Suspect in Police Shooting Enters Plea

A 31-year-old convicted robber pleaded not guilty Tuesday to attempted murder charges in a shooting last weekend that left a Los Angeles Police Department officer with a nearly severed left wrist.

Jose M. Perez Jr. was charged with two counts each of attempted murder and assault on a peace officer with an assault weapon and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. If convicted, Perez, who was convicted of robbery in 1995, could face four life terms in prison, prosecutors said.

He is accused of wounding rookie Officer James Tuck three times and shooting at his veteran partner, John Porras, during a traffic stop late Saturday. He was ordered held in lieu of $3.1-million bail and is to appear in Los Angeles Superior Court again Aug. 25, officials said.

Porras was not shot but was struck in the face by glass shot out of their cruiser. Authorities say Perez fired about 20 high-velocity rounds at the two officers during a traffic stop at Flora Avenue and Sierra Street.

Officials said Perez was a passenger in a black Honda that the officers had stopped for having a broken headlight. Both officers shot at Perez during the incident; Porras wounded him in the leg. After being hit, Perez dropped the semiautomatic rifle, ran and was arrested nearby, police said.