California investigators announced that a suspect has been charged for the attempted murders of two Los Angeles sheriff’s deputies who were ambushed as they sat inside their squad car on Sept. 12.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva and District Attorney Jackie Lacey announced the arrest of Deonte Lee Murray, 36, during a news conference Wednesday. Murray is facing two counts each of premeditated attempted murder of a peace officer and possession of a firearm by a felon, according to CBS Los Angeles.
The ambush left the city stunned after video was released that showed the two deputies, a 24-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman, sitting in their car when a man approached and began firing multiple shots into the vehicle before fleeing. Both were hospitalized with gunshot wounds.
Murray was arrested on Sept. 15 for an unrelated carjacking and shooting in Compton. Investigators said forensic evidence led them to tie Murray to the ambush of the two deputies. Authorities said that Murray also fled the scene of the deputies shooting in the same black Mercedes he allegedly carjacked in the separate incident.
“The carjacking suspect’s photograph, when compared to the suspect’s image in the surveillance video of the attempted murder, strengthened the possibility that he was involved,” Homicide Bureau Capt. Kent Wegener told reporters on Wednesday.
Wegener did not reveal a potential motive for the ambush “other than the fact that he obviously hates policemen, and he wants them dead,” according to the Associated Press.
The case drew national attention after protesters gathered outside the hospital following the shooting and were heard chanting, “We hope they die.” Two protesters were arrested as law enforcement broke up the gathering.
Both of the deputies involved in the shooting have since been released from the hospital. Sheriff Alex Villanueva said on Wednesday that the two face long recoveries and additional reconstructive surgeries.
If convicted, Murray faces up to life in prison.
