SAN DIEGO – A San Diego jury found a Filipino-American gang member guilty of second-degree murder in the death of a San Diego police officer.
On Aug. 23, the jury sided with the prosecution that 29-year-old Alex Charfauros lied to police, which led to the death of San Diego police officer Chris Wilson during a police shootout at an apartment complex in the Bay Terraces area in 2010.
“He wouldn’t lift a finger, he wouldn’t speak a word to save anyone,” prosecutor Michael Runyon told jurors according to NBC San Diego.
Charfauros faces more than 25 years to life in prison for the death of Wilson and attempted murder of four other officers, according to NBC.
Charfauros is scheduled to be sentenced later this year.
Charfauros is one of three defendants accused in the death of Wilson, who died at the age of 50.
According to the San Diego District Attorney’s Office, Charfauros, Melissa Ortiz, Patrick Luangrath, and two other fugitives Holim Lee and Lucky Xayasene were inside Charfouros’ apartment in October 2010 when police arrived to perform a routine probation check.
When Charfauros opened the door and saw the officers, he immediately closed it shut and tried to flee the scene through a ladder propped outside against a second story bedroom window.
Officers apprehended Charfauros and asked if there were any more people, guns or drugs inside the apartment, according to the Sign on San Diego.
Charfauros wouldn’t say who was inside.
Five officers including Wilson proceeded to go inside the apartment and were met with a fusillade of bullets. A shootout and a stand off ensued between the remaining people inside the apartment and police officers.
It is believed Lee and Xayasene were shooting at officers. According to the Coroner’s report, Lee is believed to have fatally shot Wilson.
Lee and Xayasene committed suicide, according to the coroner’s office.
The other defendants, Ortiz and Luangrath, who claims they were hiding inside a closet, surrendered a few hours later.
Luangrath, 22, pleaded guilty to being an accomplice and received a 22-year sentence. Ortiz’s trial is scheduled for later this year.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Weekend September 14-17, 2013 Sec A pg.4)
