Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna announced on Tuesday that a gang member in San Onofre who shot a deputy in the back while he was sitting on his department motorcycle at a West Covina stoplight has been arrested by California Highway Patrol officers.
Deputy Samuel Aispuro, 43, experienced a shocking incident on Monday around 2:45 p.m. when he was shot in what authorities described as an “ambush” at the intersection of Barranca Street and East Garvey Avenue. Despite being injured, Aispuro demonstrated remarkable resilience by immediately calling for assistance via radio, which set off an extensive search operation. Following the incident, the deputy received medical treatment and is currently recuperating comfortably at his residence, according to Luna.
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CHP officers arrested Raymundo Duran, 47, on Monday evening for allegedly driving under the influence and possessing a loaded firearm at a San Onofre inspection point. Initially booked as a suspected drunk driver, Duran was later connected to the West Covina shooting by investigators, according to Luna.
“We were able to piece together all the evidence through meticulous detective work,” Luna stated. Following this, the sheriff’s homicide detectives conducted an interview with Duran at the San Diego County jail.”
According to Luna, the detectives have strong evidence, including witness statements, security camera footage from West Covina, and the firearm recovered by CHP, that points to Raymundo Duran as the primary suspect in the shooting of our deputy. Currently, Duran is in custody at the San Diego County jail, with bail set at $1 million.
According to Luna, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) is currently analyzing the weapon that was seized, as it is suspected to be the same one that was used in the shooting. The CHP is conducting forensic tests on the weapon to gather valuable evidence.
According to Sheriff Luna, Duran is a known gang member with a history of violence. Luna declined to mention the specific gang Duran is associated with but emphasized that Duran has an extensive criminal background. Luna also noted that Duran should not have been in possession of a firearm given his criminal history.
Luna stated that additional information regarding Duran’s motivation and the events that transpired will only be disclosed during the court proceedings.
The sheriff expressed gratitude to the witnesses of the shooting who promptly assisted the injured deputy. “Your information eventually proved to be crucial. In our perspective, you are true heroes.”
According to Luna, Aispuro, who is a married father of two, is currently doing well and spending quality time with his family at home.
Luna emphasized that the deputy’s life was saved by his bulletproof vest, stating that if he hadn’t been wearing it, the incident could have resulted in a murder investigation.
Aispuro, an experienced member of the department for nearly two decades, issued an emergency broadcast containing detailed information about the Camry, according to Luna. This crucial piece of information helped authorities locate a residence in La Puente. While several individuals were detained at the house, they were ultimately released without being arrested.
According to a statement from L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn, Aispuro was stationed at the Century station in Lynwood and underwent training in West Covina.
“This incident could have resulted in a far more severe outcome, serving as a poignant reminder that our dedicated deputies courageously risk their lives daily to safeguard our communities,” she expressed. “I am steadfast in my commitment to assist the sheriff and his team as they diligently strive to apprehend the individual accountable for this heinous act.”
