Police Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Killer of CHP Officer Linked to Motorcycle Gang

Officer Andre Moye had served with the California Highway Patrol for three and a half years. He is survived by his wife, mother, father, and siblings.

August 13, 2019
Killer of CHP Officer Linked to Motorcycle Gang

California Highway Patrol Officer Andre Moye was killed during a gunfight with a rifle-wielding gunman Monday night. (Photo: CHP)

2 min to read


California authorities have identified the suspect in the Monday night slaying of California Highway Patrol Officer Andre Moye as Aaron Luther, 49. The Los Angeles Times reports that law enforcement has revealed that Luther, who was killed in a gunfight with responding officers, was an "active member" of the Vagos motorcycle gang. The incident occurred in the city of Riverside.

Moye and two other officers were shot in the battle with Luther, who reportedly pulled a rifle during a traffic stop while Moye was in his patrol vehicle filling out paperwork for impounding Luther's pickup truck. Although he was mortally wounded, Moye was able to call for backup.

Ad Loading...

Officers from multiple area agencies responded.

One responding CHP officer was critically wounded in the leg. CHP Inland Division Chief Bill Dance said the officer is expected to recover. Another CHP officer suffered a minor wound to his leg.

Luther reportedly has a lengthy criminal record dating to the late 1980s. He served 10 years for attempted second-degree murder. Riverside Police told KTLA Luther's criminal record included assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer. His rap sheet also included convictions for disturbing the peace, vandalism, battery, stalking, unlawful possession of a firearm, and corporal injury on a spouse.

The suspect's motivation for the attack is not known. CHP says he had no active warrants.

The motorcycle gang Luther was allegedly involved with is considered one of the nation's largest and most dangerous outlaw motorcycle gangs, alongside the Hell's Angels and Mongols. The gang was founded in California in the 1960s but now claims 1,000 members in several chapters throughout the U.S., federal agents said in a 2017 indictment charging 23 Vagos' members with racketeering.

Ad Loading...

In that case, federal law enforcement targeted Vagos' members in California, Nevada and Hawaii alleging the gang had been involved in a number of brutal murders and beatings, as well as cocaine and meth trafficking.

The gang has a history of threatened violence against law enforcement. When Vagos' members suspected their Las Vegas chapter had been infiltrated by an undercover officer in July 2013, the group placed a $100,000 bounty on the man's head, according to the 2017 indictment, MSN reports.

Officer Moye had served with the California Highway Patrol for three and a half years. He is survived by his wife, mother, father, and siblings.


More Patrol

Police drone hovering over its charging nest against a blue sky background.
PatrolMarch 26, 2026

Brinc Unveils Guardian, Launching the Next Era of Drone as First Responder

Brinc’s new Guardian delivers 24/7 operations, Starlink connectivity, and a robotic charging nest that can swap batteries and change payload configurations without human intervention.

Read More →
image of trooper, shown from waist down, standing beside a police cruiser along the road and at right a headline Slow Down Move Over.
PatrolMarch 19, 2026

Colorado State Patrol Releases 2025 Struck-By Analysis

The Colorado State Patrol, after analyzing its 2025 struck-by incidents, identified one area for improvement: using traffic cones to provide advanced warning before the cruiser's location. Here is the agency’s final data.

Read More →
Image of a group of men in business attire receiving an award set against a black background and a Streamlight logo up top.
PatrolMarch 19, 2026

Streamlight Names 144th Marketing Group Law Enforcement Sales Rep Agency of the Year

Streamlight has recognized the 144th Marketing Group as its 2025 Sales Rep Agency of the Year Award for the Law Enforcement market.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Image of a group of men in business attire receiving an award set against a black background and a Streamlight logo up top.
PatrolMarch 19, 2026

Streamlight Names 144th Marketing Group Law Enforcement Sales Rep Agency of the Year

Streamlight has recognized the 144th Marketing Group as its 2025 Sales Rep Agency of the Year Award for the Law Enforcement market.

Read More →
DArk backgroundn with inset images of a fallen police officer and a ballistic helmet and headline Rife-Rated.
PatrolMarch 19, 2026

The Mission After the Moment

The mission of the Jorge Pastore Foundation is to support first responders through essential training, stronger community engagement, and mental wellness resources, all accessible and funded through donations, sponsorships, and foundation-led fundraising. It works closely with Team Wendy in the discussions about developing better protective gear for officers.

Read More →
Promotional graphic for Patrolfinder featuring a police chief’s headshot inside a circular frame alongside a police SUV in the background. The headline reads: “Built for Patrol: How One Police Chief Fixed Communication, Boosted Visibility, and Changed the Culture.”
SponsoredMarch 17, 2026

Built for Patrol: How One Police Chief Fixed Communication, Boosted Visibility, and Changed the Culture

Patrol work hasn’t changed—but the expectations on officers have. See how one police chief helped officers get the right information at the right time, improve patrol visibility, and strengthen trust without adding complexity or surveillance. This real-world story shows how patrol-driven technology can make the job safer, smarter, and more effective—starting on day one.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Man in a blue blazer lifting his shirt to reveal a concealed handgun in a waistband holster while standing outdoors.
SponsoredMarch 2, 2026

Safariland Solis Rethinks Concealable Duty

What if Level I retention didn’t require a full duty rig? Safariland’s Solis delivers trusted ALS security in a streamlined OWB platform built for administrative and plainclothes professionals who need protection without the bulk.

Read More →
Woman kneeling with a Bloodhound in front of a white pickup truck.
PatrolMarch 1, 2026

K-9s Play a Critical Role in Finding Missing Persons

Real-world scenarios show that a tracking canine can detect and follow a human track several hours after it was made.

Read More →
Black background with image of police car light bar, logo for POLICE Topics, Tactics & Tips, and headline What are the latest law enforcement boots from Garmont Tactical?
Patrolby Wayne ParhamFebruary 25, 2026

Garmont Tactical’s LE Boot Lineup

In this video, we get a look at the latest law enforcement boots from Garmont Tactical, both for men and women. Kyle Ferdyn, sales manager, showcases four of the latest boots.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Person in protective CMRN suit and breathing gear.
PatrolFebruary 18, 2026

Avon Protection Launches EXOSKIN-S2 High-Performance CBRN Protective Suit

With the commercial availability of Avon Protection’s EXOSKIN-S2, users now have increased options for their protective suit requirements across the spectrum of CBRN threat environments.

Read More →