Plea Deal Reached In Attempted Murder Of CHP Officer In Oakland
OAKLAND (CBS SF) – The Oakland Police Department announced on Thursday that a plea deal has been reached with four men, believed to be members of the Norteno gang, in a case involving the attempted murder of a California Highway Patrol officer last summer in East Oakland.
It was on July 21, 2012 when the CHP officer attempted to pull over a van in East Oakland and was rammed and shot at by two men in another car, who were associated with the two in the van.
Authorities said all four suspects drove to Hayward in a van and carjacked a black Acura. Two drove back to Oakland in the van while the other two drove to Oakland in the carjacked vehicle.
Plea Deal Reached In Case Involving Suspected Gang Members, CHP Officer In Oakland
At 8:30 p.m., the CHP officer attempted to pull over the van for failing to yield and police said at that time, the Acura rammed the officer's car, before firing shots at the vehicle.
Alameda County Deputy District Attorney Elgin Lowe said the teen, who was 18 years old when he fired the gun, pleaded guilty on Friday.
"Joseph Gonzalez was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon, a semi-automatic firearm against the officer," said Lowe. "He also pled to a personal use enhancement and a gang enhancement."
The plea deal for Gonzalez calls for a 27 year state prison sentence.
His brother, 24-year-old David Gonzalez and 19-year-old Samiuela Sina were convicted of carjacking in the case. Gonzalez received a three year sentence and Sina received eight years.
Oakland Police Department interim Chief Sean Whent said 17-year-old Kenyon Thomas pleaded guilty to a robbery charge and will get five years probation.
"I wanted to take the opportunity to thank all the agencies who were involved in this incident," Whent said. "The manhunt for the suspects and the vigorous and swift prosecution in this case. We have taken four dangerous criminals off the street."
The CHP officer involved in the incident was uninjured and continues to work in Oakland.
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