Remote-controlled robots were used unsuccessfully to pinpoint the suspect's location in the house. Eventually, chemical agents were deployed into the residence, authorities said.
"Almost immediately ... the suspect emerged out the back door," said Riverside County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Ray Wood. "When he emerged, he was wearing soft body armor and he had a number of high-capacity magazines on his person."
Felix was arrested and is expected to be charged with two counts of first degree murder with the special circumstances of multiple murder and murder of a police officer in the line of duty, authorities said. Riverside County Dist. Atty. Michael Hestrin said his office would decide whether to pursue the death penalty against Felix.
"I consider the brutal murder of a police officer to be a very heinous crime, so I will leave it at that," he said.
The suspect has a history of violence, records show. Felix was previously sentenced to four years in prison in an attempted gangland assassination, reports the
Desert Sun
.
Neighbor Frances Serrano said the suspect's father was afraid and sought her help just before the shooting began. "He said, 'Help. I need help. My son is in the house, and he’s crazy. He has a gun. He’s ready to shoot all the police,'" Serrano recalled the father saying.
The
officers killed
were identified as Officer Jose "Gil" Vega, a 35-year veteran of the department who was due to retire in December, and Officer Lesley Zerebny, who had been with the department 1 ½ years and was the mother of a 4-month-old girl.
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