Killer of Three Mexican Officers Held in Fatal East L.A. Shooting

A man who killed three Mexican police officers in 1982 when they allegedly tried to confiscate his gun was arrested on suspicion of shooting a man to death during an argument over who owned the bigger weapon, authorities said Monday.

Rigoberto Preciado Herrera, 27, was arrested about 6 p.m. Sunday at his brother’s home in Pacoima, Lt. Sergio Robleto said.

The shooting occurred about 2 a.m. Sunday in East Los Angeles when Herrera was walking out of the Las Galaxias bar at 2801 Pasadena Ave. with a group of men. An argument erupted between Herrera and Rogelio Montoya, 28, of Pasadena, Robleto said.

Witnesses said the two men were arguing about “who had the larger weapon or who had the better weapon,” Robleto said. Herrera was carrying a small-caliber revolver and Montoya was believed to be armed with a knife or a gun.

“The suspect, Herrera, thought his weapon was larger and wanted to use it,” Robleto said.

Herrera allegedly opened fire with the pistol and wounded Montoya, who died of his wounds at 2:40 a.m. Monday at County-USC Medical Center.

Herrera escaped in a small pickup truck. Hollenbeck Division Detectives Rick Barrera, Carlos Zelez and Larry Martinez were able to identify Herrera and began searching for him in South Los Angeles and Pacoima.

About 6 p.m., detectives found Herrera’s truck parked outside his brother’s home in the 12600 block of Adelphia Street in Pacoima, Robleto said. Herrera was arrested without incident, and police said they found a revolver they believe was used to shoot Montoya.

Herrera served time in prison for killing two judicial police officers and a sergeant during a 1982 shoot-out in the town of Colima, in Jalisco, Mexico, Robleto said. Quoting family members, Robleto said the 1982 shoot-out was caused when law enforcement officers tried to confiscate Herrera’s gun.