Man Sought in Killing of Deputy Surrenders
An 18-year-old Hawaiian Gardens man suspected of being involved in last month’s fatal shooting of a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy surrendered Wednesday night after being publicly identified, authorities said.
Juan Leon turned himself in at the Lakewood sheriff’s station about 7:30 p.m., Deputy Scott Gage said.
Authorities have described Leon as an “accessory” to the June 24 shooting death of Deputy Jerry Ortiz. Citing an ongoing investigation, Gage declined to specify Leon’s suspected role.
Ortiz, 35, was shot to death allegedly by Jose Luis Orozco, 27, as the deputy questioned occupants of a Hawaiian Gardens apartment complex about Orozco’s whereabouts. Orozco was arrested nearby a few hours later and was being held without bail.
Gage said deputies released Leon’s name Wednesday morning after raiding a Cerritos house Tuesday night in an unsuccessful search for him.
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