Man charged with attempted murder of Los Angeles County deputy pleads not guilty

A man accused of ambushing and shooting a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy in West Covina plead not guilty to attempted murder charges Monday morning. 

Raymundo Duran, 47, a known gang member faces charges of attempted murder for the April 22 shooting of Deputy Samuel Aispuro. 

Aispuro was waiting at a traffic light on his sheriff's department motorcycle in full uniform at an intersection in West Covina around 2:45 p.m. when he was shot in the back. Authorities said his bulletproof vest likely saved his life.

Aispuro, a nearly 20-year veteran of the department, was treated at a nearby hospital after being hit by the bullet. The round did not penetrate the deputy's bulletproof vest, according to the sheriff.

"Based on the examination of his vest, he was struck once," Luna said at an early evening briefing at the shooting scene. 

Luna said in an earlier news conference that officers from the Border Division California Highway Patrol arrested Duran later in the evening on Aprill 22 on suspicion of drunk driving and weapons possession charge after finding a firearm in Duran's 2008 silver Camry sedan.  

He was booked into the San Diego County sheriff's jail, where LASD homicide detectives interviewed Duran. Based on statements from Duran, surveillance footage from the West Covina shooting scene, witness statements and the recovered firearm, Duran was linked to the crime. 

"Our detectives strongly believe that Raymundo Duran is the suspect involved in the shooting of out deputy in the city of West Covina," Luna said.  "They took a very dangerous person off the road."

He also said Duran has a very extensive violent criminal history and is a known gang member.

Deputy Aispuro was taken to the hospital for his injury, and subsequently was said to be recovering at home. 

Supervisor Janice Hahn said that Aispuro, 43 years old, was in West Covina for training.

"This could have been so much worse, and it is a reminder to all of us that our deputies put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities," Hahn said in a statement.

Deputy Aispuro has been with the sheriff's department for nearly 20 years and is married with two children ages 4 and 2.

"We'll take care of the family; that's our priority," the LA County Sheriff's Department said.