Arrest Made in Fatal Ambush of LAPD Officer

Los Angeles Police Chief Bernard C. Parks late Wednesday announced the arrest of a murder suspect in connection with last weekend’s ambush slaying of an LAPD officer.

The suspect, identified as Catarino Gonzalez Jr., 20, of Los Angeles, turned himself in Tuesday night after learning that police were seeking him, and he was placed under arrest Wednesday.

Police sources said he has at least one prior narcotics arrest and is a member of the city’s notorious 18th Street gang who goes by the moniker “Termite.” As one police source put it, Gonzalez “has a reputation for being a badass on the streets.”

Police said they expect the district attorney to file a murder charge against Gonzalez today, alleging that he shot Officer Filbert H. Cuesta Jr., 26, in the back of the head as the policeman sat in his patrol car. Under state law, Gonzalez could face the death penalty if he is convicted of shooting a law enforcement officer in the performance of his duties.

Detectives at Parker Center--LAPD headquarters--questioned the suspect throughout the day Wednesday, giving him a lie detector test. Several sources said that in addition to other evidence against the suspect, Gonzalez implicated himself with his own statements.

Although investigators at one point were exploring the possibility that more than a single gunman was involved, they now believe that there was just one shooter, sources said.

Only one type of shell casing--from a 9-millimeter handgun--was recovered from the scene, officials said.

Parks said the attack appears to have been an ambush on unsuspecting officers. A source described the suspect as “reckless” and “immature,” known for acting “macho in the neighborhood.”

Despite the arrest, Parks said the investigation was ongoing and detectives were seeking additional evidence and requesting that people with information about the shooting come forward.

“I’m relieved that the LAPD has gotten a murderer off the streets of Los Angeles,” Mayor Richard Riordan said through a spokeswoman.

The mayor, who condemned the shooting as cowardly act, added that the arrest was “terrific work. This is good news for the family, the LAPD and the city.”

Councilwoman Laura Chick, chairwoman of the city’s public safety committee, agreed.

“I’m very pleased with the LAPD’s quick and thorough handling of this tragedy,” Chick said through an aide. “I’m hopeful that the city of Los Angeles and Cuesta’s family can rest now that this killer is in custody.”

Cuesta, a four-year veteran who worked in the LAPD’s anti-gang unit, was shot early Sunday as he and his partner, Officer Richard Gabaldon, waited for colleagues to help them break up a loud party in the 5300 block of Carlin Street in southwest Los Angeles.

Gang members appeared at the party uninvited, and Cuesta apparently recognized some of them, said police, who declined to say how he spotted them.

Before backup arrived, Cuesta and his partner were barraged by gunfire, which struck Cuesta in the head. Gabaldon returned fire. Police declined to say how far the attacker or attackers were from the patrol car before the gunfight erupted.

Cuesta is survived by his wife Sylvia and two young daughters--ages 18 months and 4 weeks. Before holding his late-night news conference announcing the arrest, Parks first notified Sylvia Cuesta of the breakthrough in the case.

“She’s very gratified . . . [but] she still feels the effect of this tragedy,” Parks said.

Residents of the mostly working-class Latino neighborhood where the slaying occurred were upset by the shooting but not surprised.

Gang-related gunfire, they said, is common in the area because of clashes between members of 18th Street and rival gangs from adjacent neighborhoods.

Immediately after the shooting, police said they received a number of very solid tips from residents in the neighborhood. Parks thanked the community for its help in the investigation.

News of the arrest was kept a secret throughout most of the day, as investigators continued to build their case.

The shooting sent waves of grief through the LAPD but also galvanized rank-and-file police officers and city lawmakers to try to bring Cuesta’s killer to justice.

Capt. Jim Tatreau, head of the LAPD’s elite robbery-homicide division, vowed to solve the case, while Deputy Chief Martin Pomeroy promised that the killer would be captured. He assigned 25 detectives to work on the case full time.

City leaders from the mayor on down expressed horror over the senselessness of the crime. President Clinton, who was traveling in Los Angeles this week, also called Cuesta’s family to convey his condolences. The arrest of the suspect came three days after the shooting and two days before Cuesta is scheduled to be buried.

A candlelight vigil was scheduled for 8 p.m. tonight at the LAPD’s Southwest Division.

A funeral service is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday at Calvary Chapel, 22324 Golden Springs Drive, Diamond Bar. A graveside service will follow at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier.

Times correspondent Patrick Kerkstra contributed to this report.