Two police officers dead, one wounded in Palm Springs shooting

By
Casey Dolan
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slain-officers

Three police officers were shot in Palm Springs on Saturday, according to KMIR. The shooting happened near Cypress and Del Lago Rd.

Two officers died and a third was injured, reports the Desert Sun.  The deceased officers have been identified as Jose “Gil” Gilbert Vega, a 35-year veteran, and Leslie Zerebny, a 27-year old new mother who had just given birth 4 months ago.

The third officer shot was hospitalized, but is alert and providing investigators with information, according to ABC 7.

The suspect remains at large.

Update 2:41 pm: Palm Springs Police have confirmed that three officers have been shot.

Update: 2:55 pm: Witnesses told the Desert Sun that they heard between 10 and 20 gunshots from what sounded like machine guns.

“It sounded like fireworks at first,”  Juan Garciano told the newspaper.

Update: 3:05 pm: The officers had been responding to a “family disturbance”:

Update 3:27 pm: The Desert Sun reports that two of the officers have died:

Update: 4:22 pm: Here is an aerial view of the area:

Update 4:40 pm: The deceased officers have been identified as Jose “Gil” Gilbert Vega and Leslie Zerebny.

Update: 6:01 pm: one of the residents of the neighborhood told KMIR he heard “at least 30 shots”:

Update: 6:05 pm: the suspect has not been detained:

Update 6:13 pm: Photos of the slain officers: Jose “Gil” Gilbert Vega and Leslie Zerebny.

Update 6:22 pm: Police are asking people not to Periscope or Facebook Live police activity in the area:

Update: 6:34 pm: There will be a Law Enforcement Procession leaving Desert Regional Medical Center at approximately 7:00 pm that will be escorting the bodies of the deceased officers to the Riverside County Sheriff Coroner’s Office in Indio.

The route will be as follows:

  • Leave Desert Regional Medical Center and travel North on Indian Canyon Drive.
  • East on Vista Chino.
  • Enter I-10 freeway from Vista Chino and DatePalm Drive.
  • Travel East on I-10
  • Exit Golf Center Drive to Highway 111 to Oasis and arrive at the Coroner’s office.

(note: this has been delayed 60 to 90 minutes)

Update: 6:42 pm: KTLA reports that the suspect has been isolated in a 4 block radius.  Officers have surrounded a house but are not certain the suspect is inside.

Update: 6:57pm: Officer “Gil” Vega was a father of 8 and had submitted his paperwork to retire in December after 35 years on the Palm Springs Police force, according to the Desert Sun.

Officer Lesley Zerebny had joined the force a year and a half ago.  She had recently been on maternity leave after giving birth four months ago.  Her husband is a Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputy.

Update: 8:36 pm: Police are sending a robot into the area where the suspect is believed to be hiding:

Update 3:07 am: The suspect has been identified and taken into custody.  He is 26-year-old John Felix who suffered non-life threatening injuries.

Felix was sentenced to four years in prison in an attempted gangland assassination in 2009, reports the Desert Sun. More details here.

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