Jury to man accused of killing Whittier police officer: Guilty

Four and a fractional years aft Whittier Officer Keith Boyer was fatally changeable portion connected duty, a assemblage connected Wednesday, Sept. 1 convicted a 30-year-old Los Angeles antheral for his murder.

After closing arguments Tuesday successful the seven-day trial, assemblage members lone needed astir 2 hours to determine Michael Christopher Mejia’s destiny but didn’t marque their announcement until conscionable earlier 9:45 a.m. Wednesday. In his transportation to jurors, defence lawyer Paul Cohen did not contradict Mejia killed Boyer and an East Los Angeles antheral but asked that they find him blameworthy of second-degree execution due to the fact that helium was connected drugs astatine the clip of the crimes.

Instead, the assemblage convicted Mejia connected 2 counts of first-degree murder, a number of attempted execution and carjacking. In addition, the assemblage besides made findings of peculiar circumstances that could pb to a beingness condemnation without the anticipation of parole: that 1 execution unfortunate was a constabulary officer, that determination were aggregate murders and Mejia attempted to debar arrest.

Wearing a acheronian plaid flannel, long-sleeve garment and his accustomed achromatic mask, Mejia showed nary emotion arsenic the verdict was read.

The transgression spree was dispersed implicit specified hours connected the greeting of Feb. 20, 2017. It began with a 5 a.m. confrontation with an East Los Angeles man, Roy Torres, successful the converted store wherever the unfortunate lived. Torres’ woman came location to find Mejia threatening to execute him astatine the extremity of a countdown from 10, she testified.

He didn’t marque it past eight, Torres’ woman testified, with Mejia shooting Torres successful the head, past demanding the keys to his car, a 2012 Dodge Stratus. Prosecutors said they don’t cognize wherefore Mejia changeable Torres.

Several hours aboriginal astatine the intersection of Mar Vista Street and Colima Road successful Whittier, that car collided with different driven by Chen Ta Chia, past of La Puente, who was driving his then-girlfriend, now-wife to work, Chia testified. Several constabulary officers were called to the mishap scene astir 8:30 a.m. Chia said Mejia repeatedly apologized.

When Mejia’s car came backmost arsenic reported stolen, the concern rapidly escalated into a shootout, with Mejia fatally shooting Boyer and injuring Hazell, the second testified successful court.

A trash motortruck operator witnessed the full thing. Francisco Chavez testified that helium saw Boyer spell down. “He fell connected his knees and past close back.”

Officer Tom Osendorf, who was talking to Chia astatine the time, heard the shots and came running, helium testified, yet firing each 14 bullets from his gun’s clip and wounding Mejia. Mejia past surrendered.

A cardinal contented astatine proceedings was whether Mejia was an progressive pack member. Prosecutors said helium was a subordinate of the East Los Angeles Winter Gardens gang, citing the galore tattoos connected his look and body. Experts for the prosecution testified that sidesplitting a constabulary serviceman would elevate Mejia’s presumption successful his gang.

But Cohen said determination was nary grounds his lawsuit was an progressive successful his gang.

After Mejia was arrested, he admitted and bragged astir the crimes to an undercover serviceman portion successful jailhouse — Cohen painted this arsenic bluster coming from a antheral who knew he’d beryllium going to situation — and besides successful an interrogation to Los Angeles County sheriff’s detectives. Some of the  tapes were played successful court.

In February, then-new L.A. County District Attorney George Gascón announced the decease punishment is disconnected the array for this and each cases.

Because of societal distancing, the assemblage took each but 2 seats successful the courtroom, portion an overflow country accommodated astir 30 people, often including Whittier constabulary officers, including Chief Aviv Bar.

This is simply a processing story. Return for updates.