Judge: CHP Officer's Killer Sentenced To Death
PLACERVILLE (CBS13) -- A Northern California man has been sentenced to death for killing a California Highway Patrol officer during a high-speed chase.
A judge ruled to uphold the jury's recommendation for the death penalty for David Zanon at this morning's sentencing in El Dorado County. Zanon was convicted in the July 2007 death of CHP Officer Scott Russell.
46-year-old Russell was killed when Zanon deliberately swerved and hit Russell as he put down spike strips on Highway 50 in El Dorado County.
Zanon also was found guilty of the attempted murder of another CHP officer who earlier had also tried to end the pursuit with a spike strip, as well as a Sacramento County sheriff's deputy involved in the chase.
The pursuit had begun about 30 miles away when officers responded to a report that Zanon was burglarizing a business in the Sacramento suburb of Rancho Cordova.
