Latest news with #SamuelRiveros
CBS News
26-06-2025
- CBS News
Memorial service to be held in Ontario for slain Baldwin Park Officer Samuel Riveros
Memorial services will be held Thursday morning for slain Baldwin Park Police Officer Samuel Riveros, who was fatally shot last month. Family, members from the Baldwin Park Police Department, and state and federal law enforcement officials will gather at the Toyota Arena in Ontario for the service. Riveros, 35, a nine-year veteran of the department, was shot and killed on May 31 while responding to a home after receiving reports of a man with a rifle. Baldwin Park Police Department According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, when officers found the suspect, he "immediately" opened fire on them. Two officers were shot during the incident, as well as the suspect. The officers and the suspect were taken to the hospital, where Riveros was later pronounced dead. A man was also found dead at the home with multiple gunshot wounds. The man was identified as 43-year-old Darius Wong, a Hacienda Heights man and father of two. The suspect, identified as 22-year-old Eduardo Roberto Medina-Berumen, is facing two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder for allegedly firing at two other Baldwin Park police officers. At his first court appearance, Medina-Berumen was ordered to remain in jail without bail until his arraignment on July 31. During a news conference after the incident, Baldwin Park Police Chief Robert Lopez referred to Riveros as 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."
CBS News
11-06-2025
- CBS News
Baldwin Park shooting suspect makes first court appearance, ordered jailed without bail
The 22-year-old man accused of shooting and killing a Baldwin Park police officer, and another man, made his first court appearance on Wednesday and was ordered to remain jailed without bail until his July 31 arraignment. Eduardo Roberto Medina-Berumen, who was injured in a gun battle with police during the May 31 incident, appeared at the Pomona Courthouse for his hearing in a wheelchair. He faces two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of 35-year-old Officer Samuel Riveros and 43-year-old Darius Wong, a Hacienda Heights man and father of two. He also is charged with two counts of attempted murder for allegedly firing at two other Baldwin Park police officers, one who was wounded by gunfire. Wong 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 earlier that 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 was injured as a result of the suspect's gunfire." Riveros, a nine-year department veteran, arrived shortly after and was struck by gunfire, Luna said. More officers responded to the scene and a second officer-involved shooting occurred with the suspect. Medina-Berumen suffered gunshot wounds and was treated in the hospital. An AR-15-style weapon with two high-capacity magazines was recovered at the scene, Luna said earlier. Medina-Berumen also faces a possession of an assault rifle charge. During Wednesday's brief court hearing, Deputy District Attorney Michael Michelena told Superior Court Judge Ramiro P. Cisneros that prosecutors can prove the defendant was standing outside his home with a short-barrel rifle and "started firing indiscriminately." Michelena said Wong was shot before officers arrived. Officers "took him (Medina-Berumen) into custody after he ran out of ammunition," the prosecutor said.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Yahoo
Loved ones honor officer killed in Baldwin Park shooting
A vigil was held to honor the life of Samuel Riveros, 35, a Baldwin Park police officer who was killed in the line of duty. Over 1,000 people gathered outside Baldwin Park City Hall on Friday night, where a large memorial filled with flowers, candles and mementos continues growing. A speaker at the memorial described Riveros as a 'man of character, thoughtfulness and courage.' On May 31, officers responded to a home on the 4200 block of Filhurst Avenue, on reports of a man firing a rifle in the street around 7:15 a.m. When they arrived, they located a victim, Darius Wong, 43, suffering from a gunshot wound to his upper body. He was transported to the hospital and later pronounced dead. The officers were met by gunfire from the rifle-wielding suspect. Riveros began running toward the shots to help his colleagues when he was shot by the suspect. Riveros was airlifted to the hospital where he died from his injuries. The second officer, who was also injured, was hospitalized in stable condition. The suspect, Eduardo Roberto Medina-Berumen, 22, was also struck by gunfire and was hospitalized in stable condition. Authorities said Wong, a father of two young daughters, had just parked his car and was walking to a family party when he was shot. Riveros was a nine-year veteran of the Baldwin Park Police Department. His colleagues remembered him as a dedicated officer and friend who loved serving his community. 'He had a care for this community and he had care for the department,' said Joseph Valencia, a colleague. 'Everything that he did was to make the patch look good and to make his brothers and sisters look good and most importantly, to protect the city.' 'He really is my little brother, but he was my crutch and he didn't know that,' said Sunny Kim, Riveros' police partner. 'I looked to him for that.' 'There is no way for us to convey to you the emptiness and heartache we feel at the loss of our beloved Sammy,' Riveros' sister said at the candlelight vigil on Friday night. On June 3, the suspect, Medina-Berumen, was charged with two counts of murder, along with other charges, the L.A. County District Attorney's Office announced. The charges include special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and the murder of a peace officer. These special circumstances could make Medina-Berumen eligible for the death penalty if he is convicted. L.A. County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said his office will decide at a later date whether to pursue capital punishment. Friends remembered Riveros as a snowboarder and an avid Dodgers fan. Riveros became a law enforcement officer after studying criminology, law and society at UC Irvine. He is survived by his mother, sister and two brothers. His family said funeral arrangements are still in the planning stages and no date has been set. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
03-06-2025
- 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
03-06-2025
- 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.
