4 CA Officers Have Been Slain in 2 Weeks

Yesterday when Modoc (CA) County Sheriff’s Deputy Jack Hopkins was shot and killed responding to a disturbance call he became the fourth California officer killed in the line of duty this month.

On Oct. 6, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Sgt. Steve Owen was fatally shot as he responded to a burglary report. 

Trenton Trevon Lovell, 27, was charged with murdering Owen, attempted murder of a second sheriff’s deputy, being  a felon in possession of a firearm, and two counts each of residential robbery and false imprisonment, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Days later, Palm Springs Police officers Lesley Zerebny, 27, and Jose “Gil” Vega, 63, were shot and killed in what officials said was a planned attack.

Riverside County Dist. Atty. Mike Hestrin said John Hernandez Felix, 26, was “prepared” for the Oct. 8 attack and set up a trap. Felix ambushed the officers as they stood outside his door, Hestrin said.