Trial Begins in Palm Springs Cop-Killing Case

(John Hernandez Felix: Riverside County Sheriff)

The trial has begun in the case of the 2016 shooting deaths of Palm Springs officers Jose Gilbert Vega and Lesley Zerebny.

John Hernandez Felix faces the death penalty for murdering Vega and Zerebny in an ambush style shooting.

Jurors were seen crying during the opening statements and as Deputy District Attorney Manny Bustamante held up the AR-15 rifle used to kill the officers.

Bustamante described the injuries the victims suffered and emphasized how the two were targeted simply because they were police.

Felix's attorney stated the 28-year-old is too intellectually disabled to face capital punishment, but the judge did not agree.

Zerebny and Vega were responding to a call about domestic violence when Felix was wearing body armor when he opened fire on the officers with the rifle.

Vega was a 35-year veteran months away from retirement when he was killed. Zerebny was a rookie officer just back from maternity leave.

Read more at the Desert Sun.


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