In preparation for a memorial service for two El Monte police officers killed last week during a skirmish at a motel with a suspect, a coroner released more details on Monday about what happened at the Siesta Inn.
Corporal According to Sheriff Lieutenant Omar Camacho, Michael Paredes, Officer Joseph Santana, and a sergeant who is a field inspector went to a motel at 10327 Garvey Avenue on June 14 to check for an injured woman, possibly stabbed.
As far as he knows, the officers arrived separately. According to him, 35-year-old Justin Flores and his wife were in one of the rooms. According to him, Flores had a gun.
“At some point, she came out,” Camacho said, adding that gunfire began shortly after the woman left the room.
According to him, both officers were shot dead on the premises.
Flores left the room.
“He tried to run,” Camacho said.
According to him, Flores collided with other officers who arrived at the scene. A second police shooting broke out in the parking lot.
According to Camacho, the sergeant was shot in the leg and Flores was hit by police, but it has not yet been determined whether this happened during the shooting in the hotel room or in the parking lot. He said the sergeant was treated and released on Tuesday evening.
Flores died of a gunshot wound to the head, and the coroner ruled his death a suicide. Camacho did not say if Flores took or used one of the officers’ pistols.
Paredes and Santana later died at USC Los Angeles County Medical Center.
The investigation is ongoing. He added that detectives are still conducting interrogations and reviewing video, including body-camera video, security camera video, and video from the public. According to him, it is necessary to interview other people again.
Flores, who was already on strike due to a previous conviction for burglary, was on probation for a gun violation when the shooting occurred in El Monte.
On March 19, 2020, the prosecutor charged him with a crime related to possession of weapons, possession of ammunition and drugs. The crime happened on March 14, 2020.
Flores made the deal, pleaded not to be a gun-wielding criminal, and was sentenced on February 10, 2021 to two years of probation, 20 days in county jail, and 30 days of community service. Two other charges were dropped.
According to Deputy District Attorney Eric Siddall, California’s strike law would have required a minimum sentence of 32 months for Flores.
Santana’s mother, Olga Garcia, blamed County Assemblyman George Gascon for the policies that she said led to Flores’ early release.
