Deputy’s Accused Killers Both Parolees

The two men charged in last week’s slaying of an unarmed, off-duty Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy during a holdup in Buena Park were both on parole from state prison and had served time on robbery and weapons convictions.

Kevin Dewayn Boyce, 27, accused of firing the fatal shot, and Andre Willis, 30, appeared for their arraignment Monday in Municipal Court wearing white jail jumpsuits and shackles on their wrists, with heads shaved and a few days’ growth of beard. Neither man showed any emotion. They agreed to postpone entering pleas until Oct. 3.

Boyce and Willis were arrested in connection with the shooting death of Shayne Daniel York, 26. York was shot in the head Thursday at De’ Cut hair salon, whose operator was to have become his sister-in-law.

York and his fiancee, Jennifer Parish, also a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy, were waiting for haircuts when two men burst into the shop and stole $11, Parish’s engagement ring and other personal belongings.

When the robbers learned York was a deputy, Boyce allegedly shot him in the back of the head. He died Saturday at Western Medical Center-Santa Ana, a few hours after being taken off life-support systems.

The shooting devastated many in the law enforcement community because it appears that York was killed solely because he carried a badge.

Willis and Boyce are members of a Los Angeles street gang, investigators said.

Orange County prosecutors filed a five-page felony complaint charging the men with a total of 11 counts of murder, robbery and special-circumstance enhancements. Boyce also was charged with intentionally killing a peace officer.

Prosecutors could ask for the death penalty.

In 1986, Willis was charged with kidnapping, rape and resisting arrest and was twice convicted of robbery in San Bernardino County. He served a six-year sentence from 1988 to 1994. He was again imprisoned, from 1995 to Feb. 8, as an ex-felon in possession of a firearm.

Boyce was convicted in 1989 of robbery and in 1993 of a weapons violation, for which he was imprisoned from 1994 to 1996.

Neither prosecutors nor defense attorneys would comment on the charges filed Monday, saying they did not want to jeopardize the investigation.

Judge W. Michael Hayes agreed with the request by attorneys on both sides that the media not photograph or film the suspects’ faces in order to avoid compromising the case.

“We don’t want to contaminate the system,” said Barry Post, Willis’ attorney. “Identity is an issue in this case. That’s all I can say.”

Prosecutors had withheld the suspects’ identities since they were arrested Thursday night after they allegedly robbed a pizza parlor. Their names were released for the first time at Monday’s court hearing. Even the public defender’s office, which is representing Boyce, couldn’t find out the suspects’ names until they were revealed in court, attorneys said.

Prosecutor Carolyn Kirkwood and other attorneys said the request to ban cameras is in part to avoid false witnesses coming forward.

Kirkwood said outside the courtroom that authorities are not expecting any more arrests.

“We feel we have the individuals responsible for this crime,” the prosecutor said.

Funeral services for York are scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 2000 W. Artesia Blvd. in Torrance. Burial will follow at Green Hills Memorial Park, 27501 S. Western Ave., Rancho Palos Verdes.

A memorial fund has been established, and deputies are requesting that contributions to York’s family be mailed to the Sheriff’s Relief Foundation, Fund No. 430, 11515 S. Colima Road, Whittier, CA 90604.