3 Gang Members Charged With Attempted Murder After Shooting At Police Officers
SANTA ANA (CBS) — Three 19-year-old suspected gang members were charged Monday with attempted murder for allegedly shooting at two Anaheim police officers in an unmarked car.
Juan Carlos Covarrubias, Jordy Roman Martinez and Andrew Gomez Sanchez face two counts of attempted murder on a police officer and one count each of shooting at an occupied motor vehicle and street terrorism, along with sentence-enhancing allegations of vicarious shooting of a gun by a gang member and gang activity.
The three, all Anaheim residents, were each being held in lieu of $1 million bail.
If convicted, they could face up to 45 years to life in prison, Deputy District Attorney Gary LoGalbo said.
The trio allegedly pulled up in their car in front of the officers' unmarked squad car about 3:30 a.m. Friday and blocked the victims on Palm Street at Boysen Avenue, LoGalbo said.
It's not clear whether the defendants knew there were police officers in the car or what motivated the attack, LoGalbo said.
One of the defendants got out of the passenger side of the car and opened fire on the officers, who were not hurt, LoGalbo alleged.
The officers put on their car's lights and sirens and quickly retreated, but the defendants allegedly pursued the patrol car and one of the suspects allegedly again shot at the officers, LoGalbo said.
The defendants attempted to drive away when other officers arrived, LoGalbo said. The defendants' car crashed while making a U-turn at Midway Drive and Anaheim Boulevard, LoGalbo said.
The three got out of the car and tried to flee, but Martinez and Covarrubias were arrested quickly.
Sanchez was apprehended about an hour later, LoGalbo said.
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