A man has been formally charged in connection with last weekend’s shooting in Baldwin Park that killed Officer Samuel Riveros and another man and wounded a second officer.
Eduardo Roberto Medina-Berumen, 22, faces two counts of murder, along with other charges, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced on Tuesday.
The charges include special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and the murder of a peace officer. These special circumstances could make Medina-Berumen eligible for the death penalty if he is convicted.
Hochman said his office will decide at a later date whether to pursue capital punishment.
“Officer Riveros left a lasting impact and loved nothing more than putting on the uniform and protecting the community he served,” Hochman said. “We should never underestimate the dangers that officers face when they report for work, showing up day after day in service of something larger than themselves.”
The murder charges are linked to the Saturday evening gun battle that resulted in the deaths of Riveros, 35, a nine-year veteran of the Baldwin Park Police Department, and 43-year-old Darius Wong, who was a father of two young daughters.
Medina-Berumen is also charged with two counts of attempted murder for allegedly firing shots at two other Baldwin Park police officers.
Officers were dispatched at approximately 7:15 p.m. Saturday to the 4200 block of Filhurst Avenue, on a report of a man with a rifle. Once they arrived, deputies located Wong suffering from a gunshot wound to his upper body. He was transported to a nearby hospital and later pronounced dead.
Authorities said Wong had just parked his car and was walking to a social gathering when he was shot.
When officers arrived, prosecutors said Medina-Berumen opened fire, killing Riveros and wounding another officer, who was taken to a nearby hospital.
Medina-Berumen was also shot when officers returned fire, the DA’s office said.
“Sam was a dedicated officer who represented our department with dignity and honor,” said Baldwin Park Police Chief Robert A. López. “In the face of danger, Sam selflessly put the safety of others before his own and gave his life doing so. We will never forget Sam and we will lean on one another in our shared grief as we move forward.”
Medina-Berumen’s arraignment has not yet been scheduled.
