Newscaster Assists in Surrender

Another man wanted for questioning in the deaths of two Compton police officers turned himself in to Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies with the help of a television reporter Sunday morning.

Alfred Lopez was the second man to surrender with the aid of a newscaster in 12 hours when he was brought into the Carson sheriff’s substation about 1:30 a.m. by Larry Carroll, a reporter with KCAL-TV, said Sgt. Marvin Pearson of the Sheriff’s Department.

On Saturday evening, Jeffrey Paul Edwards, who was wanted for questioning in the case, turned himself in to the same sheriff’s station with the help of Warren Wilson, a KTLA-TV reporter. Earlier this month, Wilson negotiated the televised surrender of another man also wanted for questioning in the Compton case.

Lopez and Edward were arrested on charges unrelated to the deaths of the police officers. Although they may have information relating to the murders, they are not suspects, said Sgt. Barry Lobel of the Compton Police Department.

Lopez contacted KCAL through an intermediary about 7 p.m. Saturday, Carroll said. Lopez said he was returning from a visit to his grandmother in Mexico and heard from a friend that his face was on a wanted poster in connection with an attempted murder in a separate case and that he was being sought for questioning relating to the murders of the police officers.

Lopez said he had nothing to do with the murders of the officers, Carroll said. Lopez, 27, was arrested on suspicion of an alleged gang-related attempted murder Feb. 22, about six blocks from where the officers were shot a few hours later, Lobel said.