Los Angeles – The hunt for a suspected cop-killer moved west Thursday as more than 200 police officers in Southern California searched through neighborhoods and questioned residents where the suspect used to live.
Raul Garcia-Gomez, 19, is accused in the ambush killing of Denver police Detective Donald “Donnie” Young and wounding of police Detective John “Jack” Bishop. Police recovered Garcia-Gomez’s car in Los Angeles and said they believe he is somewhere in California. Authorities initially thought he may have fled to his native Mexico.
Denver Police Chief Gerry Whitman and Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton issued a joint bulletin Thursday afternoon to alert residents in both cities to a reward that is now $100,000. Investigators in Los Angeles also served several search warrants at homes, including one where the suspect’s car was found, looking for Garcia-Gomez or clues to his whereabouts.
“This is their No. 1 priority right now because there’s a dead cop,” Whitman said of the Los Angeles police and sheriff’s response.
At an afternoon news conference in California, Denver and Los Angeles officials said apprehending Garcia-Gomez is among the top law-enforcement priorities in the nation.
“The country is aware now,” said LAPD First Assistant Chief Jim McDonnell.
Young and Bishop were shot about 1 a.m. Sunday while working off-duty at a baptismal celebration at the Salon Ocampo social hall, 1733 W. Mississippi Ave.
Young will be buried today after a service downtown at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.
Garcia-Gomez had been living in Denver with his girlfriend, Sandra Rivas, and their 3-week- old daughter. Authorities believe he drove his white Dodge Neon to California and abandoned it in the Los Angeles area.
In southeast Los Angeles on Thursday, former neighbors of Rivas were shocked to learn that the sought-after suspect has ties to their area. Mary Yi, who owns a liquor store next to apartments where Rivas lived, said she never saw Garcia-Gomez come around.
But, Yi said, “I know her mom and daddy are good family. The whole family is good.”
A tip led Denver police to Garcia-Gomez, who authorities believe entered the country illegally. He had lived in Denver for less than a year and worked as a dishwasher at the Cherry Cricket, a popular Cherry Creek North eatery.
Denver police are now trying to get the Los Angeles news media interested in the case, Whitman said. They also asked Mexican authorities and border-patrol officers to be on the lookout for him.
FBI Special Agent Jody Weiss in California said federal authorities in several states are coordinating on the search.
“We’re using every bit of energy we have to catch him,” Weiss said.
Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey said a decision on whether he will seek the death penalty in the case is still months away. Morrissey said that if the fugitive is caught in Mexico, he’ll try to have him extradited to Denver.
Mexico typically does not extradite citizens accused of murder to countries that have the death penalty or life-in-prison sentences, said Joe Bahena, a police officer in the Foreign Prosecution/Interpol Liaison Unit of the Los Angeles Police Department.
Colorado Attorney General John Suthers said that if Garcia- Gomez is caught in Mexico, his foreign prosecution office will provide all its resources to help extradite or prosecute him.
Several people convicted of murders that occurred in Colorado are serving sentences in Mexican prisons.
Morrissey said he is hopeful there will be a peaceful resolution, with Garcia-Gomez turning himself in.
“There is no need for more violence in this situation,” Morrissey said.
He cautioned that Garcia-Gomez is still considered armed and dangerous.
Whitman said anyone who harbors the fugitive should be charged with a crime. He believes that several people knew about Garcia-Gomez’s involvement in the shooting but didn’t turn him in.
“I’m disturbed by that,” he said, not offering specifics.
Denver police Division Chief Dave Fisher, in Los Angeles with a contingent of investigators and prosecutors, said police officers everywhere are alarmed by the ambush killing.
He appealed on television directly to Garcia-Gomez.
“You can run, but you can’t hide. We are going to find you,” Fisher said. “Turn yourself in. We are not going to give up.”
Staff writer Howard Pankratz contributed to this report.
Staff writer Sean Kelly can be reached at 303-820-1858 or skelly@denverpost.com.
Staff writer Felisa Cardona can be reached at 303-820-1219 or fcardona@denverpost.com.
Staff writer Kirk Mitchell can be reached at 303-820-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com.