22-year-old ID'd as suspect in Baldwin Park shooting that left 2 dead, including police officer
BALDWIN PARK, Calif. (KABC) -- The suspect accused of shooting and killing two people, including a Baldwin Park police officer, has been identified as a 22-year-old man.
Eduardo Roberto Medina-Berumen was arrested Saturday following a shootout with police officers on Filhurst Avenue, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
He is now facing two counts of murder and is being held on $4 million bail.
Officer Samuel Riveros, 35, was fatally shot during a gun battle with the suspect after he responded to a call of shots fired over the weekend. When officers arrived at the scene, they were met by gunfire.
Riveros is survived by his mother, stepfather, two brothers, one sister, brother-in-law, sister-in-law and nieces and nephews. A Fund-A-Hero fundraiser has been set up to help the family with funeral costs.
Officer Anthony Pimentel was injured in the shooting, but has since been released from the hospital.
Medina-Berumen was struck during the exchange of gunfire with officers. He was last said to be in stable condition at the hospital.
Meanwhile, investigators are still trying to determine a motive for the shooting.
"There's victims, and that's what's hurting me. My son, he's definitely going through something," the suspect's mother told Eyewitness News off-camera.
Medina-Berumen is also suspected of shooting a third victim who was found dead on the street when officers arrived.
Neighbors said they saw Medina-Berumen with a rifle.
"I saw him over there shooting, shooting up, and shooting that way, and loading," said neighbor Juan Rauvalcaba.
Family members said the victim was a father and husband who had dropped off his wife and children at a gathering.
The victim then left to park the car. Video shows him walking along the sidewalk on Palm Avenue just after 7 p.m. He walks out of the frame, where he turns the corner onto Filhurst Avenue.
About two minutes later, four gunshots can be heard in the video.
"We just heard, you know, three loud noises. We didn't know it was gunshots," said neighbor Tamara Ayala. "We pulled up the camera, and then my mom came outside, and then we saw him laying on the floor."
Neighbors told Eyewitness News that the shooting may have been sparked by an argument over a parking spot.
"One of the neighbors was having a housewarming party. The new neighbors across the street," said Esther, who lives in the neighborhood. "So the guy, the shooter, came out and told, apparently, the guy that was parking there, 'You cannot park there.' And the guy still parked there, and that's what started the whole process."
Family of the deceased victim said he was not involved in that argument, but was caught in the crossfire.
Investigators have not released details on the official cause of the shooting.
In a Ring camera video obtained by ABC7, more than a dozen gunshots could be heard that went on for more than 10 seconds.
"It sounded like fireworks, like strobe rockets or something, just going off constantly back and forth," one neighbor said. "I thought it was just fireworks, but then you hear patrol cars from everywhere, coming in, swarming."
"I was watching the Dodger game and heard the helicopter really low. It was crazy. I walked outside and there was all kinds of cop cars flying down the street," said area resident Edson Chavez.
Another Ring camera video shows the moments the civilian who was killed ran for his life and was gunned down.
"I guess he ran through the middle and he came, worked his way over here, and he fell right there," said neighbor Norma Lemus. "So when I came over here to see, he was already on the ground, and that's all I saw."
The video then shows police officers returning shots with the gunman, as the man lies dying on the sidewalk. That's when Riveros was shot and killed.
"I was in shock, and I still am, you know, it's not something you see every day," Lemus said. "I just felt sorry for him."
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger ordered all flags at all county facilities be lowered to half-staff in remembrance of Officer Riveros, who had been with the department since 2016.
A memorial has been placed where the civilian died. Medina-Berumen is expected to face murder charges in both deaths.
Meanwhile, a vigil is expected to be held at the Baldwin Park police department on Friday night in honor of Riveros.
