Gang Member Who Killed El Monte Police Officers Was Released on Probation Prior to Shooting – Opinion

Another day, another tragic example of Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón’s failures.

Two El Monte Police officers were shot to death Tuesday night while responding at the scene of a stabbing attack at a motel.

On Wednesday, city and county coroner’s officials identified the officers as Corporal Michael Domingo Paredes and Officer Joseph Anthony Santana.

Both men “were raised in the city of El Monte and had a strong connection to the community they served,” city officials said in a statement posted to Instagram with photos of the two men.

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The officers had responded to the Siesta Inn on Garvey Avenue, but were immediately taken under gunfire, officials said. Both officers were taken to the LAC + USC Medical Center where they later died.

Officials have confirmed that the suspect was killed or wounded by one officer who worked outside the hotel. As of Wednesday afternoon, he was still unidentified and died on-the-spot.

Fox News’ Bill Melugin, a Fox News reporter, gave an update on the suspect who is now dead.

Justin William Flores, a member of a gang, was currently on probation for felon with a firearm. Thanks to Gascón’s soft-on-crime directives, Flores only received a “bare minimum sentence” in a plea deal:

NEW: The gang member responsible for the murder of two El Monte PD officers was put on probation last night as a felon w/ a gun after he had received a minimal sentence through a plea agreement under LA DA @GeorgeGasconEven though there was a previous strike, it didn’t stop him from winning last year. @FoxNews

— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) June 15, 2022

Melugin’s law enforcement sources told him that Flores had a previous strike conviction in 2011. Had Gascón’s directives not been in place when the case came up for trial in February of 2021, Flores would have been sentenced to two to three-and-a-half years jail time At the minimum. Because of Gascón’s directives which remove prior convictions, gang, and firearm enhancements, Flores received two years’ probation and was released.

Flores would have not been able to kill the officers if he was in prison.

According to law enforcement sources, Justin William Flores has a prior strike conviction for PC 459 in 2011. However, he was still sentenced for the most severe felonie in possession of a firearm charge last year according to Gascon policies. Two years probation.

— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) June 15, 2022

Now, the identities of both fallen officers can be found. Sources in the LA DA’s office tell me if this case had been prosecuted without Gascon’s policies in Feb 2021, Flores would have likely been behind bars on a 2.5-3 year minimum sentence.
He was instead on probation. https://t.co/tGlyg2X0Oj

— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) June 15, 2022

After San Francisco recalled their district attorney Chesa Boudin on June 7, the deluge of Gascón’s policies failures leave him ripe for a fall.

Here is a recent short list on the destructiveness of Gascón’s directives:

• An intoxicated teen who mowed into a mother and her baby, almost killing them both, only received five months in “probation camp.” It was later revealed that he had also violated parole.
• Hannah Tubbs (now a transgendered girl) sexually assaulted 10-year-old Hannah just shy his 18th Birthday. Tubbs is now 26 and was only sentenced to probation. Tubbs laughed at the molestation and made fun of his father in prison.
• Convicted murderer and gang member Luis Angel Hernandez bragged on jailhouse audio that Gascón is a “champ” and vowed to get Gascón’s name tattooed on his face for dropping his gun and gang enhancements.

On Wednesday morning, the Recall George Gascón organizers spoke with MeluginThey claimed that they had collected 567,000 unauthenticated signatures. Melugin also heard from organizers that over 35,000 signatures have been collected in the past days. They plan to collect 650,000 signatures or more to increase the total and secure the required 566.857 signatures to recall the vote on November 20,22. The deadline for this is July 6.

For the county of Los Angeles, removing Gascón has become an imperative, and they appear to be close to achieving that goal. Only the death of El Monte officers can stoke that fire.

For the grieving widows and families of Officers Paredes and Santana, it is cold comfort that Gascón has implied that his office may pay for the funeral expenses of the slain officers.

Gascon’s policies also suggest his office may pay for the funeral of the cop killer. When he took office, he issued a policy stating his office would pay the funeral expenses of people killed by police, “regardless of the state of the investigation or charging decision.” @FoxNews pic.twitter.com/ZLcXpI4ivX

— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) June 16, 2022

Ironic, as their blood and deaths are on Gascón’s hands.