Man charged with attempted murder in shooting of West Covina police officer
A man accused of shooting a West Covina police officer and then going on the run was charged Thursday with attempted murder.
Jose Luis Chavez, 47, was charged with one felony count each of attempted murder of a peace officer, assault of a peace office with a semiautomatic firearm and being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.
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If convicted, he faces up to life in prison, prosecutors said.
Chavez was taken into custody at 2:06 a.m. May 26, a day after authorities announced a $20,000 reward for his arrest and conviction.
He was hiding in a home in the 1200 block of Foxworth Avenue in La Puente, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
According to police, Chavez was riding a bicycle on North Yaleton Avenue near Badillo Street at 11:18 p.m. May 20 when an on-duty officer approached him. The officer tried to detain Chavez, and a gun battle ensued, deputies said.
The officer was shot in the chest and taken to a hospital with injuries that did not appear to be life-threatening. He later was released and recovered at home. His name has not been released.
Chavez also was wounded in the gunfight and ran away before additional police arrived, prosecutors said. Following his arrest, he was taken to an area hospital for treatment.
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