Man Pleads Not Guilty in Killing
A gang member accused of fatally shooting a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy in June pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges of murder, attempted murder and possession of a firearm by a felon.
Jose Luis Orozco, 27, has been held without bail since June 24, the day authorities say he shot Deputy Jerry Ortiz in the head as Ortiz investigated a gang-related shooting in Hawaiian Gardens.
The murder charge includes the special circumstance allegations of murder of a peace officer, murder while lying in wait and murder to avoid arrest, which means Orozco could face the death penalty.
The attempted murder charge stems from a shooting four days earlier that injured a man working in his yard in Hawaiian Gardens.
Ortiz, of Diamond Bar, was a 15-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Department who worked with a gang enforcement team. He is survived by his wife, whom he married a few weeks before being shot, and two sons, ages 16 and 6.
Ortiz was checking identifications just outside an apartment door when he was shot by someone inside.
More to Read
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.