The man who shot and killed two El Monte police officers died at the scene of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, according to the Los Angeles County coroner.
Authorities said Justin William Flores, 35, shot the two officers moments after they entered a motel room where he had been holed up Tuesday and then ran into the parking lot, where he exchanged a second round of gunfire with other responding officers.El Monte police officer Joseph Anthony Santana, 31, and his partner, Cpl. Michael Domingo Paredes, 42, were killed around 5:10 p.m. Tuesday during the gunfight with Flores at the Siesta Inn, 10327 Garvey Ave.
"It's unfortunate it takes tragedy to bring the community together," El Monte Mayor Jessica Ancona told the crowd. "However, I am grateful that we are here to mourn the lives of these two brave men." Gascón's critics have noted that Flores -- a felon with a history of arrests -- was given a plea deal last year that allowed him to avoid prison time for being in possession of a firearm.
The District Attorney's Office issued a statement Wednesday night saying, "The sentence received in the firearm case was consistent with case resolutions for this type of offense given his criminal history and the nature of the offense. At the time the court sentenced him, Mr. Flores did not have a documented history of violence."
Wheeler said the ALADS Board of Directors voted Friday to contribute another $100,000 to the Gascón recall effort.
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