vengeance” on Sheriff’s deputies.

Murray opened fire on a man he mistook for a detective in an unmarked car near the Compton courthouse on the same day as Herrera’s shooting. Murray ambushed Apolinar and Perez-Perez two days later.

Murray was under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the time of the deputies’ attack, according to his attorney, Katie Hardie.

Apolinar and Perez-Perez both testified during the trial. Murray testified in his own defense as well.

Apolinar testified in uniform on the stand, telling jurors that she heard gunfire and that her vision went blank for a few seconds after being shot. Her jaw had been shattered and her tongue had been partially severed by a bullet. She claimed that when she called for assistance, a sheriff’s dispatcher couldn’t understand her.

She looked over at Perez-Perez, who was struggling to put on a tourniquet as she called. His right arm and face were covered in blood.

Apolinar testified that she saw Murray no where during or after the shooting. Neither deputy responded.

Murray will be sentenced in court on Monday, Oct. 16.