PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — A gunman used an assault rifle to kill two police officers who were responding to a domestic disturbance call at the California home of the suspect’s family, authorities said Tuesday.
The shooter, identified by police as 26-year-old John Felix, was prohibited from legally possessing firearms because of a prior felony conviction, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement.
Police officers arriving at the Palm Springs home on Saturday were told by a relative that Felix had an unknown weapon.
Officers spoke with Felix through a metal screen door before he opened fire, the statement said.
Felix was arrested after a gun battle and lengthy standoff with police. He is expected to be charged with murder in the deaths of Palm Springs Officers Jose “Gil” Gilbert Vega and Lesley Zerebny.
Another officer was treated for a gunshot wound and released from a hospital.
A neighborhood home surveillance system recorded the sound of dozens of gunshots echoing through the ordinarily quiet neighborhood. Its camera did not show the officers.
A neighbor, Frances Serrano, told The Associated Press that the suspect’s panicked father, Santos Felix, told her just before the shooting that his son was armed and “acting crazy.”
A makeshift memorial outside police headquarters in the desert resort town of 45,000 people about 100 miles east of Los Angeles featured balloons, flowers, stuffed animals, American flags and cards.
Memorial services will be held for the officers on Oct. 18.
