An El Monte man was charged with two counts of homicide Monday, accused of inflicting a deadly automobile wreck that killed two individuals final week, together with an Alhambra police officer.
Steven Zapata, 27, might face at the least 80 years in jail if convicted of killing 28-year-old officer Alec Sanders and a second sufferer, 42-year-old Gabriela Moreno, in response to a felony criticism.
Zapata is accused of driving a stolen Hyundai sport utility car and fleeing metropolis police when he slammed into Sanders’ police cruiser round 3 a.m. close to Valley Boulevard and Edgewood Drive, in response to the California Freeway Patrol, which investigated the wreck.
Sanders was taken to Los Angeles Normal Medical Heart in Boyle Heights, the place he succumbed to his accidents, authorities stated. Moreno, who was using within the stolen car, was ejected upon influence and died on the scene, in response to police.
Zapata shouldn’t be anticipated to look in courtroom till subsequent week, in response to a spokeswoman for the district legal professional’s workplace. He was significantly injured within the crash and stays hospitalized. It was not instantly clear if he had authorized illustration.
Deputy Dist. Atty. Eric Siddall, who’s attempting the case, stated Sanders was considered one of a number of officers who had simply acquired a name to assist within the chase when the lethal crash occurred.
Alhambra Police Chief Garrett Kennedy instructed reporters final week that Sanders had been with the division for about eight months and had beforehand served with the Lengthy Seashore Police Division.
“He’s identified for his unwavering reliability,” Kennedy stated. “He was the kind of officer who responded to each name whether or not he was dispatched to it or not.”
