| For Immediate Release January 25, 2007 |
Contact: Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 |
GANG MEMBER FACES CHARGES FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER OF TWO COPS AND MURDER OF HIS FRIEND
FULLERTON – A gang member from the Central Valley will be arraigned tomorrow for murdering his gang friend during his attempt to murder two police officers. Arthur Kenneth Gallardo III, 28, Mendota, is charged with murder, two counts of the attempted murder of a peace officer, street terrorism, and enhancements for criminal street gang activity and the personal discharge of a firearm. He is currently being held without bail and faces a maximum of multiple life terms if convicted. Gallardo is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow, Friday, January 26, 2007 at 8:00 a.m. in Department N-3, North Justice Center, Fullerton.
On December 29, 2006, Gallardo and another gang member, Edmundo Gomez, were passed out in a stolen car that had been carjacked from Fresno. The car was running but parked and was blocking traffic in the number three lane on Harbor Boulevard at approximately 2:30 a.m. Fullerton Police arrived and could see a shotgun on the driver’s seat near Gomez. Gallardo is accused of sleeping on the passenger’s seat holding a handgun on his lap. The officers strategically parked their cars around the defendant’s car and attempted to wake the gang members using their loud speaker.
Gallardo is accused of waking up and immediately using his semi-automatic handgun to fire multiple shots through the front windshield of his vehicle at a police car parked in front of him. Police returned fire. Gallardo was shot but survived his injuries. Gomez was killed.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Jerry Schaffer of the Gang Unit is prosecuting this case.
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