Latest news with #DariusWong
CBS News
4 hours ago
- CBS News
Candlelight vigil takes place Friday for slain Baldwin Park Police Officer Samuel Riveros
A candlelight vigil will take place Friday night outside the Baldwin Park Police Department to honor Officer Samuel Riveros, who was shot and killed last Saturday while responding to a call. Police are asking community members to "please come and stand with us in remembrance, love, and solidarity as we reflect on his life, his service, and the impact he had on all of us." Riveros, a nine-year department veteran was shot killed when he responded around 7:15 p.m. Saturday to reports of a man armed with a rifle on the 4200 block of Filhurst Avenue. Two officers had already arrived at the scene, where they found 43-year-old Darius Wong lying on the sidewalk, unresponsive. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said the two officers arrived in separate cars and were "immediately fired upon by this suspect, who had a rifle." The 22-year-old suspect, Eduardo Roberto Medina-Berumen, allegedly shot Riveros as he arrived at the scene. Officer Samuel Riveros. Baldwin Park Police Department Wong, a father of two from Hacienda Heights, was in the area for a family party and was moving his car to park it when he was shot and killed, allegedly by Medina-Berumen. Luna said gunfire was exchanged between police and Medina-Berumen, who was armed with an AR-15-style weapon. One other police officer was injured in the exchange of gunfire, and the suspect was treated at a hospital for his gunshot wounds. He was set to appear in court on Friday, but that was postponed. At an earlier news conference, Baldwin Park Police Chief Robert Lopez called Riveros an "amazing guy." "He answered a call of duty of shots fired to protect our residents in Baldwin Park," Lopez said. "He and his other officer responded and as is customary with any police officer, or any sheriff's deputy, they always respond and go into the fire." Riveros began as a public safety trainee in April 2016 and was sworn in as an officer six months later. He was selected for the department's SWAT team in 2019, where he served for five years. In 2024 he was appointed as a field training officer. Riveros graduated from UC Irvine and was known for his tactical skills and professionalism, according to the BPPD. He was also an avid Dodgers fan and snowboarder. Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell offered his condolences to the family of the officer in a statement. "This heartbreaking loss is a solemn reminder of the risks officers take every day when protecting their community," he said. "Our hearts are with Baldwin Park PD as they mourn a beloved colleague and prayers for his wounded colleague. We stand with you during this time of profound grief."
CBS News
3 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Baldwin Park police shooting suspect faces murder and attempted murder charges
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced murder and attempted murder charges for the 22-year-old man who is accused of killing two people Saturday, including a Baldwin Park police officer. Eduardo Roberto Medina-Berumen faces two counts of first-degree murder of special circumstances for the death of Baldwin PD officer Samuel Riveros and Darius Wong, a 43-year-old father from Hacienda Heights. He also has been charged with two counts of attempted murder, for allegedly firing at two other Baldwin Park police officers, one who was wounded by gunfire. Wong, 43, was shot and killed as he was attempting to park his car on the street after dropping off his daughters, wife, and sister-in-law at a Baldwin Park family party Saturday evening. Minutes later, just after 7:12 p.m., police responded to reports of a man armed with a rifle, shooting on the 4200 block of Filhurst Avenue. Sheriff Robert Luna said as two police officers arrived, they found a man lying on the sidewalk "unresponsive, that ultimately, unfortunately, was Mr. Wong." The two officers who arrived in separate cars, were "immediately fired upon by this suspect, who had a rifle" Luna said. "An officer-involved shooting occurred at that time, and Officer (Anthony) Pimentel. Riveros arrived shortly after and was struck by gunfire, Sheriff Robert Luna said. More officers responded to the scene and a second officer-involved shooting occurred with the suspect. Medina-Berumen suffered gunshot wounds and remains hospitalized in stable condition, Luna said. An AR-15-style weapon with two high-capacity magazines was recovered at the scene. "Every time I hear about an assault rifle like this being used on the street, it makes the hair on my neck stand up …" Luna said. Medina-Berumen also faces a possession of an assault rifle charge. "This tragedy is a painful reminder of the dangers that law enforcement faces daily. Officer Riveros along with his fellow officers ran towards the danger without absolutely no hesitation and that's an act of profound courage… and his sacrifice will not and should not ever be forgotten," Luna said.
CBS News
3 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Family searching for answers after man killed in same Baldwin Park shooting that left police officer dead
Darius Wong, a father of two, dropped his daughters, wife and sister-in-law off outside the front door of a family party in Baldwin Park on Saturday so he could park their car down the street. For reasons that are still unclear to his family, Wong never made it to the party. He was instead shot dead on the street, and now the family says they're seeking justice. Wong, 43 of Hacienda Heights, was the man killed on Filhurst Avenue in Baldwin Park, which led to more tragedy just minutes later. After finding Wong lying on the sidewalk at about 7:12 p.m., a neighbor called the police. Members of the Baldwin Park Police Department arrived and found Wong dead. Darius Wong, 43, was shot and killed on Saturday, May 31, 2025, just before an officer with the Baldwin Park Police Department was allegedly killed by the same suspect. The Vuong Family In the next few moments, the officers encountered a suspect, who authorities say was armed with a rifle. A gun battle ensued, leading to two officers and the suspect being shot. One of the officers, later identified by officials as Samuel Riveros, was pronounced dead at a local hospital. Another officer, Anthony Pimentel, was briefly hospitalized. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department identified the suspect as 22-year-old Eduardo Roberto Medina-Berumen. He was also wounded and remained hospitalized as of Monday, but he could face two murder charges upon his release. It's not yet clear what motive Medina-Berumen could have had when he allegedly shot and killed Wong and Riveros. When speaking with KCAL News, the family of Wong alleged Medina-Berumen got in a dispute over a parking spot with another guest of the party Wong was attending, although he wasn't involved. They say Wong was shot in the back, unclear of the situation. "Darius left this world far too soon and in the most innocent of ways — without truly knowing what was happening," Wong's brother Victor Vuong wrote in an online fundraiser. His family called him a "hardworking man who cared deeply for his family," which includes two daughters who are 3 and 5 years old. L.A. County District Attorney Nathan Hochman's office said charges against Medina-Berumen were set to be announced on Tuesday afternoon.
