Latest news with #Riveros
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Murder charges filed in triple shooting that left Baldwin Park police officer dead
A 22-year-old man who gunned down a Baldwin Park police officer after allegedly killing his neighbor Saturday night will face multiple murder charges, prosecutors said Tuesday. Eduardo Medina-Berumen was charged with two counts of murder with special circumstances, two counts of attempted murder and possession of an assault pistol in connection with the bursts of gunfire that killed Baldwin Park Police Officer Samuel Riveros and Darius Wong. If convicted as charged, he faces life without the possibility of parole. A rifle and as many as 60 spent shell casings were found at the scene, Los Angeles Couty Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman said. Riveros was responding to reports of a shooting in the 4200 block of Filhurst Avenue when Medina allegedly shot him in the head, according to two law enforcement sources with knowledge of the case. The sources requested anonymity to discuss the active investigation. Pimentel was released from the hospital Tuesday, according to a Sheriff's Department spokeswoman. Read more: 'A night of tragedy': A young officer who loved Dodgers, snowboarding killed in Baldwin Park shootout Although investigators are still working to determine a motive in the killings, neighbors and two law enforcement sources told The Times there was a parking dispute outside the residence where Medina-Berumen lived shortly before gunshots erupted. Medina-Berumen allegedly shot Darius Wong, 43 — who sources said was the neighbor involved in the parking dispute — shortly before officers arrived. Medina-Berumen was living with his grandmother and mother, who called police on her son in recent months because he was "acting weird," according to the suspect's father, Eduardo Medina. 'I don't understand,' Medina said. 'It's so sad. It's not good. It's not good at all.' Read more: Dodgers star Freddie Freeman's family appreciated kind gesture from slain Baldwin Park officer Friends remembered Riveros as a snowboarder and avid Dodgers fan who at times traveled to other cities to watch the teams play road games. Riveros had been an officer since 2016, records show. 'Officer Riveros gave his life in service to others, a profound testament to his unwavering dedication to duty and selfless courage,' the L.A. County Sheriff's Department, which is investigating the killings, wrote in a statement. 'His loss is profoundly felt — not only by his family and colleagues, but by the entire Baldwin Park community and law enforcement family." Wong's brother, Victor Vuong, said his brother was an "innocent bystander that was walking down the street where he was shot in the back," according to a post connected to an online fundraiser meant to help cover funeral costs and family expenses. Wong was walking to a party after he had dropped off his wife, two children and sister-in-law and then parked his car several blocks away, the post said. Had they been with him, they may have been killed too. "He was a hardworking man who cared deeply for his family," Vuong wrote on GoFundMe. "His passion for helping others extended beyond his own family. He dedicated himself to show up to work everyday at Choc Orange Hospital." Times Staff Writer Matthew Ormseth contributed to this report. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
7 days ago
- General
- Los Angeles Times
Murder charges filed in triple shooting that left Baldwin Park police officer dead
A 22-year-old man who gunned down a Baldwin Park police officer after allegedly killing his neighbor Saturday night will face multiple murder charges, prosecutors said Tuesday. Eduardo Medina-Berumen was charged with two counts of murder with special circumstances, two counts of attempted murder and possession of an assault pistol in connection with the bursts of gunfire that killed Baldwin Park Police Officer Samuel Riveros and Darius Wong. If convicted as charged, he faces life without the possibility of parole. A rifle and as many as 60 spent shell casings were found at the scene, Los Angeles Couty Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman said. Riveros was responding to reports of a shooting in the 4200 block of Filhurst Avenue when Medina allegedly shot him in the head, according to two law enforcement sources with knowledge of the case. The sources requested anonymity to discuss the active investigation. Riveros was racing to try and aid his partner, Officer Anthony Pimentel, who was also wounded in the shooting. He was released from the hospital Tuesday, according to a sheriff's department spokeswoman. While investigators are still working to determine a motive in the killings, neighbors and two law enforcement sources told The Times there was a parking dispute outside the residence where Medina-Berumen lived shortly before gunshots erupted. Medina-Berumen allegedly shot Darius Wong, 43 — who sources said was the neighbor involved in the parking dispute — shortly before officers arrived. Medina-Berumen was living with his grandmother and mother, who called police on her son in recent months because he was 'acting weird,' according to the suspect's father, Eduardo Medina. 'I don't understand,' Medina said. 'It's so sad. It's not good. It's not good at all.' Friends remembered Riveros as a snowboarder and avid Dodgers fan who at times traveled to other cities to watch the teams play road games. Riveros had been an officer since 2016, records show. 'Officer Riveros gave his life in service to others, a profound testament to his unwavering dedication to duty and selfless courage,' the L.A. County Sheriff's Department, which is investigating the killings, wrote in a statement. 'His loss is profoundly felt—not only by his family and colleagues, but by the entire Baldwin Park community and law enforcement family.' Wong's brother, Victor Vuong, said his brother was an 'innocent bystander that was walking down the street where he was shot in the back,' according to a post connected to an online fundraiser meant to help cover funeral costs and family expenses. Wong was walking to a party after he had dropped his wife, two children and sister-in-law off then parked the car several blocks away, the post said. Had they been with him, they may have been killed too. 'He was a hardworking man who cared deeply for his family,' Vuong wrote on GoFundMe. 'His passion for helping others extended beyond his own family. He dedicated himself to show up to work everyday at Choc Orange Hospital.' Times Staff Writer Matthew Ormseth contributed to this report.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Dodgers star Freddie Freeman's family appreciated kind gesture from slain Baldwin Park officer
Tears flowed from Freddie Freeman as he sat in a Dodger Stadium interview room Aug. 5 and described the arduous recovery his 3-year-old son Max was making from a rare neurological condition in which the body's immune system attacks the nerves. Max had returned home from a five-night stay at Children's Hospital Orange County, and Freeman was back in the Dodgers lineup after missing eight games to be with his family during the ordeal. Two months later, the Dodgers were playing host to the New York Mets in the National League Championship Series. A police officer approached Freeman's wife, Chelsea, to ask how Max was doing. The officer, Samuel Riveros of the Baldwin Park Police Dept., smiled and handed her a police patch to give to Max. Riveros was killed Saturday in Baldwin Park when a gunman fatally shot him in the head while Riveros was rushing to the aid of a fellow officer who also had been shot, a law enforcement source with knowledge of the investigation told The Times. Read more: 'A night of tragedy': A young officer who loved Dodgers, snowboarding killed in Baldwin Park shootout Chelsea Freeman related meeting Riveros on her Instagram Stories and offered her family's condolences. "Our hearts are heavy hearing of his passing this week," she posted. "We met during the Dodgers/Mets playoffs. He came up to me, asked how my son Max was doing and handed me his police patch to give to him. 'A small gesture that meant so much.' Freddie Freeman was a World Series hero for the Dodgers in 2024, hitting a walk-off grand slam to win Game 1 against the New York Yankees. He is off to a hot start in 2025, currently leading the NL with a .368 batting average. Riveros had been a Baldwin Park officer since 2016, joined the agency's SWAT team in 2019, and had recently become a field training officer, which in a statement the agency called a 'testament to his leadership and mentorship.' Riveros was known for his devotion to the Dodgers, even traveling to the stadiums of opposing teams to watch them play, according to Baldwin Park Police Chief Robert A. López. 'Officer Riveros gave his life in service to others, a profound testament to his unwavering dedication to duty and selfless courage,' the Los Angeles Sheriff's Dept. wrote in a statement. 'His loss is profoundly felt — not only by his family and colleagues, but by the entire Baldwin Park community and law enforcement family." Read more: Back with Dodgers, Freddie Freeman details son's 'heartbreaking' fight for life Eduardo Roberto Medina-Berumen, 22, was arrested on suspicion of murder and is being held in lieu of $4 million bail, according to the Sheriff's Department. He lives with his mother at the Baldwin Park address on Filhurst Avenue, where gunfire erupted Saturday night, a source said. 'This tragic shooting is a sobering reminder of the danger our first responders face when they answer the call,' Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman said in a statement. Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
7 days ago
- Health
- Los Angeles Times
Dodgers star Freddie Freeman's family appreciated kind gesture from slain Baldwin Park officer
Tears flowed from Freddie Freeman as he sat in a Dodger Stadium interview room Aug. 5 and described the arduous recovery his 3-year-old son Max was making from a rare neurological condition in which the body's immune system attacks the nerves. Max had returned home from a five-night stay at Children's Hospital Orange County, and Freeman was back in the Dodgers lineup after missing eight games to be with his family during the ordeal. Two months later, the Dodgers were playing host to the New York Mets in the National League Championship Series. A police officer approached Freeman's wife, Chelsea, to ask how Max was doing. The officer, Samuel Riveros of the Baldwin Park Police Dept., smiled and handed her a police patch to give to Max. Riveros was killed Saturday in Baldwin Park when a gunman fatally shot him in the head while Riveros was rushing to the aid of a fellow officer who also had been shot, a law enforcement source with knowledge of the investigation told The Times. Chelsea Freeman related meeting Riveros on her Instagram Stories and offered her family's condolences. 'Our hearts are heavy hearing of his passing this week,' she posted. 'We met during the Dodgers/Mets playoffs. He came up to me, asked how my son Max was doing and handed me his police patch to give to him. 'A small gesture that meant so much.' Freddie Freeman was a World Series hero for the Dodgers in 2024, hitting a walk-off grand slam to win Game 1 against the New York Yankees. He is off to a hot start in 2025, currently leading the NL with a .368 batting average. Riveros had been a Baldwin Park officer since 2016, joined the agency's SWAT team in 2019, and had recently become a field training officer, which in a statement the agency called a 'testament to his leadership and mentorship.' Riveros was known for his devotion to the Dodgers, even traveling to the stadiums of opposing teams to watch them play, according to Baldwin Park Police Chief Robert A. López. 'Officer Riveros gave his life in service to others, a profound testament to his unwavering dedication to duty and selfless courage,' the Los Angeles Sheriff's Dept. wrote in a statement. 'His loss is profoundly felt — not only by his family and colleagues, but by the entire Baldwin Park community and law enforcement family.' Eduardo Roberto Medina-Berumen, 22, was arrested on suspicion of murder and is being held in lieu of $4 million bail, according to the Sheriff's Department. He lives with his mother at the Baldwin Park address on Filhurst Avenue, where gunfire erupted Saturday night, a source said. 'This tragic shooting is a sobering reminder of the danger our first responders face when they answer the call,' Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman said in a statement.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'A night of tragedy': 2 dead in Baldwin Park shootout, including young officer
A young Baldwin Park police officer who loved the Dodgers and was an avid snowboarder was killed in a shooting late Saturday that also left a civilian dead and another officer injured. Officer Samuel Riveros, 35, was identified Sunday as the officer who died, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. He had been rushed to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center but was pronounced dead at the hospital, according to medical examiner's records. The injured officer, Anthony Pimentel, was released from the hospital Sunday. The identities of the male suspect accused of firing at the officers and the civilian man found shot to death near the shooting were not released as of Sunday afternoon. Juan Ruvalcaba, 81, lives across the street from where the shooting began Saturday night. He told The Times on Sunday that he initially thought he was hearing firecrackers but then saw his neighbor shooting what appeared to be a long gun. He said the young man was in his own front yard and seemed to be shooting into the air and in the direction of a different nearby street — but he didn't see the man aiming at anyone or anything in particular. Still, he said, he called the man's grandmother, who lived with him, and warned her to hide under a bed and not let her grandson inside. 'Don't open it, not even to him," Ruvalcaba told the grandmother before going inside his own home. He said he couldn't see any other part of what happened next but was shaken by the two deaths. "Thank God that I'm still here," Ruvalcaba said. At a Sunday news conference, Baldwin Park Police Chief Robert A. López fought back tears. 'It's extremely tragic to have to deal with this,' he said. López said Riveros loved to travel to Dodgers games and watch the team play at different stadiums. "Officer Riveros gave his life in service to others, a profound testament to his unwavering dedication to duty and selfless courage," the Sheriff's Department wrote in a statement. "His loss is profoundly felt—not only by his family and colleagues, but by the entire Baldwin Park community and law enforcement family. The death of an innocent civilian only deepens this tragedy. Our hearts and prayers go out to the victim's loved ones as they endure unimaginable grief." He had been an officer at the Baldwin Park Police Department since 2016, officials said. According to a LinkedIn profile that matched Riveros' information, he became a law enforcement officer after studying criminology, law and society at UC Irvine. There he had played lacrosse and mentored youth in Orange County as part of the Criminology Outreach Program. He is survived by his mother and sister. 'When danger erupted last night and the call went out for help, it was our Baldwin Park police officers who responded without hesitation, reflecting the best of bravery and conviction to serve," Baldwin Park Mayor Alejandra Avila said in a statement Sunday. "On behalf of our council and city hall staff, I offer our sincerest condolences to the victims, our Baldwin Park police department community and the families of those affected by this violence. Last night was a night of tragedy for our community." Read more: Police officer, civilian killed, another officer hurt as violence erupts in Baldwin Park Baldwin Park police officers initially responded to a call around 7:12 p.m. about a person shooting rounds with a rifle near 4200 Filhurst Ave. and a possible body on the sidewalk, officials said. When they arrived in the area, they were 'met by gunfire,' Sheriff Robert Luna said. In the shootout that followed, two officers were shot. The wounded officers were rushed to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center — one by air and one by ground transport. Officers at the scene also found the civilian man dead in the frontyard of the home where they encountered the suspect, according to Baldwin Park officials. He was also taken to the hospital but died there of his injuries, sheriff's officials said. The suspect was also wounded but was listed as stable Sunday afternoon. Luna said investigators had recovered the weapon. Luna said it was unclear how many shots were fired. His agency is leading the investigation into the shooting. On Sunday morning, the area around 13500 Palm Ave. remained an active crime scene. The entire block was still cordoned off as emergency vehicles and investigators flooded the area. But by the afternoon, the street had reopened. Several residents were hosing away what appeared to be bloodstains from a few spots on the street, sidewalks and nearby lawns. Damage from bullet holes was obvious on windows of both a home and a police cruiser. Joe Rya, who lives about a block from where the shooting occurred, said he was still in shock. 'You could hear the bullets flying,' Rya recalled. 'Shots were banging off things, I told the children to get down.' He said he'd lived in the neighborhood for 34 years and considered it relatively quiet, though he said they hear occasional gunshots. The majority-Latino community is made up of modest single-family homes, most with fences around their frontyards. Beginning at 7:16 p.m. Saturday, 11 shots rang out on Palm Avenue, according to video footage reviewed by The Times. A homeowner whose Ring camera captured the shooting, who declined to give his name, said he initially thought the gunshots were fireworks. Only later did he look outside and see police cars flooding the street. He also considered the neighborhood usually 'pretty calm,' he said from his frontyard Saturday night, just steps from police tape that cordoned off the next block. Until Saturday, he couldn't recall any shootings in his nine years living on Palm Avenue, he said. According to another video reviewed by The Times, six additional shots were fired at 7:26 p.m. near the corner of Palm and Filhurst avenues as helicopters circled overhead. By 9 p.m. Saturday, multiple law enforcement agencies had descended on the neighborhood and were going door to door around the area. Police cars from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and West Covina and El Monte police departments were stationed in the neighborhood. 'I extend my sincerest condolences to the family, friends, colleagues and community members affected by the shooting of police officers in Baldwin Park yesterday,' Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) said in a statement. 'I also want to express condolences to the fallen officer and his family. Thank you for the courage you held and the deeply humble decision you made to protect and serve the people of Baldwin Park, may you rest easy.' Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell also extended his condolences to the community on behalf of his agency. "This heartbreaking loss is a solemn reminder of the risk officers take every day when protecting their community," McDonnell said in a statement. "Our hearts are with Baldwin Park PD as they mourn a beloved colleague, and prayers for his wounded colleague." Times staff photographer Luke Johnson and Rebecca Ellis contributed to this report. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
