Approximately 200 Los Angeles police officers and two prosecutors from the Los Angeles district attorney’s office are searching the Los Angeles area for Raul Garcia-Gomez, suspected in the early Sunday morning ambush slaying of Denver Detective Donald Young.
Denver Police Chief Gerry Whitman and Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey said Thursday morning that six Denver detectives and two Denver prosecutors – Lamar Sims and Chuck Lepley – have joined in the manhunt now centered in Los Angeles.
Presently numerous locations in Los Angeles are being searched and last night a Los Angeles house was searched pursuant to a search warrant. The vehicle that the 19-year-old Garcia-Gomez was driving was found in Los Angeles, Whitman said.
Although some sources have told investigators that the Mexican national, who was employed as a dishwasher at The Cherry Cricket restaurant and bar, 2641 E. Second Ave., may have fled to Mexico, Whitman said he believes the suspect is “probably on the West Coast.”
“He may have plans to bounce back here (Denver),” Whitman added, noting that Garcia-Gomez has friends and relatives in Denver. As a result, the chief said, officers in the Denver metro area are keeping a sharp eye out for Garcia-Gomez.
Whitman said that in addition to the Los Angeles police and district attorney, his officers are working closely with the FBI and Mexican authorities.
He also said that if anyone is harboring Garcia-Gomez, he hopes they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent.
The chief indicated that more reward money will probably be offered for tips leading to the suspect’s arrest.
Morrissey said that the primary goal now is to get Garcia-Gomez into custody.
He said that whether he will seek the death penalty in the case is still a decision months away.
Morrissey said that decision is usually made 30-to-60 days after the preliminary hearing for the suspect.
Morrissey said that a total of four prosecutors responded to the shooting scene early Sunday at the Salon Ocampo social hall, 1733 W. Mississippi Ave., when Young and fellow detective John Bishop were shot. Bishop, protected by a bulletproof vest, is recovering. Both were shot from behind.
He said Sims and Lepley arrived in Los Angeles on Wednesday and worked through last night in conjunction with the various searches currently being conducted in Los Angeles.
“We are getting the full cooperation of the police, the district attroney and the FBI out there,” Morrissey said. “Our focus is to try to get him into custody and get him back to Denver.”
The DA said that he is hopeful that there will be peaceful resolution to the situation, with Garcia-Gomez turning himself in.
“There is no need for more violence in this situation,” Morrissey said. But Morrissey cautioned that Garcia-Gomez is still considered armed and dangerous.
Just moments before the two officials spoke, Young’s name was added to the memorial for fallen officers in front of Denver police headquarters. Dozens of police officers, some shedding tears, watched as Gary Craven added Young’s name to the 59 other names.
Whitman said that as Craven was adding the name he was on the phone with Young’s widow, Kelly Young, telling her what was happening at that exact moment.
“She is overwhelmed by the support she is getting,” Whitman said.
Sharon Sekerak, a civilian employee of the police department, had called Erickson Mounuments, and asked them to add Young’s name to the memorial as quickly as possible.
“I wanted it put up there before his funeral. I just thought it should be up there,” said Sekerak, who works for the department’s technology and support staff. “This is Law Enforcement Week. That’s why it is so tragic.”
Craven said that he has been adding names to police, state patrol and firefighters memorials for 19 years.
He said he adds two-to-three police officers a year and three to four firefighters a year, depending on how bad the fire season is.
Craven says he does his best in adding the names.
“It’s there forever. So you do the best job possible,” Craven said.
